St. Catherine's GAA
31 August, 2009
Mixed results for the saints in recent championship outings. Although upsides their opponents at 0-03 each at ten minutes, we were subsequently well beaten by a good Mayfield side when the third round of the newly introduced Minor Premier Grade 2 hurling championship was played in Lisgoold on Tuesday evening August 18th last. Final score 1-16 to 0-07. While St. Catherines just edged out the challenge of Carrigtwohill’s second string when the first round of the divisional Junior B football championship was played on Wednesday evening August 26th last. This time the appointed venue of Lisgoold wasn’t available and following a toss of a coin the game was relocated to Ballynoe.
Conceding a goal to Christopher Casey inside the first minute, the home team gradually recovered to lead 0-04 to 1-00 at the break. Tim O’Connor kicked 3 points including 2 from placed balls while Damien Farrell’s spectacular left footed effort on 19 minutes was the score of the half. Laurence O’Connor, married this week, goaled early in the second half. But a tally of 1-01 from Patrick Deane saw parity restored once more at 1-04 to 2-01 at 42 minutes. Brian Hegarty when goaling direct from a close in free looked at if he might have won it for the opposition. But inspired substitute Shane Cotter recording 1-01 in the very late exchanges won it for the Saints on an end score line of 2-07 to 3-01. Improvement required.
There was a successful first defense of their title with a 2-12 to 1-07 victory over Watergrasshill in the quarter final of the U21 B hurling championship in Castlelyons on Friday evening last. Team captain Kevin Mangan scored the all important first goal after six minutes in a contest dominated by the free taking exploits of Stephen O’Brien and Shane Cotter for the Saints and Anthony Cronin who recorded all the opposition scores. His goal from a free on the three quarter mark cut the deficit to just three points. But Seamus Kearney, now in the inside forward line before leaving the action with a leg injury, scored the crucial second goal. Then added a sweetly struck point from open play. Confirming the final score of 2-12 to 1-07 in favour of the Saints.
A glorious 15 minute spell midway through the second half which yielded 1-07 without reply saw St Catherines turn this tie right around when resuming their Minor B football league campaign with a 2-11 to 2-08 win over Kiltha Og when played in Dungourney on Sunday last at 12 noon. Edmund Aherne scored both Saints goals, one in each half. While John Hurley and Brian Mulcahy shared 0-06 between them, all from play.
Disappointing week at juvenile level losing to both Fr. O’Neills in the semi final of the U16 B hurling championship and subsequently to Bride Rovers also in the semi final of the 13 aside U12 C hurling championship.