A number of county hurling finals played and sorted
Kerry native and sports editor Tony Leen was accurate in an Examiner column last week when he declared that competition had advanced to ‘boiling point’. After extratime Blackrock had claimed their first title in eighteen years and 33rd in all with a well-earned victory over probable pre-match favourites Glen Rovers, when the Cork SHC final went ahead under the lights at wind swept Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday evening last. Gut wrenching disappointment for the Glen, also losing out in last year’s decider to a then 3-in-a-row achieving Imokilly team.
They won’t see getting to deciders as any consolation, as there was disappointment for two East Cork teams. Herculean Fr O’Neills losing out to gallant Charleville in the SAHC final, played earlier that afternoon. While the night before and, having lost out in the group match back in the summer, Blarney exacted sizeable revenge when overcoming the challenge of Castlelyons in the PIHC final.
Still to come when club games again get the green light is the pairing of near neighbours Russell Rovers and Castlemartyr, in what will be the inaugural lower intermediate hurling championship final. All hurling championships are now sponsored by Co-Op Superstores. Old adversaries Castlehaven and Nemo Rangers are paired to meet in the Bon Secours PSFC decider.
QUARTER-FINAL DIV 2 REBEL ÓG EAST U16FL Killeagh/Itas 4-10 St Catherines 2-8
St Catherines would make a bright and auspicious start in the quarter-final of this competition, played under the lights in distinctly autumnal conditions at Killeagh on Tuesday evening, September 29 last.
An Oisín Fitzgerald foot pass made way for Seán O’Donoghue to career all the way through before picking his spot and finishing off the Saints and the game’s opening goal on three minutes. Attack minded defender Ciaran Pietropaolo landed a second just short of twenty minutes later, with the score at 2-4 to 0-4 after twenty four minutes.
But the opposition were right back in it almost in the twinkling of an eye. Conor Meade was very trustworthy from placed balls. Ben Walsh goaled and just on the stroke of the interval pointed a penalty. Turning it around with Killeagh/Itas now ahead by the slimmest of margins on a half-time scoreline standing at 2-5 to 2-4. Sean Meade’s second goal four minutes into the turnover was crucial, putting six points between the teams. Nevertheless the response was swift and positive. A brace of points, one from play from the very good Kyle Wallace to which Kian O’Donoghue quickly tagged on a third, whittled the margin to just one score. In effect a fourth opposition goal, who lost out to the Saints in the regular group game at Ballynoe towards the end of July, just on the completion of the second water break, settled this tie.
We thank Shane O’Connell, Padraig O’Connor, Colm Burke, Sean O’Farrell, Ger Morrison and Pat Fitzgerald for work put in with this bunch of players. Remember this is a team training from back in January and early February, frequently on frost bound and soggy pitches prior to the original league match in Carraig na bhFear on the morning of Sunday, March 1. Then Covid struck and the entire competition was restructured. Ironically St Colmcilles would be semi-final opposition for Killeagh/Itas and was fixed for White’s Cross on Saturday morning last.
St Catherines team / scorers: William O’Driscoll, Ciaran Pietropaolo (1-0), Gearoid O’Brien, James Mulcahy, Ben O’Connor, Fionn O’Connell, Nathan Sheehan, Kyle Wallace (0-6/4f), Cathal McAuliffe, Cathal Sheehan, Oisín Fitzgerald, Stephen Cotter, Darragh Morrison, Kian O’Donoghue (0-1) and Sean O’Donoghue (1-1). Sub: Colum Feeney for Cathal. McAuliffe (52’). Also: Timmy Barry, Diarmuid O’Donovan, Cian McCarthy, Evan O’Driscoll and Diarmuid O’Connell.
Referee: Shane Hodgins (Knockshegowna).
U12 HURLING LEAGUE FINAL St Catherines (2-8) 5-10 Sarsfields B (3-5) 3-6
St Catherines were put to the pin of their collar before claiming a first post lockdown juvenile title with this hard-pressed and mildly flattering ten point success when the final of the Section 3 Rebel Óg East U12HL was played, now in as good conditions as you could expect at Ballynoe on Saturday afternoon last.
That said, Sarsfields’ second choice team were settling the better. Forcing themselves into a seven point lead on a half-time scoreline standing at 2-2 to 0-1. St Catherines would play with the influential conditions in their favour on the turnover and, truthfully, even though it didn’t seem so, a Julian Pietropaolo goal from a placed ball in the fifth of what are twenty five minute halves triggered off the recovery and truly ignited the home challenge in earnest. He added a second from play as many minutes later, which forced the Saints into the lead for the first time in a highly charged and competitive divisional decider. Points from Tristan Clancy and Kyle O’Donoghue marginally extended it to 2-7 to 2-5 twenty three minutes into the second half.
