St Catherines GAA Notes.
- Jun 02,2023
Adult and juvenile league action
It was a week when all adult teams in the club tasted competitive action. Just take note second choice football and third string hurling outfits are championship only. In juvenile there was U12, 14 and 15 hurling league activity. Miniature reports to follow. So without further ado let’s give you the results of the most recent weekly lotto draw from Monday night, May 15th. Numbers drawn were 18, 24, 27 and 31 and the jackpot wasn’t won. Consolation winners were A Beecher c/o PH Conna, Rena Walsh Ballynoe, Orla Hegarty Ballymonteen Ballynoe, Pat Hartigan Conna and Colm Finn Monagown Conna. All of which means the next lotto draw on Monday night, May 22nd in the clubrooms, Ballynoe at 9.30pm will have a jackpot of €13,800.
Another weekend goes by
Three games in and the Déise bow out of what is a most competitive provincial senior hurling championship. To have any change of keeping their remote prospects alive until their fourth and final day, well then a victory over the Banner was a prerequisite when coming together at 6pm on Saturday evening last. Effectively a home game for the blues. But was played in Thurles. With home grounds not reaching standards required. Losing a player on two yellows, goals from Ian Galvin and Cathal Malone and yet another display of the silken skills of the masterful Tony Kelly combining to ensure a handsome 12-point victory for Clare and send Waterford packing. Compounding a wretched day lost to Down in the Tailteann Cup. Another poor start. Meaning not a single victory was attained from either code at any grade this championship year of 2023. So far, not good.
Now the focus goes back on Clare’s immediate opponents as the table toppers face the Rebels this upcoming weekend in Ennis. Last year Clare played Molly Bán with Cork. Leading at various stages on scorelines of 0-06 to 0-02, 0-12 to 0-03, 0-15 to 0-04. At half time it stood at 0-17 to 0-11. Second half goals from Alan Connolly and Darragh Fitzgibbon making it that bit more respectable. Clare making for a Munster Final for the ages on an end scoreline of 0-28 to 2-20. First blow to Clare with a victory in last week’s U17 decider. With the U20 final scheduled for Monday night now over. Another of the game’s greatest rivalries also rekindles itself this fast-approaching weekend as reigning provincial and All-Ireland champions Limerick come face to face with a rejuvenated Tipp. Two magic games. Isn’t it great to be part if it? Here comes summer!
Then we had the first penalty shoot-out to decide the Ulster Football Championship. Only province giving the title ‘Final’ that bit of credence as following Connaught and Munster the previous weekend it was another landslide victory saw the Dubs dispose of a gallant though ultimately outclassed Louth to claim the Leinster version. Now that the Connaught, Munster, Ulster and Leinster finals are done and dusted can the real championship proceed? Starting this weekend with the pool one pairing of Kerry and Mayo as the quest for Sam begins in earnest. Group completed by Cork and Louth the following weekend. Drogheda and Dundalk are the big towns. Yet Louth frequently play their home matches in Ardee. Just to tidy up matters now the shape of group two goes with the combination of Galway, Tyrone, Westmeath and Armagh. While Sligo, Kildare, Roscommon and Dublin complete section C. Likewise Derry, Clare, Monaghan and Donegal make up the fourth group. A lot of football to be played yet.
Concluding this section with a two-pronged brain teaser. Last year’s Cork/Clare Munster hurling clash was a home tie for the Rebel county. So why was the match played in Thurles? Also, who was the Cork senior hurling captain at the time? Nothing too testing there for real fans.
Sad to hear the news of the death of David Scully of Killeagh. Better known as Junior. A loyal servant for his club. At Board level for many years. In that we include commiserations to Matt, Celine, William and Cathal McAuliffe who live in Ballynoe village. On a happier note, congratulations go to all boys and girls of the Parish who recently celebrated the sacraments of Communion and Confirmation.
