Exactly twelve months to the day since then Taoiseach Micheal Martin nearly trotted down the steps of Government Buildings revealing the removal of Covid restrictions and St Catherines Juvenile GAA, Camogie and Ladies Football Clubs were back in the Rochestown Park Hotel for the annual Social. Previous to that we update your lotto results service. Ok off you go. Read on. Enjoy!

Lotto

In starting your lotto results update service we give you all the details from Monday, January 16^th. Numbers drawn were 7, 23, 27 and 31 and the €10,200 jackpot wasn’t won. Consolation winners were D/A Hartigan c/o PH Conna, Mary Beecher Ballymacsimon Castlelyons, Carolyn Motherway Dungourney, Brendan Wilson Monagown Conna and Liz O’Dowd Conna.

The results of the most recent weekly lotto draw from Monday, January 23^rd were as follows – numbers drawn 1, 2, 13 and 20 and there was not winner of the jackpot. Consolation winners were D & S Syndicate c/o Winacre Stables, Batt Sheehan Ballymonteen Ballynoe, Sean Cronin c/o The Big Tree Aghern, Elaine Wallace Ballynoe and Billy Ahern Shanakill Curraglass.

All of which means the next draw on Monday night, January 30^th in the Clubrooms, Ballynoe at 9pm has a jackpot of €10,600.

Annual Social

Now how are we going to do this? Ok, decision made. Here we go, hope you like it! It being virtually three years to the night since we had a gathering of this size and magnitude. Well, indoors anyway! That was the function of January 17^th 2020. To club PRO John O’Mahony the honour of welcoming just short of 300 paying customers, briefly explain the format of the journey we were about to embark on. More or less declaring St Catherine’s Juvenile GAA, Camogie and the Parish’s newest recruits the Ladies Gaelic Football Club Annual Social was on the starting line. Having entered through the main door then bypass the Kiltegan Suite, room of many a memorable occasion, then upstairs to the scene of our destination, the Estuary Suite of the Rochestown Park Hotel at around 7pm on Friday evening last.

One found Niamh Pyne’s address very informative. As club chairperson giving us relevant dates like first AGM of the ladies’ football club to be Friday night, February 11^th 2022. Out on the field and training by March 24^th. Holding a three-day summer camp from August 8^th-11^th. A kind of condensed brief five minute history of a club very much in its infancy. Speaking highly of Martina O’Connor for her work and all the girls who play what is Ireland’s fastest growing sport. Adding great goodwill was bestowed on them from the Parish overall. Both Niamh and Camogie Club chairman Dave O’Sullivan thanking the GAA for their help and use of their facilities. Dave also congratulating Curraglass School on their success in the Sciath na Scol football finals.

On the GAA front underage managers of the very young, most notable Paddy Ryan, Steve Cummins and Paul O’Connell all spoke highly of their troupes. Outgoing Juvenile Chairman Brian Sheehan, an old hand at this job, in his address to the sizeable gathering thanked his fellow officers. Also that sort of mini sub-committee who basically organised the whole night. We list Susan Sheehan, Lisa Moore, Fiona Sheehan, Margaret Fitzgerald, Niamh Pyne and Marie Coakley. On board again for this year are John and Jackie Mulcahy and all are very appreciative of their generous and now ongoing sponsorship. St Catherines also promote Scór. Real highlight of the year on the playing front was that dynamic mid-summer double of winning the Division two Rebel Óg East U14 football championship with a final victory over Bride Rovers at Dungourney on Sunday, June 12^th. Just four evenings later at sunny Ballinacurra getting the better of Watergrasshill in the Division one Rebel Óg North/Mid/East U14 hurling championship final. One of the games of the year. Winning captains were Liam Moore and Shane O’Donoghue. Later under the captaincy of John Temple taking the division two Rebel Óg East U15 hurling shield. Final also played in Ballinacurra early on the afternoon of Saturday, October 1^st. Final score St Catherines 1-14 Mayfield 0-08.

All presentations to the players at the social were made by club and county stalwarts Laura Hayes, Aoife Hurley and Finola Neville. Aptly described by Brian as ambassadors for the St Catherines GAA Club. All are very proud of them. Parent club chairman Tom Morrison made a presentation to the three girls as a gesture for their achievements and presence on the night. A raffle on the door tickets was won by Orla Finn and Liam O’Connell.

Our DJ for the night was Fermoy’s own Pat Feerick. Pat knows what they want. Giving it to them in spades. Though not present on the night, off on another sun holiday, would you blame him, we thank Tom Tobin for the facilities and fine food of the Rochestown Park. Ballynoe man Padraig Casey proving an able deputy. This is always a good night. Still it is what you make it. During a season you invariably meet these people at meetings or on the line at games. It’s strictly business. Here it is more of a bonding session, mingling ina totally different environment. Just be careful of the new road structure, especially at Dunkettle on approach.

Gaelic Games interest elsewhere

A weekend of firsts for the Rebels on the provincial hurling and football fields. Newly appointed Pat Ryan collected his first piece of silverware as manager which was presented to first year captain Sean O’Donoghue with Cork only just edging over the line with a narrow victory over Tipperary in the Munster Senior Hurling League final played at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday afternoon last. Thus completing a double. Having recorded a six-point success over Limerick in the McGrath Cup senior football final when played in Mallow just two nights previously. Surely respective opening National League fixtures against both Meath and Limerick should tell us more.

