Saints lose out to Russell Rovers in county semi-final
CO-OP SUPERSTORES CORK LOWER IHC SEMI-FINAL
St. Catherines 0-13
Russell Rovers 1-15
A strong second half performance stood them in good stead as Russell Rovers emerged successful by a five point margin from the first of the newly introduced lower IHC semi-finals, when played in strong mid autumn sunshine on a well prepared Páirc Úi Chinnéide pitch in Killeagh, throw-in at 3pm on Saturday afternoon last. Brian Dillons official David Daly was in charge of proceedings.
Yet it was the Saints making the better start. Liam O’Connor picking our Matthew Mulcahy to shoot over the game’s opening score. Daniel Mangan from a sideline ball releasing Brian Mulcahy to quickly add a second point. Before Brian ‘ Bud’ Hartnett showing great skill and vision goaled for the opposition and all inside the opening seven minutes. He almost repeated the achievement but was denied by a timely Ciaran O’Brien flick and lengthy second quarter clearance.
Five points without reply saw the Saints erode the impact of the goal and open up a 0-7 to 1-0 lead to the end of the first quarter. Indeed a Dan Ruddy point on twenty three minutes was Russell Rovers only other first half score from open play, as the Saints enjoyed a four point advantage on a half-time scoreline standing at 0-9 to 1-2.
On the turnover both teams created goal chances. Catherines bullet like drive veering off target for their only wide of the resumption just three minutes in. Before aforementioned Hartnett brought the best out of Eoin Davis albeit for a ‘65 ten minutes later.
Josh Beausang was now the dominant player on view, shooting nine second half points, bringing his overall tally to ten, including seven from placed balls. With the teams level for the first time since the tenth minute on a scoreline of 0-11 to 1-08 to the call for the second waterbreak.
Shane O’Brien restored the lead for Catherines and another on fifty-seven minutes, both frees, meant they were behind by the slimmest of margins, 1-11 to 0-13.
Jack McGrath and Luke Duggan Murray were both finding the range before man of the match Beausang pointed two skilfully taken points from open play in the time added on. Thus ensuring Russell Rovers a place in the decider on the end scoreline of 1-15 to 0-13.
We thank team manager Sean O’Farrell coach, coach Wayne Power, selector Kevin Mangan for their effort and commitment, Colm Burke the team statistician and all others on the backroom staff, one of whom Dolores Hartigan couldn’t be with us last weekend.
Scorers: S O’Brien (0-6 frees) (0-1 “65) (0-8), M Mulcahy (0-3), B Mulcahy and D Mangan (0-1 each).
Russell Rovers scorers: J Beausang (0-6 frees) (0-1 “65) (0-10), B Hartnett (1-0), L Duggan Murray and J McGrath (0-2 each) and D Ruddy (0-1).
St Catherines team: Eoin Davis, Stephen O’Brien, Eoin Wallace, Ciaran O’Brien, Conor Hegarty, Rory Galvin, Kieran Neville, Shane O’Brien, James Neville, Shane Cotter, Liam O’Connor, Daniel Mangan, Brian Mulcahy, Patrick Roche, Matthew Mulcahy. Subs: Richard Galvin for Patrick Roche (second half), Philip Keane for Stephen O’Brien (47’), Shane O’Regan for Conor Hegarty (51’), Brian Davis for Matthew Mulcahy (54’).
Referee: David Daly (Brian Dillons).
WHAT’S NEXT ON THE AGENDA?
Although incredible to reflect that they failed to field a team twenty four years ago, but since then and especially since the mid part of the last decade and Russell Rovers hurling and gradual success is visibly on the rise. They lost out in their first divisional final appearance beaten by Dungourney (3-09 to 0-09) when played at Aghavine on the afternoon of Sunday, September 10th, 2006.
Russell Rovers lost out twice to St Catherines, both in the East Cork final and eventual county semi-final, prior to the Saints overcoming the challenge of Brian Dillons in the replayed County junior hurling final of 2017. A historic day for them was the winning of the Jamesy Kelleher Cup for the first time. Defeating St Itas (2-16 to 1-12) in a decider played at Castlemartyr on Sunday afternoon, September 9th, 2018. Retaining their title and ultimately claiming county junior honours, beating Carraig na bhFear in both finals twelve months later. With wins over Sliabh gCua, St Mary’s of Waterford in the provincial final and Michéal Breathnach of Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final after extra-time, on a day when Josh Beausang couldn’t line out. A Russell Rovers team that would lose out to Conahy Shamrocks of Kilkenny, home club of Nickey Brennan, ex president of the GAA in the subsequent All-Ireland final played at Croke Park on Saturday, January 18th of this year. St Catherines annual juvenile social was on in the Rochestown Park Hotel the night before and I encountered at least a dozen people heading to Dublin for that weekend, especially with two Rebel teams involved.
Now they are back in the inaugural county lower intermediate hurling championship final, scheduled for weekend October 9th/10th/11th where their opponents will be ironically near neighbours Castlemartyr. What an incredible part of East Cork that is with Fr O’Neills now up against Charleville in the senior A hurling final. Killeagh being able to hold on to that status, following a victory by the slimmest of margins over Kilworth in the rescheduled senior A hurling relegation final, when played in Pairc Naomh Caitríonigh, Baile Nua last Sunday afternoon.
Another team from the barony of Imokilly in Castlelyons will face Blarney in the county premier intermediate hurling championship final under the lights at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on this forthcoming Saturday evening, October 3rd. They won the group match between the two when played earlier in the season and will be looking for retribution having lost the 2013 final to yet another eastern team in Youghal. Looked at really its no surprise that Imokilly could win a hat-trick of county senior hurling titles. Would put it down to difficulty in organising and a possible lack of support from the clubs in trying to make an impression through this year’s championship.
Remember they’re not perceived to be a club team so can’t participate in provincial competition, while say a team like UCC could. We mention this in passing as this year’s quest for the Seán Óg Murphy Cup will involve two city strongholds, namely Blackrock and Glen Rovers. Two teams with nearly fifty titles between them. Let’s hope the figures hold up with the Covid statistics looking increasingly intimidating and these games can be played. We will try and look at the upcoming inter-county scene next time around, for now for God’s sake stay safe.
UPCOMING FIXTURES
St Catherines played Killeagh/
Itas in the quarter-final of the Division Two Rebel Óg East U16 football league mid-week. Winners up against St Colmcilles while there’s a Division Two minor football shield semi-final vs Carrigtwohill down for Ballynoe on Saturday coming, October 3rd at 12 midday. U12 hurling semi-final opposition could be Whitechurch, Douglas or Carrigtwohill.
LOTTO RESULTS
All the details from the most recent lotto draw held on Monday night last, September 28th. Numbers drawn were 8, 9, 28 and 31 and the jackpot of €6,400 wasn’t won. While the consolation winners were: Kieran Morrison (online), Regina McAuliffe, c/o Helen O’Connor, Breeda Hegarty, Ballymonteen, Ballynoe, Una Sheehan, Glentrasna, Ballynoe and Siobhán Cronin, Ballydorgan. With a jackpot standing at €6,600 next draw will take place in the GAA clubrooms in Ballynoe on Monday night, October 5th.
SPONSORS
T&A Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, Ballynoe are sponsors of St Catherines GAA club. Juvenile club sponsors are Mulcahy Steel.