East Cork GAA

14 July, 2009

St Catherines News

Despite a commendable start which yielded five points without reply, all from play, inside the opening six minutes, Aghabullogue recovered sufficiently to trail by just a point at 0-08 to 0-07 by the break when the Premier Intermediate Hurling Relegation semi-final was played at Pairc Ui Rinn on Monday night July 6^thlast. In fairness the Saints didn’t reap any advantage from playing with the wind on the turnover failing to score from play. Yet they were still in contention when substitute Paudie Twomey got the crucial opposition goal on 54 minutes. Cal Aherne and Padraig Cotter both from placed balls and both in time added on, cut the deficit to just two points. But time ran out and Aghabullogue, beating the Saints for the first time in a competitive fixture, were victors on an end scroreline of 1-11 to 0-12 points, thus confirming their status for next year. Sadly St. Catherines, down a number of players from last year, are again involved in a relegation dogfight and play Mallow in the play off in Rathcormac on this forthcoming Friday night July 17^that 7:30pm. Best of luck to all concerned.

It was a defeat which compounded a miserable few days at club level following the disappointing performance at Castlelyons on the previous Thursday night when going down tamely to neighbours Dungourney in the second round of the divisional Junior B hurling championship. Padraig O’Connor tallied the Saints only score from play after six minutes in a contest which was all but decided by half time when trailing 1-10 to 0-01. All second half scores were from frees courtesy of Noel O’Brien and Kevin Dineen. Goalkeeper Bill Aherne also adding to the tally from a placed ball on forty minutes. Sadly the Saints final score of a poor and one sided contest which finishedup at 1-15 to 0-04 in favour of Dungourney. In fairness 19 players were in attendance for a round six league fixture at Clonmult Park on Thursday night. With the Saints ahead 1-07 to 0-04 by the break, Midleton improved significantly on the changeover and despite the best efforts of Kevin Dineen who recorded a tally of 1-08, both from frees and open play with the goal coming from a penalty 6 minutes from the end, ran out narrow winners at the end. Final score 2-12 to 2-10 in favour of the magpies.

St. Catherines lost out to Eire Og in a cracker when the Minor Premier 2 hurling league resumed after the exam break up at Ballynoe on Wednesday evening July 8^thlast. Two Daniel O’Connor goals allied to the skilful point taking of county minor Kevin Hallisey at corner forward saw the opposition ahead at 2-08 to 1-02 by half time. But the Saints upped it considerably on the resumption and saw parity restored at 3-06 to 2-09 when Daniel Mangan pointed on 49 minutes. Eire Og finished the stronger winning on an end score line of 2-14 to 3-09. But it was the ideal workout after a mid term break.

At juvenile level St. Catherines are through to the 13 aside County U14 C hurling final. Recording a 2-13 to 2-06 win in Bantry when the quarter final was played on Sunday evenings July 5^thlast. Then in appalling conditions they were too good for St. Vincents when the semi-final was played in Rathcormac on Saturday afternoon last. The scoring exploits of Jonathan Burke, Eoin Condon and Shane O’Brien all contributing to a 2-12 to 0-03 win with the Seandun representatives not scoring in the second half. It was 1-04 to 0-03 at half time. St. Catherines will play Milford in the final on Thursday night in Castletownroche at 7pm.