Though perhaps not by the end margins envisaged yet Ballyhale Shamrocks and Kilmacud Crokes, both beaten in last year’s deciders, this time recorded deserved successes in the respective All-Ireland senior club hurling and football finals when played at GAA headquarters last Sunday. Kilkenny club Shamrocks becoming hurling champions for a ninth time. While Kilmacud were winning their third football title overall in a championship also collected by three other Dublin teams over the years.

If their performance in the competition is anything to go by well then the Premier county is and will be in a healthy state. For the first (there’s that word first again!) time in the competition’s history two Tipperary schools will play out the final of the TUS Dr Harty Cup. Unbeaten Thurles CBS, who were put to the pin of their collars by St Colmans the last day, made easy enough work of Midleton CBS, last Cork school remaining in the most prestigious second level competition of Munster College hurling. Now playing CBS Cashel in the decider fixed for Saturday, February 4^th.

Over the weekend we also learned that Ballinhassig’s own Jacqui Hurley will be the new presenter of The Sunday Game. If Marty Morrissey is under pressure fulfilling his role as Gaelic Games correspondent now that he is about to embark on a music promotion tour. Is he trying to make himself too big? Either way you feel RTE would have a ready-made replacement in Damian Lawlor, from up there in the Burgess/Portroe area of North Tipp and previously employed by The Star and Independent Newspapers. For now the knowledgeable and likeable Damian is to host the badly needed highlights show on a Saturday night. Also on screen this summer will be Joe Canning, Peter Canavan, previously with BBC NI and Sky Sports, David Tubridy (wouldn’t one Tubridy be enough?!) and Tomas Ó Sé is making a welcome return. Sure why not with the schools closing in early June.

Senior Munster Championship Draws

They may seem that bit far away now, and indeed they are. But leagues commence end of the month or early February depending on code. On completion, it's downhill all the way to the commencement of the provincial Senior Football Championship. Starting with the Tipperary Waterford and Cork v Clare opening day pairings down for April 9th. Semi-finals go ahead 3 weeks after that. Barring a Cork Kerry partnership, a Munster senior football final could be a difficult sell for Sunday, May 7th.

A much more attractive proposition are the round robin stages of the equivalent Hurling Championship. With on-going work on Walsh Park it looks like no home games again for Waterford this championship year. They start their campaign v champions Limerick on Sunday, April 23rd. No pitch confirmed. You would imagine Thurles, wouldn't you? Clare will be at home to Tipperary the same day. Although fighting hard for it do Waterford play better away from Walsh Park? Cork will be free that day. Starting off v Waterford on Sunday, April 30th at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Twenty-four hours previous Limerick play neighbours Claire at 7pm in Páirc na nGael on Saturday evening, April 29^th. Cork will be at home to Tipperary on Saturday evening, May 6^th. Waterford v Clare one week later. But where? That could be a tricky one now. Onto Sunday, May 21^st for round four fixtures. Cork play Clare up in Ennis. Limerick at home to the Rebels. Likewise Tipp will play the Decie in Thurles. Sunday, June 11^th is the date for the Munster Senior Hurling Final. Times, dates and venues confirmed following a provincial council meeting in Mallow on Tuesday night, January 17^th last.

Condolences

Just right now it all seems a little excessive as this week we offer our sympathies to all family members on what was the sad passing of Noreen Hartigan of Kilcoran, Conna in the early days of last week. Noreen would be a sister of fellow officer and clubman Pat Hartigan and though it’s all gone high tec now with registrations through Foireann Pat retains the role of registrar and you can pay your membership through him. It’s only the thick skinned try to evade Pat. With Billy Neville returning as Field Chairman and Thomas ‘Waxer ‘Murphy down there for a considerable part of the year nevertheless it must be said Pat puts in as big a shift as anyone. Pat won’t take any shortcuts or indeed the easy way out. Though not as involved, Toss would help out if wanted. Quietly and efficiently. You’d hardly know he’d be there. Toss’s daughter and Noreen’s niece Regina won that €20,000 jackpot in pre-Christmas lotto draw. Mary Cotter and Annette based in the UL would also be sisters. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.

Scór

Club Irish/Cultural Officer Marie Clancy was on the phone last week as a reminder that the East Cork Scór na bPáistí semi-finals will be on in Lisgoold Community Hall on week ending February 25^th/26^th. No date or venue can be confirmed for finals. But we gather all must be completed at divisional level by March 4^th. St Catherines will host their own club eliminators in Ballynoe Community Hall on Monday night, February 13^th. More Scór news shortly. Sure tis the season!

Fit-Ups coming to a close

It does seem to have passed quickly. We are now 75% through our allotted programme. Heading into what will be the favourite of many with the visit of Jon Kenny. Putting on a stupendous performance with Crowman on his last visit three years ago. Now returning with the also self-penned ‘Words, Lies and Stories of D’Unexpected’. It will close out the Fit-Ups season in our midst. It’s for showing in Ballynoe Community Hall on Wednesday night coming, February 1^st. Tickets priced at €15 are available at the door. A show of 80 minutes duration with no interval commences at 8pm. A little birdy tells me there might be something else stirring heading into the spring. Say nothing till you hear more!

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.