A more than satisfactory week for the Rebels on the playing fields of Munster (I loves me county!). There was that underage double over Limerick in both Minor and U20 hurling. You may or may not be aware that Limerick corner back in the Minor would be John O’Keeffe of the na Piarsaigh club. They would have the likes of William O’Donoghue, Conor Boylan and the Caseys, Mike and Peter on the Senior set up. Have a feeling Sunday Game panellist Shane Dowling to be from the city club as well. But the point we’re making is that John O’Keeffe is son of Richard O’Keeffe of Newtown, Ballynoe who would be of the same vintage as Cathal Casey. In a player profile on the match programme John listing St Catherine’s GAA grounds in Ballynoe as his favourite pitch. Now wasn’t he well thought!

Two nights later Cork, finishing a man down, secured the game’s only goal through Lisgoold man Diarmuid Healy in a narrow victory over the Shannonsiders in the U20 hurling championship. Son of Brendan and grandson of Jim (Blackrock) a legendary figure in Cork GAA circles particularly underage. Being the first secretary of the County Minor Board before merging with the divisional juvenile boards to form Rebel Óg.

It must have been some match on the Ennis road on Saturday night. Clare now on the board following the tightest of wins over the reigning provincial and All-Ireland champions. Thus inflicting a first championship loss on Limerick since August 2019.

Another 30,000 or so descending on a picturesque Páirc Uí Chaoimh 24 hours later as Cork made their entry into what is always an eagerly anticipated competition. Bet the Munster Council would go along with that too because the equivalent football championship certainly won’t draw them in. Unlike Clare/Limerick this was certainly no classic. Cork attacking with gusto. Going through the gears establishing leads of 0-05 to 0-01 and 0-08 to 0-01. Indeed had forged an embarrassing lead standing at 0-12 to 0-02 to 26 minutes. By half-time it being 0-15 to 0-06. Waterford with just the one score from play.

Both benches emptied thereafter. Contrasting reasons applying. Waterford put it up to Limerick seven days previously. But were very poor here. Offering the theory they hadn’t sufficient recovery time from the last day. Still the Banner were able to lift themselves off the floor after losing to Tipp. And they were out again a day quicker than the Déise who now are clearly in a horrible place with two more tough matches fast approaching in Thurles.

Tipperary are visitors for what is now a top of the table clash this upcoming Saturday evening. One thing sure and certain, out to reverse a mauling received at home fifty weeks ago. A setback putting paid to Colm Bonner’s reign as county senior manager. 0-27 to 0-18 was a reassuring scoreline last time out. But Cork hurlers, mentors and supporters are well aware that wouldn’t do this time. Cork will have to get goals.

Tipp themselves bagged five against Clare. Though still three were left in. It depends on how you look at it. Cork though still alive and for the moment it’s still Rebels abu!

Parting shot on the intercounty front shows that Cork, along with Kildare, Donegal and Westmeath will be the fourth seeds in the quest for Sam Maguire.

Club action on the field of play

Round 5 division 4 Red FM County Hurling League

St Catherines 2-12 Aghabullogue 1-12

In a week which started out with a victory in a first team challenge in Blarney and Aghabullogue were visitors on the double. First up was Junior B camogie before the Saints returned to winning ways with a hard earned three point success from this round 5 tie played at a dull, overcast and wet Ballynoe on Saturday evening last. Both clubs struggling to breach the target before the home team grabbed the lead for the first time. Rory Galvin going highest, taking possession of the sliotar then picking his spot for the first goal and a lead of 1-03 to 0-04 to 25 minutes.

Joy short lived with John Corkery, who pointed the opening two scores of the match inside three minutes of the throw-in, charging through for the opposition goal in response. Three unanswered points followed in what remained with Aghabullogue now ahead on a half-time scoreline standing at 1-08 to 1-03.

With Kyle Wallace taking over free taking duties parity was restored for the first time since 17 minutes. Score at 1-08 apiece to 39 minutes. Shane Cotter showing great awareness released Rory Galvin again. Duly finishing off his and the second Saints’ goal shortly afterwards and a lead of 2-08 to 1-09 to 40 minutes. Matthew Bradley was now the perpetrator in chief for the visitors and by and large from frees before an awesome score from wingback Conor Hegarty, very near the finish, secured the Catherine’s win. Next league match will be in Lisgoold on Saturday evening, May 13^th.