Club action on the field of play
Round 6 division 4 Red FM County Hurling League
Lisgoold 2-15 St Catherines 0-16
A lively start with Liam O’Shea contributing a tally of 1-04, James O’Driscoll and Luke Walsh also hitting the mark as the home team were ahead on a 1-05 to 0-02 scoreline to the end of the opening quarter and again on a half time scoreline standing at 1-10 to 0-06 when this tie was played at a dry, sunny yet cold Lisgoold at 7pm on Sunday evening last.
Extended still further when Caolan O’Brien finished a slightly fortuitous goal. John Cronin quickly adding a point shortly afterwards. Thus making it 2-12 to 0-08 now six minutes into the second half.
Difficult to assess the merits of a stiffish breeze as the Saints surged forward, yielding a return of six unanswered points. Including three from Daniel Mangan, with Kyle Wallace, Brian Mulcahy and Sean O’Donoghue also in on the act. Making it 2-13 to 0-15 to 50 minutes. A few goal chances emerged but Ciaran Cronin was equal to all that could be thrown at him. Lisgoold winning out on a 2-15 to 0-16 scoreline at the end. St Catherines will be in Cloyne next week. Ballinhassig visitors to Ballynoe in mid-June.
Scorers: D Mangan (0-02 frees) (0-05), K Wallace (frees) and B Mulcahy (0-03 each), E Davis (frees) and S O’Donoghue (0-02 each), K O’Donoghue (0-01). Lisgoold scorers: L O’Shea (0-03 frees) (1-07), C O’Brien (1-01), J O’Driscoll (0-03), L Walsh (0-02), J Cronin and J Cashman (0-01 each).
St Catherine’s team: E Davis, K Neville, E O’Riordan, J Neville, C Hegarty, O Fitzgerald, E Wallace, K Wallace, K O’Donoghue, K Barry, S Cotter, D Mangan, B Mulcahy, R Galvin, S O’Donoghue. Sub: H Draper for K Barry (41). Referee: Cathal McAllister (Aghada).
Round 3 division 2 East Cork Junior Hurling League (refixture)
St Catherines 0-13 Castlemartyr 1-19
Ronan Clancy accurate with the frees and William Leamy for the Saints. Likewise the sublime striking of Darragh Joyce and Cathal O’Neill (surely a young Charlie!) for the opposition were keeping the scoreboard ticking over. A junior hurling league division 2 tie originally planned for March 30th. Proving a victim of the then prevalent appalling weather conditions in the fourth wettest March since records began. Rescheduled and played in Ballynoe at 7.30pm on Monday evening, May 8th.
A slightly fortuitous Niall Morgan goal had Castlemartyr ahead on a 1-03 to 0-03 scoreline to 9 minutes and into a lead they wouldn’t give up. It was 1-08 to 0-08 at half time.
Kieran Neville mopped up a share of ball around the half line, cousin James worked tirelessly as he always does in the midfield area and Kian O’Donoghue pointed a few great scores from placed balls. But the opposition had that edge. Darragh Cashman and Ewan Wimpenny rounded off the scoring.
Scorers: K O’Donoghue (0-04 frees) and R Clancy (frees) (0-05 each), W Leamy, H Draper and D Morrison (0-01 each). Team: E Sheehan, P Tobin, S Kearney, C McAuliffe, J Hurley, K Neville, D Galvin, K O’Donoghue, J Neville, H Draper, R Clancy, W Leamy, D Morrison, R O’Connell, C Dinneen. Sub: O O’Neill for C Dinneen (second half). Referee: James Daly (Youghal).
Round 6 division 2 East Cork Junior Football League
St Catherines 2-07 Midleton 4-09
After a shaky start two Luke Dinneen goals had the magpies ahead on a half time scoreline standing at 2-05 to 1-01 in this junior football league tie at an overcast Ballynoe on Tuesday evening, May 9th.
