Tommy scoops first prize in Rebels’ Bounty draw
Huge congratulations to our club President, Tommy O’Brien Senior, on winning the top prize of €20,000 in June’s Rebels’ Bounty draw. This is Fermoy’s first winner in the draws and we are delighted that Tommy won as he, along with his deceased wife Amy (RIP) have been regular supporters of Cork County Board draws for years. Best wishes to Tommy on his winnings, enjoy every bit of it!
COUNTY LEAGUE HURLING GROUP 4B ROUND 2 Fermoy 1-18 Castlelyons 1-17
A sizeable crowd attended Fitzgerald Park on Friday last, June 25 to witness the eagerly anticipated league clash of these two local hurling rivals. Those who had the opportunity to watch this game were not left disappointed as it was a game of skill, tough tackles, sportsmanship and lots of excellent scores. It was a perfect evening for hurling and both sides lined out without some of their regulars but the lads who stepped in were not daunted by their task.
Castlelyons started off at a blistering pace and tore ferociously into tackles from the off. Before we had time to settle down in our seats they had registered a goal and a point in the first two minutes. To be fair this did not faze our boys as they accepted the challenge and got stuck in. On 4 mins Ruairi O’Hagan, who had an exceptional half, struck over our first point from play. The roving Shane Aherne got point number 2 on 5 mins and then his cousin, Jake Carr got his first point from play on 8 mins before Ruairi, after a great run into space, shot over the equaliser from a very acute angle.
Castlelyons stopped the rot when scoring a free on 13 mins and added another from play on 14 mins. A great Jake point on 15 mins brought it back to a one point game in Castlelyons’ favour. There was some great hurling being displayed by both sides and Jake pointed the equaliser from a free on 20 mins. We went ahead on 21 mins when Jake pointed from play only for our opponents to equalise on 22 mins from a free. Ruairi got his third point of the half with a point from play on 24 mins and another Jake free put us two up on 25 mins. A free from Castlelyons reduced our lead to the minimum on 27 mins but we finished the half very strongly getting 2 more points before the small whistle. Jake got both, one a free and the second one from play leaving the half-time scoreline Fermoy 0-11 Castlelyons 1-05.
There was a great anticipation from both sets of supporters that the second half would be a thriller and very close, they were correct. Martin Brennan opened the scoring in the second half on 32 mins and Castlelyons replied with a free on 36 mins. Jake pointed a free on 37 mins and then Castlelyons got the next two scores on 38 and 40 mins respectively.
It was tit for tat at this stage and Jake sent over another free on 41 mins and Castlelyons responded with a point on 44 mins. Jake with a point from play on 45 mins kept Fermoy ticking over before Castlelyons converted another free on 47 mins. That man Jake got another point from play on 48 mins but again Castlelyons responded with three successive points from 51st to 53rd mins. The scoreline at this stage read Fermoy 0-16 Castlelyons 1-13 with 6 mins to go.
The game was turned on its head on 55 mins with an excellent Fermoy goal. Jake, who before this had a penalty saved by their goalkeeper, lined up to take a free from about 25 metres out, in the blink of an eye Shane made a run, Jake struck the ball to him, Shane caught it on the run, burst through his tackler and blasted the ball to the net to put us three points up.
Credit to Castlelyons they did not drop their heads but came back at us ferociously. They reduced our lead to 2 on 56 mins then reduced it to the minimum on 59 mins. We were the ones now with our backs to the wall but Darragh Daly steadied the nerves with a glorious individual point on 60 mins for us to go 2 up again.
Again Castlelyons came back at us and scored a point on 60 mins before Kieran Morrisson got our final point on 62 mins. It was not over yet as they got another point on 63 mins to make it a one point game again. To our relief as soon as the ball was pucked out the referee blew the final whistle to leave us winning by a point on the scoreline of Fermoy 1-17 Castlelyons 1-16. This game was a great advert for hurling and congratulations and great credit is due to the two teams, management and backroom staff. I have no doubt that both of these teams will make a hell of a go of it in their respective championships. Best of luck to Castlelyons in the championship. Well done to all, Fermoy Abu!
Fermoy team: Conor Quinn; Eoin Clancy, Ronan O’Callaghan, Jack Scannell; Adam Creed, Peter Murphy, Kieran Morrisson (0-01); Darragh O’Carroll, Martin Brennan (0-01); James Carr (0-01), Jake Carr (0-10, 0-05f), Shane Aherne (1-01); Padraig de Róiste, James Molloy and Ruairi O’Hagan (0-03). Subs: Jack Hutchings (30 mins), Darragh Daly (30 mins, 0-01), Ben Twomey (59).
