It’s the green glens for the Rebels

 Three weeks on from receiving a justifiable chastising and the Rebels quite literally tear the formbooks to shreds. In the process retaining their provincial title following a resounding final success over the Kingdom at Páirc Uí Rinn on Wednesday evening, June 1^st. First time for Cork to win back-to-back Munster Minor Football Championships since 1999 and 2000. Both teams will now face Ulster opposition in the All-Ireland quarter finals this upcoming weekend. Cork play defeated finalists Derry. While Kerry will be up against champions Tyrone. In all it’s going to be an intensely busy weekend coming up. Following the draw live on RTE radio one on Monday morning just gone and Cork will play defeated provincial finalists Limerick at a neutral venue in the second round of the football qualifiers. Coming as it does after a largely unimpressive success over newly crowned division three league champions Louth in the opening round at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday afternoon last. For obvious reasons hurling continues to dominate the GAA headlines and followers’ conversation. Front page slogan on Monday’s Examiner aptly summing it up. This was a great Munster hurling final – even by the standard of Munster finals. It was a Munster final for the ages. Superlatives don’t do justice to the greatness of Tony Kelly. Yes, all fitting. All accurate, because what we witnessed was awesome. Attention as the week moved on focusing on the preliminary qualifiers. Cork above in Corrigan Park facing Antrim. Meeting Galway is the prize awaiting the winners in the quarter final proper to follow. Just be careful. Remember that fright from 1986.

Club matches played

Round 6 group 3 A Red FM County Premier Junior Hurling League

Dungourney 0-12 St Catherines 0-16

Though not looking likely, the Saints recovered sufficiently and a commendable second half performance helped secure the points on offer here when this tie was played in Dungourney early on Sunday morning last. Just before throw in referee Pa Beausang calling for a minute’s silence in memory of the late Jack Cotter, past chairman of the now disbanded East Cork Juvenile Board. Midleton native Jack served the various boards over the years as a referee. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

On the field of play both teams taking a while to settle. A trio of well-struck Ryan Denny points had the home-based team ahead on a scoreline of 0-07 to 0-02 just to the end of the opening quarter. Thomas O’Donnell and Aaron Neville combining before Kevin Barry pointed an inspirational score for the Saints shortly afterwards. Winning the original free Kevin pointed the final score of the opening half from a placed ball with the scoreline now standing at 0-09 to 0-05. Conditions were always overcast with intermittent rain falling. Shane Cotter and Conor Kearney with a sweetly struck cross field delivery, joined forces in setting up Rory Galvin for the opening score early on the changeover. Brian Mulcahy bringing the best out of Paul Flynn between the posts. But his point on 54 minutes had matters squared up at 0-11 each. First time the teams were together since the eighth minute. Struggling with them in the first half but now Rory was putting over the frees from every conceivable angle. Forcing a five-point advantage before Jack Leahy had the game’s last score about two minutes overtime, Curtains come down on the group stages of the competition when playing Midleton at Ballynoe on Sunday morning, June 19^th.

Scorers: R Galvin (0-08 frees) (0-01 ’65) (0-11), B Mulcahy and K Barry (0-01 free) (0-02 each) and T O’Donnell (0-01). Dungourney scorers: R Denny (0-02 frees) and J Leahy (0-04 frees) (0-05 each), C Flynn and N McCarthy (0-01 each).

St Catherine’s team: E Aherne, F O’Connell, E Wallace, J Neville, E Condon, E O’Riordan, C Hegarty, T O’Donnell, S Cotter, L O’Connor, R Galvin, A Neville, B Mulcahy, K Barry, C Kearney. Subs: K Neville for C Kearney (44), P Keane for E Condon (49). Referee Pa Beausang (Midleton).

Round 7 division 2 East Cork Junior Hurling League

St Catherines 4-19 Carrigtwohill 3-13

Although intermittently behind like at 0-08 to 1-03 to the end of the opening quarter, three first half goals with Tom Hartnett and Harry Draper among the scorers laid the foundation of a victory from this hurling league tie when played in Ballynoe on Wednesday evening, June 1^st last. Further points from Rory Galvin and Richard Galvin along with substitutes Owen O’Neill and Denis Temple extended what had been a half-time lead of 3-06 to 1-10 before a brace of Sean Ronayne goals narrowed the gap. Matthew Mulcahy with his second and a fourth Saints’ goal on 50 minutes confirmed a home win.

