St Catherine's Notes (25th Sep)
- Sep 25,2025
Saints eliminated from County Premier Junior Hurling Championship, football weekend upcoming
There was a commendable victory over Sars in the SE Systems County Senior Camogie Championship at Castle Road. Two and a half hours later in Riverstown, home ground of Sarsfields GAA and fifty weeks on from tasting defeat by a similar margin, this time around Ballygarvan emerged one point winners. In so doing earning a semi-final place. Thus eliminating the Saints from this year’s CoOp Superstores County Junior Hurling Championship. Carraig na bhFear overcame the challenge of Killeagh (1-13 to 1-12) in the East Cork Junior A Hurling Championship in poor conditions at Páirc Naomh Caitríonaigh, Baile Nua on Friday evening last. Earlier in the week St Catherines defeated Carrigtwohill in the division 1 Rebel Óg U12 hurling league semi-final. So now they meet Sarsfields in the final. Also playing Killeagh in a division 2 football league final. Both deciders down for early October. A largely football weekend upcoming. More details to follow, read on.
Club action from the field of play
Quarter-final CoOp Superstores Cork County Premier Junior Hurling Championship
St Catherines 1-17 Ballygarvan 1-18
It was a day starting so well for the Saints. Producing a mouthwatering two point success (2-10 to 1-11) over a fancied Sarsfields in the quarter-final of the SE Systems County Senior Camogie Championship played at Castle Road, Mahon on Saturday afternoon last at 1.30pm. One claimed. Then Riverstown, home venue for Sars would be the venue for the quarter-final of the Premier Junior Hurling Championship later that same afternoon at 4pm. A closely fought, evenly contested knockout affair between two well matched teams. Starting with an explosion of scores at the end of which the teams weren’t for separating. Score standing at 0-05 each and just eight minutes having moved on the clock. Rory Galvin scored the Saints’ and the game’s next four points, three from play. Further scores followed from Oisin Fitzgerald and Sean O’Donoghue in turn with the Saints to the good on a half time scoreline standing at 0-11 to 0-09. Yet look across to the flags by the pavilion. Blowing towards the dressing rooms. That wind would be at Ballygarvan backs on the turnover.
Yet that two point cushion continued to favour the Saints at 0-12 to 1-10 and again at 0-14 to 0-12 to the end of the third quarter and beyond. Ballygarvan had just levelled it up before Rory Galvin, from a pointed free restored a narrow Saints’ lead when Brian Mulcahy weaved his way through the heart of the opposition defence then laid off the sliotar to on-running replacement Daniel Mangan whose clinical finish had the Saints four points ahead again at 1-15 to 0-14. Twenty-two minutes gone in the second half. Michael Cussen was not on the frees before Kevin Lyons, an All-Ireland underage medal winner with the county as a defender, crashed in the equalising goal at 1-15 apiece to 55 minutes. Ballygarvan with three victories from their four previous championship meetings with the Saints were now in the ascendancy and would go three points up. Failing twice in trying to make it four. Sean O’Donoghue’s goal attempt was kept out by Daniel Mackey. Aforementioned Galvin pointed a subsequent free. Working hard in adding another from play. Still it wasn’t over. Time still left. Daniel Mangan resurrected memories from The Glen match in Lisgoold four years ago when squaring up to a late, late sideline ball. Making great contact but this time veered across in front of the posts to the other side, over the line and wide and with it any remaining opportunity of bringing this championship clash to extra time.
Scorers: R Galvin (0-05 frees) (0-09), O Fitzgerald (0-05), D Magan (1-00), S O’Donoghue (0-02) and J Neville (0-01). Ballygarvan scorers: K Lyons (1-02), D O’Connor (0-05 frees), M Cussen (0-02 frees) (0-03), R O’Halloran, P O’Halloran and N Dowd (0-02 each), M Kenefick and C O’Regan (0-01 each).
