A year of serious effort ends in final defeat
Blarney 1-20 Castlelyons 0-15
This was a year of serious effort and winning four championship games to make it to the county final on Saturday evening. Blarney were bookies’ favourites from the start of the year to win the championship. However, Castlelyons caused a major stir in defeating them in Mourneabbey in the group. A rematch is always difficult and Blarney had come through in style and unscathed despite going down to us earlier. They were all in good fettle and had made a few positional switches since we last met them. However, little did we know that just 30 seconds into the game we would lose our star man Colm Spillane due to a hand injury. The sight of him having to leave the field undoubtedly had a devastating effect on our lads. It resulted in our opponents getting the upper hand without hurling to deserve it. But hurl they did from the start and we were in for a tough game.
Blarney were only up 0-6 to 0-3 at the water break despite a lot of pressure but our backs defended very well as Colm O’Neill, Jamie and Niall O’Leary worked so hard. We resumed with great commitment as Leo Sexton and Colm Barry cleared out some great ball. Michael and Anthony Spillane scored 0-1 apiece to leave just on point in the game but Blarney kicked on again to put more points on the board. We had one mighty chance of a goal but Michael Spillane’s, who had a tenpoint return in the game, flick hit the upright and he was hooked on the rebound to make it 0-12 to 0-6 at half-time. The free count certainly facilitated Blarney in the first half with the whistler sending a few soft ones to the opposition. Even when a yellow card was administered to the opposition, they still got the free. As regards the story here your guess is as good as so many that wondered about it.
Blarney started well again in the second half and had a point. We had another chance of a goal, but it was not to be and Blarney went downfield and Padraig Power had a goal for them to put them in the driving seat. However, full credit to our boys as they fought for their lives and outscored Blarney 0-7 to 0-1 in a period of outstanding hurling. Colm Barry and Tom Carroll were outstanding in driving out ball and Niall O’Leary moved up field to great effect. Both Niall and Anthony Spillane put over great scores and, unfortunately, we did hit a few wides during that period of dominance. However, Blarney took up the running again to finish the stronger and takes the cup to great applause.
This outcome was raw on our lads after a great year. However, when one takes stock of the set up, we were not in a great place for the final. Cian O’Leary had a serious shoulder injury, Ronan O’Regan, who came off injured in the first Blarney game, was out after a serious knee operation. Dave Morrison, who contributed three goals in the campaign, received a broken wrist v Inniscarra and was sidelined for the final. Both Barry Murphy and Niall O’Leary carried injuries into the game and Barry Murphy had to come off. You need all available to you and a bit of luck in any game but to see an All-Star nominee like Spillane coming off was really tough on the craw. This writer spoke with
a neutral reporter and she said you could feel the sense of loss around the stadium when he went off. We did play an exciting brand of hurling during the season and certainly were not far off it in the final despite the injuries.
Well done to the players we are proud of your efforts and the enjoyment you have given all year, as it lifted our hearts in these tough times. Thanks also to our team management of Ciarán McGann, Peter Murphy, Sean Kenny, Johnny Crowley, Brendan Hoare and John Healy who coached and promoted a great team ethic this year.
Congratulations to Blarney as they head for the senior ranks, they lost the semi-final last year to champions Fr O’Neills by just two points and learned a lot from their defeat in Mourneabbey. Speaking with some friends from the Blarney side, they have put in a serious effort in the juvenile side and have a lot of players at the moment. They are expecting to do well at the higher level. For Castlelyons, well that’s sport and it can be a great leveller as despite such effort we were defeated. However, defeat should never be a source of discouragement, rather a fresh stimulus, so lads circle the wagons and have a right cut off it again next year.
Team: Jack Barry, Jamie O’Leary, Colm Barry, Tom Carroll (0-1), Leo Sexton, Niall O’Leary, Colm O’Neill, Eoin Maye, Keith O’Leary, Barry Murphy, Colm Spillane, Alan Fenton (0-2), James Kearney, Anthony Spillane (0-2), Michael Spillane (0-10/ 7f). Subs: Dave Kenny, Leon Doocey, Ronan Fenton, Darren Tobin, Brian O’Donovan, Bryan Carroll, Conor McCarthy, Liam Moroney, Ronan Bransfield. Extended panel: Cian O’Flynn, Alan O’Regan, Richard Morrison, John P Murphy, Coran Lawlor, Peter Roche, Shane Flynn, Shane Fenton, Declan Morrison, Seamus Morrison, Shane Cotter, Christopher Cotter, Eoin Barry, and John Healy. Injured players: David Morrison, Cian O’Leary, Ronan O’Regan.
Castlelyons weekly lotto draw results and temporary suspension due to Covid.
