St Catherines GAA Notes.

  • Aug 17,2022

By John O'Mahony PRO, St Catherines GAA Club.

Second loss ends first team championship aspirations 

Round 2 Group C Co-op Superstores County Premier Junior Hurling Championship

Tracton 3-13 St Catherines 1-14

Records show this particular tie would be just the 4th championship meeting at adult level between the clubs stretching back over a 65 year period. Tracton defeating the Saints on a scoreline of 4-06 to 2-08 in a county junior quarter final at the Old Athletic grounds. A precursor to the modern and up-to-date Pairc Ui Chaoimh when played in September 1957. That being the first year St Catherines claimed divisional junior A hurling success. Fast forward to the junior county winning year of 2017. Catherines achieving a victory on a scoreline of 2-12 to 1-03 over Tracton's second choice team in a quarter final played at Watergrasshill. Much more relevant a 0-15 to 0-14 success over a squad of players from the Minane Bridge area. Down there in a line basically hemmed in between Carrigaline, Nohoval and Belgooly in a first round tie of the previously termed Lower Intermediate Championship. That was played at Carrigtwohill on Saturday, August 1st 2020. Previously billed for 4pm but early on the previous Tuesday morning we learned of a 2pm throw-in, avoiding a clash with the All-Ireland senior camogie final fixed for 4:15pm in Croke Park.

Tracton defeated Glen Rovers 2-14 to 0-7 first night out. By contrast the Saints lost out 2-10 to 0-10 when playing their corresponding round in Killeagh. Tracton +3 St Catherines -6 on the scoring average table. That then would be just the amount of backdrop we could give you as we entered the gate of Blarney GAA Club just shy of 1pm on Sunday afternoon last. Again, a minute’s silence being observed in memory of the late Dillon Quirke. Tracton making the livelier start to this round 2 group C Premier Junior Hurling Championship tie played in excruciating heat. Sure, we’re not used to it! Wing forward David Byrne drilling in the first goal and a lead of 1-03 to 0-01 to five minutes. Extending their dominance standing at 1-06 to 0-03 beyond the opening quarter against a now visibly improving Saints outfit. Boosted by an audacious, mesmeric Thomas O’Donnell point on 28 minutes. Before a probing lengthy Eoin David free at the second time of asking was glanced to the net by an alert Brian Mulcahy in time added on. Behind on a half-time scoreline of 1-08 to 1-07. On the overall pattern we would settle for that.

Pacy midfielder Gearoid O’Brien released Matthew Mulcahy for the leveller within 40 seconds of the change of ends. Parity restored for a third time over the hour. Gearoid O’Brien splitting the posts from right in the middle of enemy territory before a pointed free from the very good Kyle Wallace had the Saints into the lead for the first time since the opening seconds at 1-10 to 1-09 to 37 minutes. Even the Saints recovered when Daniel Harrington forced in a second Tracton goal on 40 minutes. Daniel Mangan this time with the equalising point at 1-12 to 2-09 to the end of the third quarter. Then disaster struck. A free taken by joint captain Michael O’Sullivan, not dealt with, ending up in the net for the cruellest of third goals. Making it 3-10 to 1-12 to 53 minutes. Catherines now minus a full allotment of players and going further behind to points from both midfielders Sean Good and Daniel O’Flaherty. Russell Rovers won the night before and they now along with Tracton advance from the group to the knockout stages of the newly introduced County Premier Junior hurling Championship. Catherines down to play Glen Rovers in a third round fixture at Lisgoold on Friday evening, August 26th.

Scorers: K Wallace (0-05 frees) (0-08), B Mulcahy (1-00), E Davis (0-02 frees), T O’Donnell, M Mulcahy, G O’Brien and D Mangan (0-01 each). St Catherine’s team: E Davis, P Keane, E Wallace, F O’Connell, S O’Brien, E O’Riordan, C Hegarty, T O’Donnell, G O’Brien, S Cotter (team captain), M Mulcahy, D Mangan, K Barry, K Wallace, B Mulcahy. Subs: E Condon for T O’Donnell (second half), J Neville for E Wallace (55), R O’Connell for M Mulcahy (57), A Neville for E Condon (58). Referee: Shane Scanlon (Newcestown).

Championship matches in Ballynoe

Páirc Naomh Chaitríonaigh, Baile Nua played host to two influential matches this past playing week. 

Unfortunate for Castlemartyr. Tasting defeat in both. Losing out to Castlelyons 1-18 to 2-12 in the first match of group 3 in the East Cork Junior B Hurling Championship on Bank Holiday Monday last. Referee was Mike Walsh of the host club. St Catherines and Erins Own are the other two teams involved in this section and they were paired to meet in Glenville last night, Wednesday.

Having endured an opening day loss to Ballinhassig and Kilworth returned to winning ways in group 3 round 2 of the PIHC at sun-scorched Ballynoe on Saturday afternoon last. It finished up on a scoreline of Kilworth 2-17 to Castlemartyr 0-20. Having led 1-11 to 0-11 at the interval. Referee was Jim McEvoy of the Blarney Club. Prior to throwing in the sliotar a minute’s silence was observed in memory of Dillon Quirke who tragically passed away the previous evening playing for his beloved Clonoulty-Rossmore Club in the Tipperary SHC. Ar dheis Dé to raibh a anam dílis.

All-Ireland camogie finals

No joy at the weekend. Proceedings opened on a Croke Park triple bill with victory going to Antrim over northern rivals Armagh in the junior camogie decider. Galway inflicting a 2-point loss on Cork in the subsequent intermediate final that followed. Kilkenny claiming a 15th title overall with victory by the slimmest of margins over Cork before an attendance of 24,000 in the top billing for the All-Ireland senior camogie title at headquarters on Sunday evening last. Glen Dimplex are Camogie Championship sponsors.