St Catherine’s team: Eoin Davis, Evan O’Driscoll, Eoghan O’Riordan, Kieran Neville, Kian O’Donoghue, Conor Hegarty, Fionn O’Connell, Oisin Fitzgerald, James Hayes, James Neville, Rory Galvin (joint captain), Sean O’Donoghue, Brian Mulcahy, Kevin Barry, Eoin Condon. Replacements: Richard O’Connell for Kevin Barry (19’), Ben O’Brien for Kian O’Donoghue (39’), Daniel Mangan and Will Leamy for Eoin Condon and James Neville (both 44’). Referee: David Daly (Brian Dillons).
Semi-final division 1 Rebel Óg U12 Hurling League
St Catherines 2-09 Carrigtwohill 2-03
A third juvenile match of significance between these two teams in the space of seven days. St Catherines working hard to win this U12 league semi-final played under the lights at Ballynoe on Monday evening, September 15th. Outstanding defensive play from Cathal Twomey, James Beecher and Cathal Kearney helping the home team to settle. Boosted by an Adam Fitzgerald goal from a stunning finish on nine minutes easing the Saints into a 1-03 to 0-01 half time lead against a Carrigtwohill outfit hitting a lot of first half wides.
A contest opening up much more following a cracking Alex Keane goal ten minutes into the second half. Adding a trio of unanswered points, two from play and the Saints were able to empty out the bench against a Carrigtwohill team finishing strongly. We sympathise with sterling defender Sean Cummins now out for a while with an injury. Final against Sarsfields goes out to October. St Catherines play Killeagh in the division 2 football final.
Scorers: A Keane (0-03 frees) (1-07), A Fitzgerald (1-01) and R Pietropaolo (0-01). St Catherine’s team: C Fitzgerald, C Twomey, J Beecher (team captain), O Ryan, C O’Connor, C Kearney, D Linehan, A Fitzgerald, R Geaney, S Flynn, A Keane, R Pietropaolo, D Fitzgerald, S O’Keeffe, E Passaquay. Also: P Barry, R Coffey, S O’Donovan, T O’Keeffe. Referee: David Hickey (Youghal).
Weekly lotto results
3, 6, 8 and 13 were the numbers drawn and there was no winner of the €7,000 jackpot following weekly lotto draw held in the clubrooms, Ballynoe on Monday night, September 15th last. Consolation winners being – Seanie Noonan, Conna; Alice O’Keeffe, online; Maria Collins, Curraheen, Conna; Susan Cotter c/o PH Conna; Rose Buckner, online. Most recent draw scheduled for Monday night just gone, September 22nd. Jackpot €7,200.
Racing success
Two years ago Julian Pietropaolo was a regular in both codes for St Catherines at U16 level. There would be the occasional call up at Minor level. Let’s just say Julian wouldn’t be afraid!
But it was always going to be horses with Julian. As was the case with Shane Cotter, his first cousin. Julian recorded a double at Punchestown racecourse on Tuesday evening, September 16th. Both races were nine furlong handicaps. Starting with Kashel Spring for his employer Joseph O’Brien in Piltown, Co Kilkenny. Following it with Searcog, which may well be Gaelic for Shercock which is where the second trainer Patrick Magee would be based above in Co Cavan. Well done Julian. Long may your success continue. We will be watching out for you.
Camogie All-Star nominations
Five forwards, four defenders including St Catherine’s player Laura Hayes along with goalkeeper and a midfielder shows Cork to have 11 camogie All-Star nominations, more than any other county when revealed on the morning of Wednesday, September 17th last. All winners along with player of the year awards will be made known on Saturday night, November 15th.
What’s coming up on your fixture list
Saturday, September 27th at Youghal, semi-final East Cork Junior D football championship v Castlemartyr at 5pm. Sunday, September 28th at Castlelyons, round 5 East Cork Junior B football championship v Glenville at 12 noon. Wednesday, October 1st Final division 2 Rebel Óg U12 football championship v Glenville at 12 noon. Wednesday, October 1st Final division 2 Rebel Óg U12 football league v Killeagh, time and venue tbc.
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.
