St Catherine's Notes (13th Jun)
- Jun 13,2025
St Catherine's GAA Club
Saturday night fever on the Ennis Road as Rebels claim 55th Munster Senior hurling title
Without over-elaborating, there have been great Munster hurling finals since time immemorial. But surely nothing would have surpassed what was witnessed in the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Saturday evening last. Over one hundred minutes of ceaseless, non-stop action, both on the field and off it and right from the outset it was obvious the Rebels were well up for it. Fully anxious to redress the mauling inflicted by the Shannonsiders at the same venue just three weeks previously.
Highlights from the opening thirty-six minutes were memorable scores converted by the likes of Shane Barrett, Diarmuid Healy and Daniel Cahalane. Cork four points up at the break and surely limiting a team as good as Limerick to a second half wind assisted 1-09 was a herculean effort. No doubt the Rebel subs all contributed hugely. Shane Kingston, Conor Lehane and Tommy O’Connell all making their mark as the extra time progressed. Can you imagine the pressure Darragh Fitzgibbon was under as he squared up to that last minute “65” which gave us the penalty shootout. By now Thomas Walsh was cramped off. Replaced by James Owens. This was the Munster final with everything. Limerick missing their last three penalties. In contrast after the unfortunate Fitzgibbon miss, kept out by the peerless Nicky Quaid, before Conor Lehane, Shane Kingston and Alan Connolly in turn were on target. And in an instant the title was heading Leeside. First time to do so since 2018. Ironically, what has been the property of Limerick since then, though sadly for them no seven in a row honours claimed. Cork move on to a semi-final. Limerick are in a quarter final. Who’s to say they won’t clash again? Cork now league and Munster champions. But we all know what the Rebels claim most.
Apart from a 10 minute fourth quarter spell Sunday’s Leinster decider didn’t raise a gallop. That’s no guide to what might eventually happen with the destination of the Liam McCarthy. Teams have to peak every day you go out to play down south. Some matches can be won easily enough in Leinster. With newly crowned Joe McDonagh Cup champions Kildare now earning the right to play with the big boys next year. Getting a sample as to what that will contain this upcoming weekend facing Dublin in the preliminary quarter final. Laois play Tipperary on the other side. Cork lost out to Tyrone in the Minor football championship. While fast approaching is the Cork/Roscommon round 3 clash in the All-Ireland Senior football championship. As Lee Chin so accurately declares “things are hottin’ up now!”.
CLUB ACTION - ROUND 7 DIVISION 2 AMARENCO EAST CORK JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Carrig na bhFear 2-11 St Catherines 2-12
Coming as it did somewhat against the run of play, at the end of a pacy three man move, it was the home team taking the lead through a Tim Casey goal in the fifth minute of this concluding Junior football league tie at Carrig na bhFear on Tuesday evening, June 3rd last at 7.30pm. Catherines gradually assuming control. Oisín Fitzgerald and Gavin England goals, 3 minutes apart to the 22nd minute, Oisín adding 4 pointed frees from the hands before Owen O’Neill produced a great score from outside the arc at the end of which it was the visitors to the good on a 2-08 to 1-00 half time scoreline.
But what a transformation on the change of ends. Carrig na bhFear with a profligacy of two pointers, Sean O’Donoghue among the scorers. But nobody shone out like Sean Whelan, a stunning goal on 54 minutes as well as some accurately kicked points. Carrig na bhFear outscored the Saints 1-11 to 0-04 on that turnover. Just not enough. Catherine’s final tally being 7 points from 7 league matches played.
Scorers: O Fitzgerald (0-06 frees) (1-06), G England (1-00), O O’Neill (0-03), E Condon (0-02) and W Leamy (0-01). St Catherine’s team: T Dee, C McAuliffe, J Neville, D O’Donovan, S O’Donoghue, L O’Connor, K O’Donoghue, E O’Riordan, G England, E Davis, E Kenneally, W Leamy, E Condon, O Fitzgerald, O O’Neill. Subs: N Sheehan, G Sheehan and S Cotter for G England, E Kenneally and O O’Neill (all second half). G England for K O’Donoghue (49”), O O’Neill for W Leamy (51’). Referee: Shane Hodgins (Erins Own).
JUVENILE REVIEW
ROUND 3 DIVISION 2 REBEL ÓG EAST U14 HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
St Catherines 4-21 Castlelyons 4-08
Form took a bashing, book thrown out the window, following this championship encounter at an overcast Ballynoe on Friday evening last. Cionnaith Cotter had the visitors off to a flyer. Lead goal coming on 2 minutes. But the Saints were sticking to their task. Were very strong in the halfback line and in the middle of the field and the response was emphatic. Goals from David Temple and Alex Keane 5 minutes apart had it at 2-03 to 1-02 to 10 minutes. Darragh Kenneally setting up Zak Pyne for a well worked score. Sean O’Keeffe trustworthy from placed balls with the Saints to the good on a half time scoreline standing at 2-09 to 2-06.