But in a welter of excitement Sars, who had good and prominent players in Tom Hurley, Cuan McMahon, Cormac Fennessy and Tom Huggins, looked as if they might have sneaked the winning goal only for Alan Cotter, showing great maturity, to put over the equalising point from a placed ball in time added on and this final was heading for extra time. Twenty minutes – ten minutes a-side. It had to finish on the day.
With the benefit of wind advantage, Catherines pressed forward in droves and were back in front when Liam Kilmartin first timed the breaking ball to the net. While two further goals just over sixty seconds apart from the aforementioned Pietropaolo had it at 5-9 to 3-6 to the end of the first period. It was obvious it would be up to the defensive sextet from here to the finish and Shane O’Donoghue, Callum O’Driscoll, James Kenneally and Liam Moore were up to the task presented and the title was theirs.
Delighted for manager Dino Pietropaolo, team coach and trainer Ed Kenneally, along with a selectorial panel of Alan O’Mahony, Brian Cotter and Mike Walsh. They were a tad unlucky when tasting defeat in the football and fully deserved to see out the season with that much sought after piece of silverware. Double jobbing and representing the Rebel Óg East board, to Midleton based referee Pa Beausang the honour and distinction of presenting the winners shield to Tristan Clancy, captain of the St Catherines team.
St Catherines team / scorers: Tadhg Walsh, Shay McCarthy, Shane O’Donoghue, Callum O’Driscoll, Billy McKee, James Kenneally, Liam Moore, Seán Walsh, Alan Cotter (0-4/2f), Tristan Clancy (capt.,0-1), Julian Pietropaolo (4-4/1-3f/0-1 ‘65), Cathal Barry, Ronan Hickey, Kyle O’Donoghue (0-1) and Eoin Murphy. Also: James O’Connor, Liam Kilmartin (1-0) and Jayson O’Connor.
Referee: Pa Beausang (Midleton).
U12 HURLING LEAGUE St Catherines 7-8 Carrigtwohill (2) 1-5
This semi-final of the Rebel Óg U12 hurling league, played under the lights at Ballynoe on Wednesday evening, September 30 at 7pm, remained an even enough affair to the end of the opening of what are twenty five minute halves for this particular age group.
James Kenneally was always quick to react and receiving able support from Billy McKee and Liam Moore were largely on top in the halfback line. While further up the field the prominent play of Cathal Barry and Liam Kilmartin was contributory to a 2-6 to 1-2 half-time lead for the home based team.
A hat-trick of third quarter Kyle O’Donoghue goals, all finished with aplomb, each one better than the next, had the Saints in a strong indeed unassailable match winning position. With the trustworthy play of Julian Pietropaolo, Alan Cotter and Tristan Clancy to be relied upon, St Catherines place in the final had been secured. This was Carrigtwohill’s second choice team. That said Sam Ring, Darragh Horgan, Jack Flanagan and Cillian Galvin are still good players.
St Catherines team / scorers: T Walsh, S McCarthy, S O’Donoghue, C O’Driscoll, B McKee, J Kenneally, L Moore, A Cotter (2-3/2f), S Walsh, C Barry, J Pietropaolo (0-4/2f), T Clancy (0-1), Jayden O’Connor, K O’Donoghue (3-0), L Kilmartin (1-0). Also: R Hickey and E O’Mahony. Referee: Arthur Murphy (Killeagh).
Division two Rebel Óg East MF shield semi-final - St Catherines v Carrigtwohill - match not played.
INTERCOUNTY SCENE
Let’s be honest, for many months mid-season the prospect of no action on the playing fields painted a dark and bleak picture with more than a distinct possibility of worry becoming a reality. A vibrant club scene, now suddenly Covid curtailed at the pinnacle of the season, was forthcoming up to last weekend. Albeit with limited attendances, putting us in a positive frame of mind for inter-county matches now around the corner, hopefully!
Cork need to pick up a few more points to ensure promotion and they play Louth at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday, October 17 in Div 3 of the NFL. There’s a clash of colours there as the Rebels seek revenge for ’57!
They are due to finish up their league campaign on Sunday, October 25 in Pearse Park, when this so far unbeaten Cork play Longford. It’s essential Cork go up, guaranteeing them a place in next year’s championship proper. While the real glamour clash that day is the meeting of Clare and Limerick in the Munster SHC. Cork play Waterford in a semi-final at Thurles six days later, throw-in at 3.30pm. Very shortly now it will be case of ‘let the games begin, again, pG!!!
LOTTO RESULTS
Keeping you up to speed with the results from the most recent lotto draw held on Monday night last, October 5. Numbers drawn 19, 20, 21 and 30. There was no winner of the €6,600 jackpot. Consolation winners being Batty Leahy, Curraheen, Conna; S Daly, c/o PH, Conna; Eoin Doyle, online; Paudie and Breeda Galvin, Lacken and Margaret O’Connell., Ballynoe. Draw on Monday night, October 12 now has a jackpot standing at €6,800.
SPONSORS
St Catherines GAA sponsors are T&A Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, Ballynoe, Mulcahy Steel are juvenile club sponsors.