St Catherines GAA Notes.
- Nov 14,2023
Mixed fortunes from weekend championship games
St Catherines started with a narrow victory over Glanmire (2) when commencing their divisional U21 C football championship campaign at Ballynoe on Sunday evening last. Coming as it did a few hours after a one goal loss to Fermoy in the semi-final of the county division 1 U17 hurling championship. Looking ahead it’s U21 B hurling championship weekend. St Catherines will be in Castlelyons on Saturday afternoon and afternoon and after that narrow success in the regional decider at Mayfield it’s the 4G pitch in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Monday afternoon and a meeting with Bantry Blues in the semi-final of the county division 2 U15 football championship. Well scripted is the fact with Erins Own being ineligible and St Catherines are out against Waterford champions Ardmore in the Munster Junior hurling championship. Match will be on in Fraher Field, Dungarvan on the afternoon of Saturday, November 4th at 1.30pm. Being a bank holiday and summertime also ends this upcoming weekend. Clocks go back the hour on Saturday night.
Round 1 group 1 East Cork U21 C Football Championship
St Catherines 3-05 Glanmire (2) 2-07
St Catherines made a winning start with a well-earned one point success over a second string Glanmire outfit in this tie. Although billed for Sallybrook, those poor midweek conditions saw the fixture relocated and played in Ballynoe on Sunday evening last at 5pm.
First half goals from the returning Harry Draper on 10 minutes and again Conor England from a penalty kick later on, laid the foundation for a four point lead on a half time scoreline standing at 2-02 to 0-04.
David Byrne and Owen Shanahan were doing well for the visitors. Before replacement Danny McCarthy had them in front. Picking his spot to finish off their first goal and a lead of 1-07 to 2-03 to the end of the third quarter. Unfortunately for them Glanmire wouldn’t see out the contest with a full quantity of players. In the interim Oisín Fitzgerald pointed a beauty before the excellent Will Leamy picked out replacement Ben O’Connor to slot home that all important third goal before adding a crucial and well taken point on 54 minutes.
A Rory McCarthy goal near the end a score of a consolation nature. Good start. Glenbower Rovers are also in this particular group.
Scorers: C England (1-00 pen) (1-01), H Draper and B O’Connor (1-00 each), W Leamy (0-03) and o Fitzgerald (0-01). St Catherine’s team: W O’Driscoll, C McAuliffe, O Fitzgerald, D Morrison, G O’Brien, E O’Riordan, J Hayes, C England, F O’Connell, W Leamy, K O’Donoghue, D Galvin, N Sheehan, H Draper, C Dinneen. Subs: G England for F O’Connell (35), B O’Connor for C Dinneen (39), C Pietropaolo and M Geary for H Draper and D Galvin (both 54), E O’Driscoll for K O’Donoghue (58). Referee: Gavin O’Brien (Lisgoold).
Semi-final Division 1 County U17 (Minor) Hurling Championship
St Catherines 0-12 Fermoy 1-12
There have been a few battles and struggles between these two teams through the various age groups over the years. Féile from a couple of years ago. Even a league encounter back at the start of summer. Both of those were won by the Saints and played in Ballynoe. Making a solid, impressive start to this semi-final played in sunny conditions at Kilworth on Sunday morning last. Industrious wingback Timmy Barry picking out Ciaran Leamy for the leveller at 0-02 each to 9 minutes. Likewise, Chips Murphy released Cillian Hickey on the run for another. Making it 0-04 to 0-02 four minutes further on. Gearoid Sheehan also on the mark. Before finishing the half with a few pointed frees and a three point advantage on a half time scoreline standing at 0-09 to 0-06.
Adding a further duo of points from placed balls early into the change of ends as four points were equally shared to the end of the third quarter when the complexion of the game changed. Scott Doyle finding Ruairc O’Donovan before substitute John O’Keeffe crashed home the game’s only and Fermoy’s equalising goal at 0-11 to 1-08 to 46 minutes. John Temple and Fionn Lardner exchanged pointed frees as both teams struggled with the placed ball, particularly the Saints. Coming up to the finish with the opposition visibly stronger in the physical stakes and late Doyle and Ryan Slattery points confirmed their success. Thus earning a place against Valley Rovers in an imminent county final. It’s not all over for the Saints just yet. Up against St Colemans in the Rebel Óg East League Final.