When you go back on a result like this and you reflect on the influential periods of the hour well then surely the opening passages of the change of ends would play a significant role. Noah Keane with 1-02, allayed to well taken scores from Kenneth O’Connell, Darragh Kenneally and Alex Keane again saw the Saints outscore the opposition 1-06 to 0-01 and extend their well-earned advantage now standing at 3-15 to 2-07 with ten minutes elapsed in the second half. Castlelyons dangerman Ned Condon was next to score. Later adding another goal from a free. But there would be no stopping the Saints. They wouldn’t be denied. After a lengthy probing Noah Keane delivery saw the breaking ball first timed to the net by an alert Sean O’Keeffe with the home team 4-18 to 4-07 to the good with about 10 minutes remaining. Depending on what Tadgh O’Connor would allow as there were a few stoppages. Both teams giving the bench a run in the time left.
Great win for the Saints especially having endured heavy losses in both football and hurling leagues back in the dim, wet and dark days and nights of late winter and early spring. St Vincents are visitors for football championship this upcoming weekend.
Scorers: S O’Keeffe (0-07 frees) 1-08), A Keane (1-05), D Temple (1-03), N Keane (1-02), Z Pyne, K O’Connell and D Kenneally (0-01 each). Castlelyons scorers: N Condon (1-00 free) (0-01 “65”) (3-05) and C Cotter (1-03).
St Catherine’s team: P O’Sullivan, J Mulkerrins, O Feeney, C Fitzgerald, O Sheehan, G Leahy, A Coakley, K O’Connell (team captain), A Keane, D Kenneally, N Keane, Z Pyne, D Temple, S O’Keeffe, O O’Farrell.
Replacements: B Coakley and S Maguire for D Temple and O O’Farrell (both 57’), T Shiels and J Bryan for Z Pyne and D Kenneally (both 60’). Referee: Tadgh O’Connor (Killeagh).
PHASE 1 SECTION 3 ROUND 4 REBEL ÓG EAST U12 FOOTBALL LEAGUE
St Catherines 3-05 St Nicks 1-06
St Catherines worked hard in securing a well-earned 5 point success from this juvenile grading football league tie played in windy conditions at Ballynoe on bank holiday Monday evening, June 2nd last at 4pm. What must have the home based mentors well satisfied with a 3-03 to 0-02 interval lead with six different players registering on the scoreboard. In fairness Nicks saw a lot of the ball on the change of ends, but the Saints’ keeper and defensive set-up more or less were able to repel what was being thrown at them. Next up will be a visit to Youghal by the sea.
Scorers: S O’Keeffe, A Keane and R Geaney (1-00 each), R Pietropaolo (0-01 free) and C Fitzgerald (frees) (0-02 each) and A Fitzgerald (0-01). St Nicks scorers: B O’Leary (0-04), C Bolger (1-00) and CJ Burke (0-02).
St Catherine’s team: T Cummins, S Cummins, J Beecher, D Fitzgerald, C O’Connor, C Kearney, L Kearney, R Geaney, A Fitzgerald, C Fitzgerald, S O’Keeffe, A Keane, C Fleming, R Pietropaolo, P Barry. Also: E Passaquay. Referee: Sean Spillane (Killeagh).
LOTTO RESULTS
Being a bank holiday last week’s lotto draw was held over until Tuesday night, 3rd June in the clubrooms, Ballynoe at 10pm. Numbers drawn were 1, 9, 10 and 17, no jackpot winner. €30 consolation winners were Noel Leahy, Curraheen, Cona, Kaye Moroney, Conna, Aileen Hegarty, Newtown, Ballynoe, Kathleen Tobin, Monagown, Conna and Grainne Ni Laocha c/o Marie, Conna. Most recent draw for €4,200 jackpot was down for Monday night last, May 9th.
WHAT’S COMING UP
Friday, June 13th at Ballynoe, round 3 division 2 Rebel Óg East U14 football championship v St Vincents at 7.30pm. Sunday, June 15th at Cloughduv, round 8 division 4 county hurling league at 11.30am. Monday, June 16th at Youghal, round 5 grading U12 football league at 7pm. Monday, June 16th at Ballynoe, round 5 division 2 Rebel Óg North U16 hurling league v Fermoy at 7pm.
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