What we have in upcoming fixtures for you

Saturday, August 13 round 4 division 1 Rebel Óg East U13 football league in Carrigtwohill at 2.30pm. Also round 3 group 2 East Cork junior B football championship v Dungourney at 6pm, venue tbc. Wednesday, August 17 round 3 division 2 Rebel Óg East U15 hurling championship in Mayfield at 7pm. Monday, August 15 at tbc, round 2 group 3 East Cork junior B hurling championship v Castlemartyr at 7.30pm.

An intensely busy juvenile week has the report starting with round 2 premier 2 U17 hurling championship.

St Catherines 1-18 Mallow 2-09

With a much-improved performance and following an opening night reversal against Bride Rovers, home team St Catherines recorded their first win in the group stages of the competition with a workmanlike and deserving victory from this tie when played in sunny conditions at Ballynoe on Friday evening last. That said, Mallow were quicker to settle, exploded to life with Mark Kelleher releasing Ben Noonan to goal from close range on 4 minutes. With Liam Malone also on target it was 1-04 to 0-05 for the north Cork team to the end of the opening quarter. John Temple and the excellent Ciaran Pietropaolo were finding the range for the home-based team who were to benefit enormously with the relocation of Sean O’Donoghue to the middle of the field from a starting full forward role. Entering the driver’s chair for the first time when ferocious and intelligent work from the industrious Oisin Fitzgerald saw Ciaran Leamy cutely tuck away the Saints goal on 28 minutes. Enough to establish a 5-point lead on a half-time scoreline of 1-11 to 1-06.

Be it frees or open play it was a second half all about Sean O’Donoghue, A return of all 7 points cored brought his overall tally to the even dozen and victory was secured when Simon Lenegan drilled home a consolation goal 4 minutes over time.

Final game in the group stages will be up in Newtownshandrum next week. This was a good result emanating from an equally solid performance. Compensating fully after a few disappointing days and nights with the equivalent football squad. We were up in Newtown for the opening league match back in February. St Catherines have been warned.

Scorers: S O’Donoghue (0-11 frees) (0-12), C Pietropaolo (0-04), C Leamy (1-00), J Temple and D Morrison (’65) (0-01 each). St Catherine’s team: J Bryan, C McCarthy, E O’Driscoll, C Hayes, C McAuliffe, O Fitzgerald, D O’Donovan, D Morrison (team captain), D O’Connell, N Sheehan, C Pietropaolo, T Barry, C Leamy, S O’Donoghue, J Temple. Sub: G Sheehan for T Barry (54). Also: A Bryan, G O’Callaghan McCarthy, C Dunning, C Murray and K O’Donoghue. Referee: Arthur Murphy (Killeagh).

Round 2 division 2 Rebel Óg East U15 Hurling Championship

Watergrasshill 6-18 St Catherines 2-12

It was the home team hit the ground running and with Jack Counihan, Shane O’Callaghan and Jayden Hennebry regularly on the scoresheet, were very much the dominant force from the tie when played in a coolish Watergrasshill on Wednesday, August 3. When the Saints did penetrate, they would find Leon Clarke O Sé impossible to beat between the posts, stopping the proverbial bullets, contributing as much as any player, on a half-time scoreline of 4-11 to 0-08.

Gearoid Sheehan was accurate from placed balls, Kyle O’Donoghue found the target and the hardworking John Temple ran up the scores his effort deserved. But the margin was too wide and very much the better team were the victors. Group concludes next week in Mayfield.

Scorers: G Sheehan (0-07 frees) (0-08), J Temple (0-02 frees) (1-04) and K O’Donoghue (1-00). St Catherine’s team: S O’Donoghue, J Kenneally, C Murray, L Moore, J Pratt, F McCready, T Clancy, J Temple, J Pietropaolo, K O’Donoghue, G Sheehan, C Hickey, C O’Driscoll, T Dee, A Cotter. Subs: S Walsh for L Moore (26’), B McKee and R Hickey for C O’Driscoll and T Dee (both second half), C Barry for J Kenneally (49’), J O’Connor for A Cotter (55’). Also L Kilmartin, S Wallace and E O’Mahony. Referee: Mark Murphy (Bride Rovers).

Round 5 division 1 Rebel Óg East U13 Hurling League

St Catherines 2-04 Kiltha Óg 8-14

Although guaranteed a home semi-final draw an understrength St Catherines surrendered their unbeaten tag when losing out to a Colm Smiddy inspired Kiltha Óg when this tie went ahead at sun-drenched Ballynoe on Saturday morning last.

Scorers: A Cotter (1-02 frees), N Curtin (1-00), T Walsh and E O’Mahony (free) (0-01 each). Team: S O’Keeffe, N Keane, B O’Connor, C McCarthy, S McCarthy, S Walsh, S Moore, T Walsh, A Cotter, E Dillon, T Morrison, A Burke, D Temple, E O’Mahony, N Curtin. Referee: John Kirby (Midleton).

Lotto

Results of the most recent lotto draw from Monday, August 8th. Numbers drawn were 25, 28, 30 and 31. There was no jackpot winner. Consolation prizes go to Rebecca Kenny, Aglish, Ber Feeney, Carrigeen, Conna, Michael A Leahy, Corrin View House, Glenreigh, Ballynoe, Redmond Higgins, Ballynoe and Martina Gallagher, Donegal. There will be a draw on Monday night, August 15th. 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.