Scorers: J Temple (0-06 frees), C Leamy and C Pietropaolo (0-02 each), C Hickey and G Sheehan (0-01 each). Fermoy scorers: F Lardner (0-06 frees) (0-01 ’65) (0-08), J O’Keeffe (1-01), S Twomey, S Doyle and R Slattery (0-01 each).
St Catherine’s team: J Bryan, G O’Callaghan McCarthy, C McCarthy, J Pietropaolo, T Barry, D O’Donovan, T Clancy, E O’Driscoll, C Hayes, C ‘Chips’ Murphy, C Pietropaolo, C Leamy, C Hickey, J Temple, G Sheehan. Subs: K O’Donoghue for G Sheehan (42), F McCready for C Hickey (58). Also C Murray, S Aherne, T Dee, J Hickey and L Moore. Referee: Dave Twomey (Shanballymore).
Last time to play Bantry Blues
You could nearly say it was the weekend that was. A virtual two days of condensed hurling and football activity. Both at intercounty and club level. We started on the Saturday morning and headed for Tullamore as Denis Walsh-managed Cork outscored Offaly in a round 1 All-Ireland Senior hurling qualifier. Rebel double completed with a narrow workmanlike victory over Limerick in the provincial football decider at Páirc Uí Chaoimh 24 hours later. Then back to the car. Heading west to play Bantry Blues in the quarter-final of the 13-a-side county U14 C hurling championship. Date was Sunday, evening July 5th 2009. Adam Clohessy, Cathal Leahy, Shane O’Brien, Jonathon Burke and Eoin Condon to the fore in the Saints recording a seven point victory on an end scoreline of 2-13 to 2-06. Ex-county star Mark Foley was looking after the opposition. An early morning message from juvenile secretary Lisa Moore confirmed all. St Catherines to meet Bantry Blues again, this time in the semi-final of the county division 2 U15 football championship. Venue will be the 4G pitch at Páirc Ui Chaoimh on this forthcoming bank holiday Monday, October 30th. See fixtures.
For the record this was the Saints’ line up when visiting Bantry the last time – Cathal Leahy, Micheál Cronin, Cathal Galvin, Brian Davis, Shane O’Brien, Cian Doyle, Adam Clohessy, Cormac Mulcahy, Jonathon Burke, Eoin Kearney, Richie Condon, Eoin Condon, Eoin Corcoran. Subs used were – Lucas O’Callaghan McCarthy and Rory Galvin. Also Michael O’Connell, Noel Roche, Stephen Mangan, Christopher O’Donnell, Thomas Daly, Jonathon O’Connell and Stephen O’Donnell. Mentors were Paul Galvin (manager), William Kearney (coach) and Ger Doyle.
Provincial Senior Football Championship draws
RTE Radio One gave over the bulk of their afternoon sports programme on Saturday last to the Provincial Senior Football Championship draws for next season. There’s something not right about that. Still says you it must be made sometime!
Starting with you know where and Cork play Limerick in the first game down south. Winners face the Kingdom in the semi-final. There is a chance of a Dublin/Meath pairing in the east. While the top guns should be standing into the last 4 in Connacht. If it works out Tyrone could be playing Derry in an Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final. Mickey Harte against his own county. Excited? Thought not! Maybe closer to the time.
What’s coming up on your fixture list
Saturday, October 28th round 1 group 3 East Cork U21 B HC in Castlelyons at 3pm. Monday, October 30th at 4G Pitch, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, semi-final division 2 county U15 FC v Bantry Blues at 3.30pm.
Lotto results
Your lotto details from the draw held in the clubrooms, Ballynoe on Monday night, October 16th last. Numbers drawn were 3, 6, 15 and 27. Jackpot not won. Consolation winners on the night were Liam O’Mahony c/o Castlelyons PO, Áine Conneely online Donegal, Cotter grandchildren Ballynoe, Redmond Higgins Ballynoe and Eoin Wallace Ballynoe. All lotto draws now proceed at 9pm. Jackpot at time of writing at €18,200. More results next week.
St Catherine’s GAA Club Sponsors
T&A Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, Ballynoe are sponsors of St Catherine’s GAA Club.
Mulcahy Steel are sponsors of St Catherine’s Juvenile GAA Club.
