East Cork GAA

14 April, 2009

St. Catherine’s GAA.

This weekend St Catherine’s take on fellow East Cork team Fr. O’Neill’s in the first round of the newly introduced County Minor Premier grade two hurling championship. Fr. O’Neill’s swept all before them at division sixteen “B” level two years ago. By contrast the Saints struggled in the County and City sixteen “A” hurling league and championship. Which form provides the better guideline? All will be revealed at Youghal on Sunday afternoon next, April 19^th. Throw in 4pm. St. Catherines’ lost the unbeaten tag when going down to a sizable defeat against Valley Rovers when the most recent league match was played at Brinny on Saturday afternoon last . Catherines playing against the wind were left with a mountain to climb, behind on a half time scoreline of 1-13 to 0-03. Slight improvement on the second half before evetually losing out on an end scoreline of 1-19 to 0-10.

St. Catherines will play Cloyne in round four of the Junior hurling league division two also on Sunday next at Ballynoe. Throw in 11:30am.

Preparation to the upcoming Premier Intermediate hurling championship continued when losing a hurling challenge after a competitive hours hurling in Tallow on Bank Holiday Monday night last. Corner forward Thomas Ryan was the oppositions tormentor in chief. His final tally of 2-06 coming from both placed balls and open play, confirmed a home win on an end scoreline of 2-13 to 0-17. Cal Aherne and Shane Cotter shared fourteen of the Saints scores. St Catherines play Carrigaline in the championship at Caherlag on Thursday night April 30^th.

Although officially a “C” graded team, St. Catherines continue to plough their way through the County “B” Feile competition. Defeating a game and gallant Millstreet outfit in the third round at Ballynoe on Saturday evening last. Millstreet was the appointed venue, but was deemed unplayable as the week progressed. Shane O’Brien goaling a semi penalty on fifty seven minutes was the crucial score against a Millstreet fifteen who had previously recorded victories over Barryroe and Aghada and who were three point Feile winners when also playing in Ballynoe last year. However the Saints lost out to Cobh in their league match in Ballynoe on the previous Wednesday evening.

In what is now a busy program of underage activity the under thirteen footballers went down to a heavy defeat against Carrig na bhFear in the thirteen a side “C” grade championship semi-final. While it was a winning start for the under sixteen hurlers, defeating Bride Rovers (1-15 to 2-03) in their first league match at Ballynoe on Monday night April 6^th last.

Being a Bank Holiday this weeks lotto draw with a jackpot standing at €5,200 was held over until Tuesday night, April 14^th at McAuliffes Ballynoe.