OTHER RESULT
Avondhu Div. 3 Hurling League Group A 15 a side: Fermoy 1-12 Ballygiblin 2-09
FIXTURES
County football league group 4A round 2 - Fermoy v Ballingeary in Ballingeary on Sunday, July 4 at 12.00. Avondhu div 3 football league group A 15-a-side - Fermoy v Araglin in Araglin on Sunday, July 4 at 11.00. County div 1 ladies football league - Fermoy v Glanmire in Glanmire on Sunday, July 4 at 15.00. Ladies football Avondhu division 1 - Fermoy v Grange in Grange on Monday, July 5 at 19.30. Ladies football county junior 2A - Fermoy v Inch Rovers in Killeagh on Monday, 5th July at 19.30. Please support!
PLAYER PROFILES
We continue our player profiles this week with past players Paul Donnellan and Derek Slattery.
PAUL DONNELLAN
Age: 57ish. Occupation: I work for Abbott Diabetes Care (Medical Device). Position you played: Midfield/Half-Forward – although lads that played with me (and selectors) would say I never played in any position when I was on the field!
Highlight of your career: Playing wise, winning a minor North Cork in ’81 – ‘against all odds’ beating red hot favourites, Doneraile on the way, and then Mitchelstown in the final. Epic stuff! After that, has to be reaching the intermediate county final in ’87 – beating Kilshannig and Bantry, then Mallow in a mighty semi-final in Castletownroche, before falling at the final hurdle to Glanmire in Rathcormac (which was delayed for 2 months because we had to wait for Teddy Mac!). We were a very good team and almost made it but I think we lost to the eventual county champions in every year until we regraded to junior in 1992. Tragic!
As a mentor/selector/supporter – it has to be winning the intermediate county in 2015, finally breaking the duck of not winning an adult football county since 1974, and then being with my friends and former players in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, on the day we beat St Michaels in 2018, and went back up to senior after 54 years. Fantastic!
Finally, special mention to Mikey Brennan who was so kind to loan me his gold ‘Gola’ boots for a Cork minor trial back in 1981 – I think I scored 2 points in the trial and was up and down the pitch all day, but I think when they saw me with the boots, the rugby shorts and the long hair, I didn’t fit the bill of what they were looking for, and I didn’t get a call back! I also had to give Mikey back his boots, but I am not sure he ever used them again after that!
Favourite venue: Fermoy was always my first choice to play on because it was so big and a great surface – but Castletownroche was next for many happy memories and I think most Fermoy lads loved to play there over the years. There was also Reynolds and Nellies on the way back to Fermoy – where the cheque book would get a rattle after championship matches!
Biggest influence growing up: My parents Sean and Angela have always been my biggest influence. In Fermoy GAA, Billy Barry, Con Cooney, Gus Kelleher, Jimmy Dennigan, John Fenton and Mick Dolan stand out for me, but also Barry Connolly, Jim Kilty, Pats Noonan and Tommy Lawton from the other codes in Fermoy. All of them were all very dedicated and inspirational, great coaches and mentors. We were encouraged to play every sport growing up in Fermoy at that time, although showing up with mud on your legs for rowing training after a football match was not always appreciated by Barry Connolly!
Favourite food: roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Favourite film: Anything with Steve McQueen – probably “The Great Escape or The Magnificent Seven” were the best. Toughest opponent you played against: I would say any of the Grange team from 1980 to 1985 – you knew you were in a game when you played those boys and often the ball was forgotten about once the ref threw it in! I was also so happy that Eamonn Hickey and Denis Twomey were on my side when I was playing and you didn’t want to be trying to mark them in training either!
Best GAA player you played with: I played with some brilliant players over the years, so hard to single out one, but Mikesey Dolan, Flan Groarke, Denis Twomey and Trevor Cooney were match winners every day for me - although Twomey could lose one or two also if the ref wasn’t happy with him!? When I was starting out as a teenager, I played with Davy Magnier, Miah Dennehy and Pats Lonergan towards the end of their careers and they had brains and were real footballers! Tomás Clancy is probably the main reason we are back up playing senior football in Fermoy and without a doubt our best player over the past 10 years.