Scorers: R Galvin (0-02 frees) (2-03), K Wallace (0-04 frees) (0-05), E Davis (0-02 frees), K Barry and C Hegarty (0-01 each).

Team: E Davis, J Neville, E O’Riordan, P Keane, C Hegarty, E Wallace, K Neville, O Fitzgerald, K Wallace, G O’Brien, S Cotter, K Barry, S O’Donoghue, R Galvin, B Mulcahy. Subs: K O’Donoghue for K Barry (second half), W Leamy for O Fitzgerald (42).

Referee: Anthony O’Regan (Youghal).

Juvenile section

Round Two Premier Two County U18 Hurling League (refixture)

Carrigtwohill 1-08 St Catherines 1-15

Coming a cropper when first encountered on the night of Monday, March 20^th. So with the mutual agreement of both clubs an U18 hurling league tie rescheduled and played in Carrigtwohill on Monday evening, April 24^th last at 7pm.

Throw in had gotten underway from 7:00pm and throughout the game, there was n

No doubt the Saints were having the better of it and with “Chips” Murphy, Ciaran Pietropaulo, Kian O’Donoghue and John Temple, among others making the scoresheet, Catherines were ahead on a half-time scoreline standing at 0-10 to 0-04.

Evan O’Driscoll and directly in front of him Oisin Fitzgerald comfortably dealt with all questions posed defensively. Now at centre forward Sean O’Donoghue, nonchalantly added to the tally, both from frees and general play. Moving in full forward when that swap came about and Darragh Morrison put the issue to bed when lashing in the visitors goal on fifty eight minutes.

Scorers: D Morrison (1-02), S O’Donoghue (0-02 frees) (0-5), C Pietropaulo (0-03), J Temple (0-02), D ‘Chips’ Murphy, O Fitzgerald and K O’Donoghue (0-01 each).

St Catherine’s team; G Sheehan, C McCarthy, E O’Driscoll, C Hayes, D O’Donovan, O Fitzgerald, C McAuliffe, K O’Donoghue, D O’Connell, D ‘Chips’ Murphy, S O’Donoghue, C Pietropaulo, C Leamy, D Morrison, J Temple. Subs: T Barry and C Dunning for ‘Chips’ Murphy and C Leamy (both 54’). G O’Callaghan McCarthy and J Bryan for C Hayes and J Temple (both 59’).

Referee Rory O’Connell (Cobh).

Round five Premier Two County U18 hurling league

St Catherines 2-18 Aghada 2-16

More well earned success from the round five encounter played at an overcast Ballynoe on Wednesday evening, April 26th. Defensively assured with Cian McCarthy, Evan O’Driscoll and in particular Oisin Fitzgerald in the pivotal role. John Temple, with one outrageous score from a seemingly impossible angle (won’t work every time John!) and Sean O’Donoghue up front, saw an impressive start confirmed. It was 1-03 without reply after five minutes. Moving on to 1-08 to 0-07 to 23 minutes and after Darragh Morrison with his and a second Saints goal of the evening has the half-time scoreline standing at 2-11 to 1-08.

That said, a second Aghada goal just at the end of the third quarter meant it would always be competitive right up to the finish. How often have we heard it, a win is a win, how true it is. Not for arguing with. In all a third from the group, but overall would come unstuck. Defeats to Bride Rovers and St Finbarr’s doing the damage with the Saints needing other results to go their way on the night. Sadly that didn’t happen.

On the other side of the coin and by the time you reflect on these words St Catherine’s were due to play Mayfield in the Division Two Rebel Og East U18 football league final at Ballynoe last night – Wednesday, May 3rd Here’s hoping!

Scorers - D. Morrison (0-04 frees) (2-05), S O’Donoghue (0-05 frees) (0-07), O Fitzgerald (0-01 free) (0-01 “65”) (0-03), J Temple (0-02) and C Pietropaulo (0-01).

St Catherines team – G Sheehan, C McCarthy, E O’Driscoll, C Hayes, D O’Donovan, O Fitzgerald, N Sheehan, K O’Donoghue, D O’Connell, T Barry, S O’Donoghue, C Pietropaulo, C Leamy, D Morrison, J Temple. Subs: C Dunning for T Barry (54’). Also: C Murray and G O’Callaghan McCarthy.

