Castlelyons GAA Notes.
- Sep 19,2023
Castlelyons Triumph in Rain
Páirc Uí Rinn was the setting on last Friday night, as Castlelyons faced off against Ballymartle in the Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter-Final. Under steady rain and the gleam of floodlights, the players battled valiantly, with Castlelyons emerging victorious with a final score of 0-16 to 0-07.
From the outset, it was clear that the challenging conditions would play a pivotal role in the match. The slippery surface tested the players' skills and adaptability, and both teams took a few minutes to become acclimatised. Ballymartle started a little faster but could only muster 3 wides in quick succession.
Anthony Spillane came perilously close to scoring a goal after 6 minutes with his flick on a long high ball nearly breaching the Ballymartle defence. However, the Ballymartle cornerback was able to make a last-ditch effort to clear the ball off the line denying Castlelyons a crucial early advantage.
Throughout the contest, Alan Fenton performed brilliant. His accuracy from frees and his ability to score points from play when his team needed it most was crucial in stopping Ballymartle building momentum. Colm McCarthy scored a fantastic long-range point that just creeped over the bar after 15 minutes.
In defence, Niall O'Leary was in top form, providing a solid foundation for his team. Colm Spillane, Dara Spillane, and Colm Barry all delivered resolute performances, thwarting Ballymartle attempts to breach Castlelyons' backline. The game was a start-stop affair that had a lot of frees given the difficult conditions. Castlelyons were able to adapt the better and went in 0-09 to 0-03 at the break.
After the resumption Alan scored the next 3 points to extend our lead. Ballymartle did fight back and managed to close the gap to six but Castlelyons reasserted control over the game.
James Kearney, stationed in midfield, worked tirelessly, causing numerous turnovers, and ensuring Castlelyons maintained control of the game's tempo. Peter Roche, who stepped up to fill the void left by the injured Leo Sexton, delivered a hardworking shift in the half-forward line.
David Morrison, positioned at corner forward, capped off Castlelyons' performance with a well-deserved point during the game's closing moments to leave the final score 0-16 to 0-07.
With this victory, Castlelyons now advances to a semi-final showdown against Castlemartyr, a rematch of last year's semi-final clash. The eagerly anticipated encounter is scheduled for Saturday, September 30th, at 5:00 PM in Midleton.
CASTLELYONS: J Barry; N O’Leary, C Barry, D Spillane; K O’Leary, C Spillane, J O’Leary; J Kearney, A Fenton; P Roche, L Doocey, C McCarthy; D Morrison, A Spillane, O Hallihan.
Subs: S Moroney for J O’Leary (45), R Feeney for C McCarthy (51), B O Donovan for O Hallihan (54), Conor McCarthy for J Kearney (59).
Scorers for Castlelyons: A Fenton (0-13, 9f, 2 65s), D Morrison (0-1), J Kearney (0-01) C McCarthy (0-1).
East Cork Junior B Hurling Quarter Final.
Castlelyons 5-16 Cloyne 4-15
In a truly thrilling match Castlelyons emerged victorious in a nail-biting East Cork Junior B Hurling quarter-final clash against Cloyne. The game, played at the picturesque Rostellan venue, was a rollercoaster ride of end-to-end action that kept spectators second guessing the outcome from the first whistle to the last. With Castlelyons enjoying the advantage of the breeze in the opening half, this contest lived up to its billing as a thrilling encounter.
From the outset, it was clear that both teams were hungry for victory. Cloyne struck first with a well-taken goal, but Castlelyons wasted no time in responding. Cees Kwoenberg found the back of the net, ensuring that the match remained finely balanced. However, Castlelyons faced early adversity when Ciarán McGann had to leave the field due to injury. The the first half progressed with Cloyne maintaining their momentum and they managed to take a two-point lead, with the scoreboard reading 2-9 to 2-7 in their favour at half-time. The stage was set for a thrilling second half, with Castlelyons needing a strong performance to claw their way back into the game.
The second half began with Cloyne coming out of the blocks faster, quickly extending their lead to four points. It was evident that Castlelyons faced an uphill battle, but they were not ones to back down easily. The team rallied in the closing stages, determined to turn the tide in their favour.
Throughout the match, Castlelyons' defence stood firm, showcasing their resilience and determination. Notably, Liam Moroney's excellent marking of former Cork star Diarmuid "The Rock" O'Sullivan proved crucial in keeping Cloyne's attack at bay. Captain John Healy, Jack Waters, and Seamus Moroney delivered standout performances, solidifying the team's defence, and ensuring that every possession was fiercely contested.
Offensively, Castlelyons had their own heroes. Griffin O'Keeney's spectacular goal added to the excitement, while Ronan Fenton's experience shone through as he won critical possessions for his team. Brian Spillane emerged as the ace in the pack, accumulating an impressive 3-02 over the course of the game.
In the closing stages of the game, Castlelyons managed to claw back their deficit and establish a four-point lead. Alan O’Regan pointed a signature no-look score over the shoulder from the sideline to round off our tally. However, Cloyne, displaying their determination to the last, mounted a relentless assault on Castlelyons' goal, amassing significant pressure but we manage to keep them at bay with some last gasp defending. Referee Mick Walsh blew the final whistle to give Castlelyons the victory in what was a stellar team performance all round.
Team: G O’Neill, S Moroney, L Moroney, M Rosner, J Waters, C McCarthy, J Healy, S Cotter, C O’Neill, R Fenton, C McGann, S Flynn, B Spillane, C Kwoenberg, G O’Keeney
Subs: A O’Regan for S Cotter, S Cotter for C McGann, S Leneghan for M Rosner
Scorers: B Spillane 3-02, C Kwoenberg 1-05 (0-03), G O’Keeney 1-02, R Fenton 0-02, J Waters 0-01, S Flynn 0-01, S Cotter 0-01, A O’Regan 0-01
Fun All Round Street Leagues Finals
We concluded our street leagues competition on Sunday morning in great fanfare. The lads got a procession through the village with a lone piper to announce their arrivals and the games began. There was some brilliant skill on show. Everyone got to play a lot of hurling with medals handed out afterwards. Well done to all the organisers and those who helped train the teams. All the kids had a fantastic couple of weekends.