Scorers: M Mulcahy (2-04), R Clancy (0-05 frees), T Hartnett (1-01), H Draper (1-00), R Galvin (0-01 sideline cut) (0-03), Rd Galvin (0-02), S Cotter, C Kearney, D Temple and O O’Neill (0-01 each.

St Catherine’s team: E Aherne, Stephen O’Brien, K Neville, S Kearney, A Neville, Shane O’Brien, P O’Neill, C Kearney, Rd Galvin, R Galvin, M Mulcahy, H Draper, T Hartnett, R Clancy, S Cotter. Subs: J Neville for S Cotter (second half), O O’Neill for H Draper (39), R English for T Hartnett (43), P Ryan for P O’Neill (47), B O’Connor for S Kearney (50), D Temple for M Mulcahy (54). Also E Sheehan and N O’Regan. Referee: Tadg O’Connor (Killeagh).

Round 7 division 2 East Cork Junior Football League

Cloyne 2-06 St Catherines 0-07

It was the home team collecting the points on offer from this round 7 tie when played in Cloyne on Monday evening, May 30^th last. Eoin Condon was the scorer as the Saints forced themselves into a lead of two unanswered points inside the opening five minutes. Improving Cloyne ahead on a half-time scoreline standing at 0-04 to 0-02 before scorer in chief Paudi O’Sullivan picked out Eoin Motherway to first time the opening goal in the third minute of the second half. When Colm O’Sullivan added a second goal direct from a free then minutes later Cloyne were in a strong position.

Scorers: R Galvin (0-04 frees) and E Condon (0-03). St Catherine’s team: S Fitzgerald, K Neville, S O’Brien, J Neville, E Wallace, E O’Riordan, F O’Connell, R Galvin, C Kearney, P O’Connor, T O’Donnell, E Kenneally, E Condon, L O’Connor, A Neville. Subs: J Hayes for A Neville (second half), P Keane for C Kearney (51), J Hurley for P O’Connor (55), H Draper for J Hayes (57). Also S Cogan and T Ohrim. Referee: Pa Beausang (Midleton).

This week’s juvenile section

Semi-final division 1 Rebel Óg East U14 Football Championship

Lisgoold 4-03 St Catherines 7-14

St Catherines were too strong from the semi-final of the division U14 Football Championship when played in Lisgoold on Wednesday evening, June 1^st last.

Scorers: K O’Donoghue (3-05), C O’Driscoll (2-00), A Cotter (1-02), E O’Mahony (1-00), T Clancy (0-03), B Aherne and T Walsh (0-02 each). St Catherine’s team: J O’Connor, C Barry, S O’Donoghue, L Moore, B McKee, J Pietropaolo, R Hickey, A Cotter, B Aherne, C O’Driscoll, T Clancy, K O’Donoghue, S McCarthy, E O’Mahony, T Walsh. Subs: C Higgins for T Walsh, T Walsh for S McCarthy. Referee: Anthony O’Regan (Youghal).

Phase 2 round 1 division 1 Rebel Óg East U13 Football League

St Catherines 6-14 St Colmans 4-08

Although never headed, St Catherines had to work ferociously hard before collecting the points on offer when this tie was played at a largely overcast Ballynoe on Saturday afternoon last. A half-time lead standing at 2-07 to 2-03 had been halved when moving onto 4-08 to 4-06 now ten minutes into the second half. But Eoghan O’Mahony completed a hattrick of goals, Ronan Hickey again putting in the work rate around the middle, allied to the point scoring of Alan Cotter and the impressive Tadg Walsh with Sean Walsh pointing a stunner and only in the closing quarter could one say that the victory had been secured. Next up will be hurling against Castlelyons. With a visit to Aghada in the football league following on the week after that.

