Castlelyons earn a memorable draw in their first ever senior county hurling final.

Bride Rovers 0-14 Castlelyons 0-14

Finally, we made it in good weather to Cork’s GAA headquarters SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening last with great support for the lads.  I suppose while we wrestled with the thought of victory we held our breath.  We were up against an outstanding Bride Rovers who are strong in numbers and have been knocking on the door of the top grade for a few years.  They even contested the East Cork junior final for the Jamesie Kelleher trophy on the Sunday.  It was a hard but fair game that was well refereed by Ian McCarthy of Bandon.  Well done to our lads had a slow start but our hurling really improved particularly the second half, and we almost wrestled the cup from the Rovers before drawing fourteen points all.      

The game commenced with Bride Rovers hurling for their life and shooting well with the breeze.  They were steamrolling us and ran up a 0-6 to 0-0 lead in nine minutes. Then James Kearney had our first score a point, but they replied with the same straight away.  We then exchanged points again and James Kearney made it 0-8 to 0-2 for us.  However, with time moving well into the second quarter and space for possession and striking tough full credit our lads as they were really upping their game especially in defence. Colm Barry who was hurling well all through aided Colm Spillane and Niall O’Leary really working hard as were the others.  We were on the way back with Alan Fenton landing two frees each side of a great point from play by Dave Morrison.  The supporters were now really getting behind the lads.   Our supporters loved the hurling and the revival.  They cheered them off at half time with the scored still in favour of Bride Rovers 0-9 to 0-6.

The second half commenced again with exciting stuff.  The hurling was tough going and fair.  When Keith O’Leary scored a monster of a point from under the South Stand one sensed that we were well in the game.  Rovers replied with a point from a free and then Alan Fenton scored one from play to make it 0-10 to 0-8 in favour of Rovers.  The commitment was excellent by both teams at this stage and our backs with Shane Morone and Dara Spillane now staring held firm when Rovers pressed hard. We were finding it difficult up front as the six Rovers backs were holding our forwards well and it was an intriguing battle.  Rovers stretched out their lead out to 0-13 to 0-9 on 48 minutes.  We stayed in the game as again Alan Fenton scored from a point from a free and then Colm Spillane broke out of defence and landed a point from his own sixty-five. This really rallied our lads and lifted our supporters, again.  An industrious Anthony Spillane made it 0-13 apiece.  Still the Rovers went ahead again with a point from a free.  Then with the clock deep in added time Colm McCarthy was fouled deep in his own half our on the North Stand side.  Back came Alan Fenton from over a hundred yards he lofted a boomer into the night sky and all the way over the bar to give Castlelyons a memorable draw in their first ever senior county final.

The replay is on next Saturday 1st November at 3.30pm in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh with Mark Maher of St Finbarrs down t referee the game. Just to note that if it is a draw extra time will be played and if a draw at end of extra time there will be a replay.  Thanks for your great support the last day and hopefully we will all get there on Saturday to cheer on our lads. Castlelyons Abú.

Team: Jack Barry; Colm Spillane (0-1), Colm Barry, Dara Spillane; Shane Moroney, Niall O’Leary, Colm McCarthy; Shane Cotter, James Kearney (0-2); Alan Fenton (0-8), Darren Tobin, Keith O’Leary (0-1); Alan Spillane (0-1), Leon Doocey, Dave Morrison (0-1).  Subs: E Maye, Brian Spillane, Olan Lenehan.

Rebel Óg East Division One Championship Shield Final.

Castlelyons 3-16 Watergrasshill 1-16.

Comhghairdeas to our U16 Hurlers who defeated Watergrasshill in the Rebel Óg Division One Championship Shield Final on Wednesday evening in Castlelyons.  It was a wet and miserable evening for hurling but credit to both teams for putting in a great hours hurling with some mighty scores, good defensive work and great saves.

Thomas McAuliffe raised a white flag at the start and then Watergrasshill worked hard for a while.  They were rewarded with a good goal by Tadgh McCarthy.  However, Khaled Abdelrazik latched onto a broken ball and soloed through the heart of the ‘Hill defence for a cracking goal to put us 1-1 to 1-0 ahead and a lead we never relinquished.  Thomas McAuliffe, Ned Condon and Sam McCarthy had three points for Castlelyons.  The ‘Hill attacked again hard and a dangerous high ball was well dealt with and well cleared by our goalie, Jude Hallihan.  Khaled scored after good work by Tom McAuliffe and Ronan Hickey in the middle.  Liam Linehan and our backs were doing very well in clearing their lines as ball began to go into the forwards.  Sure enough, Sam McCarthy sent over three more points without reply and then Ned Codon got a good score from out the wing.  The ‘Hill kept the board ticking over with some scores of their own mainly through frees from Tadgh McCarthy.  With our backs getting stronger and marking well our forwards were winning the battles and despite a few wides we added another goal to leave it 2-9 to 1-5 at half time.