Eoin Wallace and Kieran Kelleher points kept the Saints’ momentum through the early stages of the second half. Yet a return of four unanswered Kyle Wallace points, divided equally between frees and general play helped reduce the deficit still further. But Padraig O’Brien with his second goal on 56 minutes confirmed a Midleton victory and they now go forward to a league final with Erins Own. Down come the curtains on the Saints’ campaign with the next competitive match against Castlelyons in the County Junior B Championship set for early June.
Scorers: K Wallace (0-02 frees) (1-04), H Draper (1-06), O Fitzgerald, E Wallace and K Kelleher (0-01 each). Team: E Davis, S Cogan, E O’Riordan, W Leamy, W O’Driscoll, E Kenneally, J Neville, O Fitzgerald, K O’Donoghue, R Clancy, E Wallace, H Draper, S O’Donoghue, K Wallace, K Kelleher. Subs: C McAuliffe for W Leamy (16), D Wallace for S O’Donoghue (44). Referee: James Daly (Youghal).
Juvenile notes commence with Round 4 Division 1 Rebel Óg East U16 Hurling League
St Catherines w/o Carrigtwohill SCR
Round 5 Division 1 Rebel Óg East U14 Hurling League
Killeagh 7-14 St Catherines 4-08
It was the opposition on top in the physical and height department who largely dominated this U14 tie played in near perfect conditions. The best of the season thus far in Killeagh on Friday evening last. In fairness the Saints plugged away and Shay McCarthy, Sean Walsh, Alan Cotter, Shane O’Riordan, Ronan Hickey and Tadg Walsh were prominent against a Killeagh panel for whom Alex Fogarty, Reuben O’Riordan, Sean O’Leary and Jack Farquhar excelled. Watch out for a lapsed league game with St Colmcilles being picked up. While football and hurling championships are imminent.
Scorers: A Cotter (2-03 frees) (3-05), R Hickey (1-00), T Walsh (0-02) and S Walsh (0-01 ’65). Team: S O’Keeffe, C McCarthy, S McCarthy, S Moore, C Higgins, S Walsh, R O’Donoghue, A Cotter, S O’Riordan, E Dillon, R Hickey, T Walsh, J Cunneen, T Morrison, A Burke. Subs: N Keane for R O’Donoghue (second half), D Temple and J Coughlan for J Cunneen and A Burke (both 43). Referee: Mary Byrne Swayne (Fr O’Neills).
Round 2 Rebel Óg North U12 Hurling League
St Catherines v Watergrasshill
Look it can’t be denied. Cormac McCarthy and Sean Fenton dominated. Watergrasshill were the dominant force in this U12 hurling league clash when played in Ballynoe on Monday evening, May 8th. Sean Moore had a few scores. Gary Leahy was captain for the day. Stick at it lads. It’ll be more fun when the grading is sorted and resultingly matches should be more competitive. Hopefully the injured players will be back soon.
St Catherine’s team: B Coakley, C Fitzgerald, G Leahy, Z Pyne, S Moore, J Mulkerrins, N Keane, A O’Gorman, S Maguire, S O’Keeffe, A O’Connor, J Bryan, T Shiels. Also A Coakley, O Feeney, O Sheehan and J Kearney. Referee: Brendan Noonan (Fermoy).
Next on your fixture list
Sunday, May 21st at Ballynoe, round 4 division 2 Rebel Óg East U16 Football League v Bride Rovers at 11am (provisional – could change because of Cork match). Monday, May 22nd at Rathcormac, round 3 Rebel Óg North U12 Hurling League v Bride Rovers at 6.30pm. Also, at Ballynoe, round 5 division 2 East Cork Junior Hurling League v Killeagh at 8pm. Tuesday, May 23rd at Church Road, round 3 division 1 Rebel Óg East U16 Hurling League v Blackrock, time tbc (refixture). Wednesday, May 24th at Ballynoe, round 1 division 1 U17 Hurling League v Fermoy at 7pm.
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.