This week’s lotto draw was held on Monday (5/10) in the centre. Numbers drawn were 7, 9, 18 and 24. There was no winner of the €20,000 jackpot. The lucky dip winners were: Cathy’s Grandkids, Emily Feeney, Mary Murphy (Coolagown), Orla O’Sullivan, Maura O’Sullivan, Danny Healy, Luke Murray, Joy Dahill. Please note that our lotto is now temporarily suspended until further notice due to entering level 3 of the Covid restrictions. Club members and sellers please advise your friends of the temporary suspension and we will be back again when there is a return to level 2 of the Covid restrictions. Thanks to all for your great support as always and we really appreciate it.
NEW SOUTH WALES CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL St Patricks 1-26 Cormac McAnallens 0-24
While Castlelyons were preparing for the county final one of our great players now in Sydney played in the New South Wales championship final with the Cormac McAnallens Club but came up short as they were defeated by St Patricks in extra time 0-24 to 1-26. Castlelyons man Robbie Feeney had a great game at corner back with Kieran Lane of Kilworth at wing back in front of him. Lisa Carroll of Coolagown also had a strong interest and was on the line shouting on the team as her boyfriend Jamie Dwyer of Ballymartle was playing outfield. Newtownshandrum players Cathal Naughton, Jack Herlihy and Michael Bowles together with Aidan O’Flynn (Freemount), Jack Sheehan and Andrew Porter (Erins Own) plus Dan Lordan (Courcey Rovers) were also on the team.
It was nearly all Cork with McAnallens and mostly Irish players on both teams. There is massive promotion of our games in New South Wales with loads of championships in hurling, football and camogie. Similar to Ireland they have played through challenging times and in fact take a temperature check at the gates before allowing entry or play. They streamed their finals for the first time. Wishing our man Robbie well out there.
BEST WISHES TO COLM SPILLANE
The club wishes Colm a speedy recovery from the nasty injury received in the final and, while medical examination revealed that it was not overly serious, it will still take time to heal. Also wishing Niall O’Leary the best as he had a groin injury this past few weeks but battled bravely to play a mighty game in the final. Hopefully, both men will be able to participate with Cork in the forthcoming championship series. Also best wishes to Barry Murphy, Dave Morrison, Ronan O’Regan and Cian O’Leary, who suffered injuries and no doubt the rest will do all well although Ronan’s is more long term.
MINOR CAMOGIE CHAMPIONSHIP Castlelyons 2-11 Youghal 1-4
Congratulations to the minor camogie team as the game is on the rise in Castlelyons. This time it was the semi-final of the minor championship, away to Youghal on Sunday. The evening was wet and windy but did not deter a brave outfit as despite playing with the elements in the first half and up just 0-7 to 0-2 they drove on mighty in the second half to put 2-4 on the board and held Youghal to 1-2 for on overall victory of 2-11 to 1-4. Goals by Avril Beirne from play and Ava Hallihan from a free sealed it. This is a strong side featuring a number of girls that were on the junior county winning team last week. The scores can from A Hallihan (1-3), L Hallihan (0-2), L McNulty (0-4), A Beirne (1-0), Jessie O’Leary (0-2).
The scene was set for the final v Ballinascarthy next Sunday in Church Road, Cork, but, due to entry to level 3 of the Covid guidelines, all games are now suspended until further notice. The girls can train and will no doubt be ready when a return is announced. Well done to the team and their mentors Mark Flynn, John Coleman, Alan O’Regan and Mary McNulty.
THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS
Just a word of thanks to all our supporters during the year, both to those who supported financially, those who made every effort to get to the game by poking out tickets and it was hard at times! To those at home and could not get to the matches and the boys and girls overseas who all tuned into to our streaming of the games, a big thank you. It may have been tough to get the streaming initiative going but it was invaluable and record numbers tuned in. For those away, I am told it brought the heart nearer home and thanks for your kind words.
ALL GAMES SUSPENDED BY CUMANN LÚTHCHLEAS GAEL.
Despite the fact that club and intercounty championships are allowed under the move to Level 3 of Covid, the GAA has taken a decision to suspend all games until further notice. At the outset of the pandemic, the organisation was reticient and even closed all pitches while all community field were open. Then outstanding guidelines were set down and we reopened. There was an excellent summer of games culminating in so many great finals in every county. However, while it was not the games, it was lack of social distancing in the stands and celebrations in the aftermath has now caused this latest suspension of activity.
It was indeed, most disconcerting to see some of the most learned of people throw caution to the wind and mulch together like bees in a hive and later delve into serious celebratory activity at the end of games. So please folks, Covid is contagious and dangerous, it is around the place, do heed the guidelines - there is no ‘them’ or ‘they’ as it is all ‘us’. Hopefully, we will be back in a few weeks. Tabhair aire.
CLUB MAIN SPONSOR
Zeus Packaging Group.