Referee: Brian Murphy (Carrigtwohill).

Round Three Division One Rebel Og East

U14 Hurling League

St Catherines 2-09 St Colman’s 3-08

On at more or less the same time as the U18 hurling league tie was this U14 hurling league clash also on in Ballynoe on Wednesday evening April 26th last at 7.15pm.

It was an evenly contested battle throughout with the lead being exchanged this way and that, before Tomas Morrison and Tadhg Walsh ushered the home team marginally ahead on a 2-04 to 2-03 half-time scoreline.

Ronan Hickey extended the margin four minutes into the second half. Alan Cotter was magnificent around the middle of the pitch, with his pace and ability to read the play. A stand out moment from the game saw a fourteen year old player pointing a sideline cut was easy on the eye and a joy to behold. That said the Cloyne and Shanagarry boys were that bit taller, stronger and bigger. Daniel Walsh and Conor O’Brien were consistently good and worked out the winning formula for a finish. Theres football in Lotabeg weekend coming up.

Scorers – A Cotter (0-04 frees) (0-01 sideline cut) (1-07), T Morrison (1-00), T Walsh and R Hickey (0-01 each).

St Catherine’s team - S O’Keefe, C McCarthy, E O’Mahony, B O’Connor, C Higgins, S Walsh, S McCarthy, A Cotter, T Walsh, E Dillon, K O’Connell, T Morrison, J Cunneen, R Hickey, R O’Donoghue. Subs - S O’Riordan for K O’Connell (7’), L Moore for E Dillon (44’), D Temple for J Cunneen (55’), N Keane for R O’Donaghue (56).

Referee Padraig Walsh (Midleton).

Parish School Football Blitz

It was Thursday, September 15th when the seeds were sown and the hugely successful and still spoken about hurling equivalent was held. Chief organiser Steve Cummins promised a follow up and at a club juvenile meeting back in early February revealed Friday, April 28th would be the date for the parish schools football blitz.

From early in the morning potentially all of 190 students from first to sixth class involving the three schools of the area descended on Pairc Naomh Caitrionaigh where three groups roughly of 65 boys and girls each making up eight teams from first sixth class played four matches each in roughly a four and a half hour period. Many of those would be coming through the gates for the first time which of course would be one of the purposes of the entire project. Coaches and referees for the day were the Transition students, they being, Diarmuid O’Connell, Ciaran Leamy, Jack Hickey, Evan O’Driscoll, Cian Dunning, Timmy Barry, Adam Bryan, John Temple, Jake Bryan, Cian McCarthy and Conor Hayes.

While aside from the aforementioned Steve Cummins, other volunteers were Padraig O’Connor, Sean O’Farrell, Imelda O’Connell, club child safety officers Ber Feeney from the GAA and Martina O’Connor, ladies football. Lisa Moore, secretary of the Juvenile GAA Club, Matt Harper and Ronan Sheehan. Also mentioning, Chloe Carr and Hanna Norman. Transport provided by Paddy Egan of Paddy Bus Hire and Aine O’Regan from Mackey Coaches. All pupils would receive treat bags. Great day all round.

Feile na Ngael

Games are coming thick and fast now with two wins from four outings not enough to ensure progression in the Feile na nGael qualifiers from Cloyne on Saturday morning last. St Catherines started well with two victories recorded in the traditional Cloyne pitch of old. Defeating Bride Rovers on a 1-05 to 0-2 scoreline followed by success (1-05 to 0-03) over Youghal in the subsequent match.

Unfortunately not doing as well when moving to the new set up situated there on the left coming in the Midleton Road. Losing to St Colman’s on a scoreline of 1-04 to 0-05. Before tasting defeat to eventual outright group winners Watergrasshill. Final score being Watergrasshill 3-05 St Catherines 2-04. All matches were over twenty minutes (10 x 2). Referees at the venues being Willie Wallis and Pa Beausang.

Full list of players on St Catherines panel being: Shane O’Donoghue, Shay McCarthy, James Kenneally, Ben O’Connor, Ronan Hickey, Julian Pietropaolo, Cathal Barry, Liam Moore, Tristan Clancy, Billy McKee, Kyle O’Donoghue, Callum O’Driscoll, Jayden O’Connor, Alan Cotter, Eoin O’Mahony, Liam Kilmartin, Cathal Higgins, Tomas Morrison and Eoin Dillon.