It was the same trend throughout the second half as we dominated while efforts by Watergrasshill were frustrated by good defending by the O’Riordan brothers, E Cotter, R Larndner, C Cronin and C O’Keeffe. Sam McCarthy was our main scorer from frees and play but all the forwards fought hard and made a great contribution.  Sam struck a 21-yard free for the net, and it was saved but he followed up and blasted home a great goal. The highlight of the game was a might save by Jude Hallihan on the 29th minute and despite pressure managed a great clearance.  Ewen McCarthy and Carter Clegg two subs also got gametime.  PJ Hurley Rebel Óg East presented the shield to our captain Liam O'Riordan who gave a rousing victory speech and thank Watergrasshill for their efforts.  Thanks to Anthony O'Regan, Youghal who refereed the game.  Well done to the lads and their management of Shane Hickey, Gavin Sheehan, Sean Cotter and Timmy McCarthy, 

Panel: Jude Hallihan; Cionnaith Cotter, Liam O’Riordan, Ian O’Riordan, Rob Cronin, Rory Lardner, Cathal O’Keeffe, Thomas McAuliffe, Ronan Hickey; Ned Condon, Khaled Abdelrazik, Rian Linehan; Malek Abdelrazik, Sam McCarthy, Eanna Cotter. Subs:  Ewan McCarthy (18 mins second half) and   Carter Clegg (22 mins second half). 

Congratulations.

Congratulations to Colm & Aoife Spillane on their new baby Harry Michael and to Robbie & Leah Feeney on the birth of their new baby Fionn.  Wishing both families a lifetime of happiness from Castlelyons GAA.

Stewards Training on Thursday 6th November in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

A Stewards Training event for anyone interested in joining our voluntary Cork GAA stewards’ team, will take place on Thursday, November 6^th at 7pm in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. If you are over 18 years of age (male or female).  Available for a set number of games at weekends.  Fit, Active, Friendly, courteous, enthusiastic. Do consider it.  Also, those existing stewards need to renew their accreditation on the night.  Stewards will be trained and accredited by the GAA National Health & Safety Committee and the course is monitored by the Europlan Group who will be present.  We have a new pitch, stand and will be getting several games into the future and it is good to have members trained and the work in the Páirc has a great atmosphere if you would like to steward some games there plus getting to see the game is the real deal.  If you wish to come for the evenings light training please let Communications Officer, Castlelyons GAA know or if you wish to take the direct route contact email Tony McAuliffe at safetyandfacilities.cork@gaa.ie

Castlelyons GAA Annual General Meeting Update

Due to the replay of the County SAHC Final the Annual General Meeting of Castlelyons GAA will take has been moved to Sunday November 16th at 3pm in the Community Centre.

Castlelyons GAA Lotto Results - Monday 20.10.25 - Jackpot €18,800

The results of the draw held on Monday 20.10.25 had the following numbers drawn 2, 16, 22 and 25. There was no Jackpot winner which was €18,600.   The Lucky Dip Winners of €20 each were as follows: - Padraig O’Brien, Pat Pyne, Elmar Waters, Joanne Lee, Tara O’Sullivan, Dan Cotter, Matt O’Sullivan and Steven Hickey.

The Jackpot is a bumper €18,800.  The Draw will already be held in the Community Centre on Tuesday 28th October at 8pm. The results will be on social media immediately after.  Thank you all for your support and don’t forget you can play our Lotto Online or purchase from the usual outlets.

Congratulations to Martha Quirke, Castlelyons winner of a Hybrid Nissan Juke car.

A big congratulations to Martha Quirke, Castlelyons who won a Hybrid Nissan Juke car last week in the St Patrick’s Church, Fermoy, Restoration Fund.  Martha, Johnathan and family are great Castlelyons supporters too.  Martha’s winning ticket along with all the other supporters helped raise almost €160,000 for St Patrick’s Church Restoration Fund this was an outstanding achievement by that committee. Well done all.

Under 21 East Cork C Grade Hurling Championship.

Are down to play Bride Rovers in the semi-final of the East Cork Under 21 C Grade championship on Sunday 9th November at 11am in Lisgoold.  Winner on the day applies for this game.

Notes: Kieran McGann Communicatons Officer.

Club Sponsor:  East Cork Oil.