WOULD YOU CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT EITHER GAME
Increase adult club games to 70 minutes – players are so much fitter these days and spending a lot of time training for games – 60 minutes is relatively short when you can play up to 21 players in football now and I don’t see why not try it at least for championship. It would also probably sort out the problem of too many replays etc. If you play amateur rugby or soccer you are playing for 80 and 90 minutes, so why not hurling and football? I am sure the lads playing today would be up for it.
Favourite GAA player: In the time that I have been watching (hurling and football) has to be Jimmy Barry Murphy. Most important skill in hurling and football: I am not a hurler, but I would say ability to strike of both sides, while in football, keeping control of the ball at speed and being able to kick off left and right (which of course I could never do!).
Advice for young players starting off: practice as much as you can, never give up and most of enjoy playing with your friends and teammates – the years roll by way too quickly!
One thing you may not know about me: I played in an U14 Féile final for Fermoy in 1976, at the opening of Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Needless to say, I wasn’t invited back!
Lastly pick your own 6 aside inter county team: Hurling/Football. I am going to stay loyal to my club and pick lads from Fermoy who either played football for their county or should have but also from listening to many people over the years from Fermoy who would know what they are talking about… but I know this selection will start a few conversations, so here goes - goalkeeper: Dave ‘Rookie’ Roche/Pacelli Bratchford, fullback: John Fenton/ Jim Slattery, halfback: Trevor Cooney/Dave Magnier, midfielder: Tomas Clancy/Flan Groarke, half forward: Billy McCarthy/Denis Twomey, full forward: Patsy Lonergan/Mikesey Dolan.
DEREK SLATTERY (GOALKEEPER)
Age: 42. Occupation: Operator, PepsiCo. Position you played: Goalkeeper.
Highlight of your GAA career: Difficult task, being part of the All-Ireland and Munster championship winning minor panel in 1995 was a huge honour and experience. Every North Cork and county we won underage with Fermoy GAA, the U14 North Cork and County double was amazing. But winning the All-Ireland Colleges Cup 1997 after being beaten in 1996, to win back to back Harty cups and have the determination to get back to win the final was some achievement.
Favourite venue: Croke Park. Biggest influence growing up: Denis Ring, he showed us how important it is to train with the same intensity that you would need in a match. Patsy Flynn and Arthur Philpot also had major influences and so many others at the club who nurtured so many players.
Favourite food: BBQ pulled pork cooked low and slow. Favourite film: The Waterboy. Toughest opponent you played against: Henry Shefflin. Best GAA player you played with: Donal Óg Cusack.
Would you change anything about either game? Hurling; stay the same. Football; get rid of hand passing and palming the ball into the net.
Favourite GAA player: current - Niall Morgan, all-time - Seán Óg Ó hAilpín. Most important skill in hurling and football: Don’t overlook your weaknesses. Improve them and they will complement your strongest attributes.
Advice for young players starting off: Remember that the coaches are there to help you improve as a person and as a player. Enjoy all the training and matches and you will also make friends for life.
One thing you may not know about me: I also played as a goalkeeper in soccer and am lucky to have won 2 FAI Intermediate cup medals with Rockmount AFC.
Lastly pick your own 6 aside team Hurling St Colman’s /Football Fermoy GAA. Goalkeeper: Barry O’Grady/Pacelli Bratchford. Fullback: Paddy Mullins/Paddy Mullins. Halfback: Luke Mannix/Owen Fenton. Midfielder: Elton Pierce/ Paul Hickey. Half forward: Trevor Slattery/Trevor Grumbridge, full forward: Neil Ronan/Alan O’Callaghan.
LOTTO RESULTS
Results for 29/06 jackpot €18,400, numbers drawn: 03, 12, 23 and 32. Result: No winner.
LUCKY DIPS
€40: Molly Doyle c/o Shinnicks; €40: Moss O’Brien c/o Carryout, €40: Mary Kirby c/o Website, €40: Emer O’Donovan c/o Carryout, €40: Sadie O’Brien c/o Pat O’Brien .
Next jackpot (Tuesday 06/07): €18,600. Venue: The Cross. Tickets are €2 each and 3 tickets for €5. Available from: Outside Shinnicks Spar: Fridays 10.00-13.30, Barnes Jewellers, Carry-out Off License, Website (Clubforce), via Direct debit or from any club lotto member.
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