Fabolous Week Watching Punchestown

One of the most touching pieces of sports journalism read in the past week or so centred on a Clare lady Janna Walsh. A groom at the all conquering Willie Mullins stable in Co. Carlow and her efforts to get to her beloved Dysart Dynamo following a horrific fall in the Arkle Chase in Cheltenham. Surrounded by those green screens, it didn’t look good. Thankfully Dysart was just winded and apparently the tears just flowed when gradually easing up on his four legs again. It really captured love between man and beast.

Dysart was back on the Punchestown track and this time saw out his race. Coming a creditable second in a hot contest on the Thursday. Super winner El Fabiolo one of nine group ones collected by the champion trainer at the county Kildare venue. State man, Energumene, Facile Vega, Impaire Et Passe, LossieMouth all repeating heroics of a national hunt season now over. Maybe defeat for Gallopin Des Champs was a blemish - was he over focused with Brave Man’s game and suffered the consequences. Still how often do we hear it being expressed “You can’t win them all”!

Another winner shooting up the banks is Impervious. His trainer Colm Murphy reached the pinnacle a decade or so ago with the likes of Big Zeb and Brave Inca. Subsequently retired, now back on form and this horse who has built up a savage bond with Brian Hayes, a Mullins jockey and boyfriend of the legendary Rachel and Gordan’s Elliot’s Geri Colombe, a Liverpool winner are two animals the Mullins yard will be keeping an eye on. As JP McManus, Willie and Patrick, Michael O’Sullivan and the two Townends, brother and sister, collect the season ending awards from their respective categories.

A week rounding up with analyst Ted Walsh telling us he was finishing with his punditry comments. They were all there. Katie and Ruby, Jane Mangan and Barry Geraghty paying an emotive tribute to a man not short of a word himself. Lovely moment and great television.

Now the flat steps forward. English classics weekend upon us. August Rodin, Little Big Bear, Meditate all from Ballydoyle. We wonder if Tamiyra from the Welds will feature in the 1000 Guineas on the Sunday. All to be revealed.

Sympathy

Condolences to the Hurley and Spillane families, Castlelyons on their recent sad bereavement.

Congratulations

Delighted to see Willie Duggan collect the prize of sports star of the month for March on 96 and 103FM for his unfailing promotion of the traditional games in Mitchelstown CBS where he teaches. Met the man recently face to face for the first time on the pitch in Ballynoe where one found him open, accessible, gently spoken and mild mannered, Willie Duggan is secretary of Kildorrery GAA Club.

Coming up next on your fixtures list

Friday, May 5th at Lotabeg Round Five Division One U14 football league vs Mayfield at 6.30pm.

Saturday May 6th at Blarney Round One Group B County Junior B. Football championship v Oliver Plunkett is at 3pm.

Sunday May 7th at Church Road Round Three Division Two under sixteen football league v St Michaels at 11am.

Monday, May 8th at Ballynoe Round Two U12 Hurling League v Watergrasshill at 6.30pm.

Monday, May 8th at Ballynoe (refixture) Round Three Division Two East Cork Junior Hurling league v Castlemartyr at 7.30pm.

Tuesday, May 9th at Ballynoe Round Six Division Two East Cork Junior Football League v Midleton at 7.30pm (fixtures correct at time of submission).

Recent Lotto Results

Presenting you with the results of the most recent weekly lotto draw from bank holiday Monday night last, May 1st. No’s drawn were 8, 12, 30 and 31 and there was no winner. While the consolation winners on the night were: Aaron Neville, Balllynoe, online; M.K.H and C Draper c/o HOC Conna; Tom Power, Ballynoe; D.N.K.N. c/o Kals Conna and Gerry Gregan, Clarecastle, Co Clare.

A draw will take place in the clubrooms, Ballynoe, on Monday night May 8th with the jackpot now standing at €13,400. Patrons please take note starting time will now be 9.30pm.

Club Sponsors

T&A building and Civil Engineer contractors, Ballynoe are sponsors of St Catherine’s GAA Club.

Mulcahy Steel are sponsors of St Catherine’s/Juvenile GAA Club.