Scorers: E O’Mahony (3-00), A Cotter (1-05), T Walsh (0-01 ’45) (0-01 free) (0-07), R Hickey (0-01 ’45) (1-01), own goal (1-00) and S Walsh (0-01). St Catherine’s team: J Cunneen, S O’Riordan, B O’Connor, A Burke, S Walsh, R O’Donoghue, A Cotter, R Hickey, C Higgins, T Walsh, S McCarthy, T Morrison, E O’Mahony. Subs: C McCarthy and J O’Connor for R O’Donoghue and A Burke (both second half), N Keane and N Curtin for S McCarthy and T Morrison (both 53). Referee: Anthony O’Regan (Youghal).

Next on a busy fixture list

Friday, June 10^th at Carrigtwohill round 3 Bon Secours County Junior B Football Championship v Castlelyons at 7.30pm. Saturday, June 11^th phase 2 round 2 division 1 Rebel Óg East U13 Hurling League v Castlelyons in Ballynoe at 11am. Sunday, June 12^th final Rebel Óg East division 1 U14 Football Championship v Bride Rovers at 6.30pm, venue Dungourney.

Juvenile Championship draws

It was the live streaming of the U15 and U17 championship draws in both codes that was providing the backdrop to a well-attended meeting of the juvenile club on Thursday evening last at 8.30pm. Both U15 teams will now play in the Rebel Óg East division 2 championships. They will meet Lisgoold in section 1 of the hurling which also involves Mayfield and Watergrasshill. While Castlelyons, Cobh, Erins Own and Fr O’Neills complete section 2. It’s St Catherines v Bride Rovers and Castlelyons v Carrigtwohill in section 2 of the equivalent football championship. Fr O’Neills, Kiltha Og, Lisgoold and Glenville comprise the other section.

It's St Catherines v Bride Rovers and Mallow v Shandrum making up the draw for section 3 of what is a twelve-team premier 2 U17 hurling championship. While it’s St Catherines v Midleton and Glenville v St Nicholas for section 2 East 1 football championship. Also involved are Erins Own, St Colmcilles, Carrigtwohill and Killeagh. Please take note, U13s play league only. U15 mentors are Brian Sheehan, Dino Pietropaolo, Padraig O’Connor, Ed Kenneally and Joe Pratt. In charge of the u17 (minor) age group are Pat Fitzgerald, Rory Galvin, Noel Kielthy and Kieran Morrison. Dates and venues re championship matches to follow, all in good time.

County final of Scór na bPáistí

Big weekend coming up for all competitors in the county final of Scór na bPáistí. St Catherines will be represented by Stephanie Carr in sean nós dance. While Fira Lane, Layla McNamara, Tessa O’Leary, Orla Morrison, Ta Lane, Rina Morrison, Melina Didek and Caitlin Twomey performing ‘the sweets of May’ represent club and division in the figure dancing section. Through to the decider in the nuachleas or novelty act with a piece labelled ‘Back to the summer’ are a group made up of Teegan Murphy, Kayla Cummins, Karley McClements, Ciara Hayes, Ronan Hickey, Orla Morrision, Willow O’Gorman and Kelly Dillon. While Ciara Hayes is also in the storytelling or recitation category. She will perform ‘My Communion’ by Frank McCourt. Best of luck to all involved, County final of Scór na bPáistí will be in the Eire Óg GAA pavilion in Ovens on this coming Saturday afternoon, June 11^th, starting time 2.30pm.

Latest lotto results

Results of the most recent weekly lotto draw from bank holiday Monday, June 6^th. Numbers drawn were 2, 14, 16 and 22 and the €20,000 jackpot wasn’t won. While the consolation winners were Anne Barry, Carrigmore, Conna, Anne Marie Hayes, Garryanne, Aghern, M Kelleher c/o PH Conna, Garry Aherne, Shanakill, Curraglass and Margaret Leahy, Ballynoe. Bonus €50 prizes were won by Jennifer Daly, Tallow, Mary C Leahy, Corrin View House, Glenreigh, Ballynoe and Patrick O’Neill, Ballynoe, online. There will be a draw on Monday night, June 13^th at 9.30pm. Jackpot €20,000.

St Catherine’s GAA Club sponsors

• T&A Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, Ballynoe are sponsors of St Catherines GAA Club.
• Mulcahy Steel are sponsors of St Catherines Juvenile GAA Club.