Two tight games under leaden skies at Paddy Walsh Memorial Park brought contrasting  results on Sunday afternoon, with our intermediate team producing a fine second half show over Argideen Rangers.   Later in the day , as a number of players retogged, we went down by just one point against Sarsfield's in the opening JHL 1 fixture of the season.

This RED FM division 5 county league encounter saw Argideen race into  a 1-6 to 0-2 advantage after seventeen minutes.   Top scorer Barry Lawton and Jack McGann having raised the only flags for Castlemartyr by this juncture, as a determined hardworking visiting side made life difficult for the hosts. On the front foot from early on they exerted a lot of pressure around the middle third and attacking areas  and as a result created a number of scoring chances.  As the half aged, there is no doubt though Castlemartyr began to settle and when Jack McGann closed out the first half scoring in stoppage time, the margin was reduced to a manageable four points - 1-8 to 0-7.  That final score came on the back of three successive points from Barry Lawton. Overall the margin was about a fair reflection of the opening half hour, although both teams had missed scorebable chances at various stages,

Momentum continued to  build for Castlemartyr on the resumption.  Two well taken points from distance from the very busy Barry Lawton and Andrew Kelly, followed by another free from Barry's stick had initially failed to get a response from Argideen.  Although they then added two quick fire scorers soon after, Barry and Billy McGann  replied leaving just the minimum deficit at 1-10 to 0-12 entering the last quarter.   Increased intensity by the hosts paid dividends and with less space, Argidenn could do  less damage.  Still , it was anybody's game entering the closing stages with all three results possible.

Good defensive work by Darragh Joyce led to Brian Lawton's striking over an excellent levelling score on 48 minutes.   Castlemartyr were now on the front foot.   Argideen sub Paudie Butler responded with two points, cancelled out by another brace from Barry Lawton - still all square with only five minutes  remaining. Excellent control on the stick by Jack McGann then enabled him to create a scoring chance which he took in style to put the reds in pole position. As the exchanges got hotter and Argideen were reduced to 14 men, once again Barry  kept his nerve to add two more points in reply to a pointed free at the other end.   |Job done in the end.

 Castlemartyr and Watergrasshill are now joint top of the division - very early days - but a nice start, with a number of players yet to return from injury.

A trip to Ballygarvan in two weeks time represents the next springtime league challenge. The south east side were beaten 2-13 to 1-15 away in Mayfield this weekend.

Team -

Daire Coughlan, Cathal Martin, Darragh Joyce, Barra O'Tuama, Liam Martin, BrIan Lawton, Mike Cosgrave, Darragh Leahy, Conor Whyte   Mike O'Dwyer, Barry Lawton, Jack McGann, Andrew Kelly, Eoghan Martin, Billy McGann.

Subs - Jamie Stack, Niall O'Donovan, 

Scorers - Barry Lawton 0-12 (incl 8 frees and 1  65') Jack McGann 0-3, Andrew Kelly, Billy McGann and Brian Lawton 0-1 each.

A quick bite to eat and a number of players were back in action by mid afternoon as they togged out for the  league opener against Sars, which resulted in 1-12 to 0-14 defeat. This was  a game effort by our guys, who showed plenty of promise despite the demands of back to back outings for a number of starters..  Darragh Leahy topped the scoring charts with 0-6 and looked a constant threat to the rearguard. Along with the equally lively Liam Martin, he got the early scorers as Castlemartyr tallied with 0-5 to balance out the 1-2 registered by Sar's by the 20th minute.   Jamie Stack and Daire Coughlan then rowed in to help establish a lead of 0-9 to 1-4 by the change of ends.

As underfoot conditions got more testing, the Riverstown outfit won the third quarter by 5 points to 2, leaving them 1-9 to 0-11 ahead. Following the script of the intermediate game, this was anybody's game entering the business end of things.  Darragh Leahy continued to find the range, whilst David Lynch's 58th long distance point looked as if it could have eanred a deserved share of the spoils.  But Sar's quickly cancelled it out to leave them winners by one.  

Castlemartyr will play joint leaders Carrigtwohill away in two weeks time in what is a very competitive top flight in the eastern division.

Team - Darragh O'Keeffe, Adam McAuliffe, Niall O'Donovan, Oisin Cantwell, David Lynch, Dave Lawton, Tom Fleming, Mike Cosgrave, Jamie Stack, Sean Morgan, Liam Martin, Daire Coughlan, Darragh Leahy, Colm Beausnag, Jack Smiddy.  Sub - Mike O'Dwyer h/t

Scorers - Darragh Leahy 0-6, Daire Coughlan 0-3 (frees), Liam Martin 0-2, Jamie Stack 0-2 (incl 1 x 65) David Lynch 0-1.

 How well do you think you know your sport ?- or can access what's going to happen in the  summer ahead?  Our latest fundraiser is just the latest head scratcher to test your all round sporting skills.  Please see the post that immediately follows this message and encourage everyone you know - (and don't know) - to become involved. It's a very modest €20 to enter.

It's a football week and our juniors will make their seasonal bow on Good Friday at 6pm at home to Carraig na bhFear in what is round 2 of the competition.  Our opener against Lisgoold was postponed a few weeks ago and will be refixed in the near future.

Finally, our sincere condolences are sent to the O'Neill family in Mogeely following the passing of Charlie R.I P on Friday.  

The late Charlie was  a great community and sportsman and had a huge interest in all things associated with Castlemartyr GAA. Our thoughts and prayers are with Cha and family at this sad time.  

100 years on from the club's foundation, Castlemartyr  GAA continue to mark this milestone birthday with a number of different events.

Recently club members and friends gathered at Paddy Walsh Memorial Park for a tree planting ceremony which saw club President Christy O'Sullivan and Kiltha Og's youngest members Jayden O'Donoovan plant a Centenary Oak Tree.

It was another symbolic gesture that ties up the club's past and present and continues the feel good factor that exists in this thriving club during it's very special year of celebration.  

Many thanks to Mick and Charlotte Carroll for sponsoring the oak tree.

Members of the Castlemartyr GAA club committee pictured at the recent centenary tree planting ceremony at Paddy Walsh Memorial Park.