A closer look at Junior Football League opposition
The major item for discussion throughout the Eastern Division this Thursday morning would be what would have emerged regarding the knockout competitions. All Junior A and B Football and Hurling Championship draws were scheduled to be made at a meeting of the East Cork Board in Midleton last night, Wednesday, March 2. You probably have them at your fingertips now. We will take a brief look through when back with you in a week’s time.
For now we focus on Division 2 of the East Cork Junior Football League. Entailing 9 teams, with St Catherines due to start their campaign in Ballynoe this weekend against Dungourney. Further home games will follow against Russell Rovers, Fr O’Neills and Castlemartyr. Receiving a bye in round 9 but in the interim must play Junior Football League matches in Aghada, Erins Own, Glanmire and Cloyne. First choice football team in the club will play in the Divisional Junior B Football Championship with second team playing Junior C Football Championship only. Up to 9 substitutes permissible in those Junior Leagues. League cut-off point will be decided by the Board in due course. Junior B football manager is Liam O’Connor. Junior C football manager will be James Casey.
Take note that the Division 2 Junior Hurling League commences next week and as previously revealed the Division 3 County Premier Junior Hurling League group A will be starting off the end of the month. St Finbarrs are visitors in that opening County Board League fixture.
UPCOMING IN YOUR FIXTURE LIST
Friday, March 4 at Ballynoe, round 1 Division 2 Junior Football League v Dungourney at 7.30pm. Sunday, March 6 round 1 section 1 Division 2 Rebel Óg East U15 Football League in Lisgoold at 11am.
ACTION RETURNS TO UNDERAGE PLAYING FIELDS Shandrum 1-22 St Catherines 3-06
We were to have been out in the football a week previously. Pitch unplayable. Scene of the competitive wind up following a championship encounter exactly four months previously. So now it was a case of the last shall be the first. Returning to the venue with this juvenile season officially starting off with this round 1 Premier 2 U17 Hurling League when played at 11am in Newtownshandrum on Sunday morning last.
Visitors starting off well. Two Sean O’Donoghue goals, both clinically finished off with Ciaran Leamy adding a third, saw a lead of 3-01 to 1-02 build up to the 13 minute mark. Terrific work rate and sublime Darragh Morrison striking allied to the accurate free taking of Kian O’Donoghue helping to maintain the status quo. Sweet and accurately struck points from Timmy Barry and Nathan Sheehan keeping that aforementioned five-point cushion afloat. St Catherines ahead on a half-time scoreline standing at 3-06 to 1-07.
But it’s a game of two halves. Favoured by the elements Shandrum completely took over a league encounter between two understrength teams. Johnny Murphy, Robert Troy and Stephen Minihane were very good as 15 unanswered scores were build up and the end result was decided well before the finish. A feature of the second half was four points struck over from all angles by Kieran Murphy from sideline cuts. A masterful exhibition of point scoring from one of the game’s treasured skills. For the moment we have to take it on the chin. Get a few more players back and the learning process will continue still further.
Scorers: S O’Donoghue (2-00), C Leamy (1-00), K O’Donoghue (0-03f), T Barry, D Morrison and N Sheehan (0-01 each).
St Catherine’s team: J Bryan, E O’Driscoll, C Pietropaolo, C Dunning, D O’Donovan, N Sheehan, C McCarthy, D Morrison, T Barry, D O’Connell, C Leamy, K O’Donoghue, S Cotter, S O’Donoghue, K Kelleher. Sub: A Bryan for K Kelleher (39’). Also on panel: G Sheehan, C Murray and C Hayes.
Referee Davy Copps (Ballyhea).
LAST WEEKEND
Back from Newtownshandrum and straight away get your thoughts down. It takes about an hour. They deserve that. Don’t forget every name on paper. Is for real. They all exist in reality. It’s not makey uppy! Now the rest of the day is your own. Get the results from other sports. Willie has just one winner in Naas. A previously unraced Bring On the Night in a novice hurdle. Though in fairness had small success on the flat in France during the summer. Read his fascinating interview in the Racing Post on the nerves and anxiety being felt approaching the major meets. He says he always fears a blowout on Cheltenham week. Still, he is human after all. Willie Mullins sure to raise the profile with the festival fast approaching. Then following on from that comes Aintree, Fairyhouse and Punchestown. Wow!
Get the zapper. Check out that little box in the corner. Anything that could go wrong went wrong for the Italians at the Aviva. It’s called Murphy’s Law as the Irish prepare for Twickenham next week. Coach Farrell probably knows his team even by now. Surely Lowe and Sexton will be on it. They both bring that element of surprise on what looks a decent panel.
Few could give out that over the last number of years Limerick are the team continuously raising the bar on the intercounty hurling front. Were it not for a controversial call they might have claimed four All-Irelands in a row. A few fellow parishioners didn’t like it. But you must say what you feel and would still have given all 15 places to Limerick on the 2021 All-Star hurling team. Not to mention the subs! Every match the Shannonsiders would play is highly profiled and rightly so. But it’s there for all to see that they have a collection of ‘getable’ players. They started without two last Sunday. One of those made an appearance off the bench. Yet stupidly losing another in the course of battle and not for the first time or anything like it. Could this be the rock they might perish on? Could this prove to be their eventual undoing?
In fairness, the Rebels were good. Particularly Mark Coleman and Darragh Fitzgibbon. There are still a number of positions up for grabs. Though it’s looking more likely with each passing day that a place surely waits for Ciaran Joyce of Castlemartyr. Daire O’Leary from Watergrasshill will likewise be pushing hard. There is no doubt East Cork hurling is strong. Six players from the division started out in the Gaelic Grounds at the weekend. Another two came on. Imokilly are well capable of winning the County Senior Hurling Championship again. Next up and Henry Shefflin and his charges will be in Páirc Uí Chaoimh for 5pm on this coming Saturday evening, March 5.
Galway winning on their football visit at the weekend. Next up are the old nemesis Meath, in Navan shortly as the lure of Division 3 football and Tailteann Cup appearances looms ever larger.
However, overriding memory lodged in the brain from last weekend and it’s not leaving in a hurry comes from BBC radio on Sunday night as natives cried on the streets of Lviv in the Ukraine. Fearing what the future holds and here we are worried about a few ould sports results.
REBELS’ BOUNTY DRAW DELAYED
Due to unprecedented demand to the system there had to be a delay with the Rebels’ Bounty. Both January and February draws were rescheduled for Tuesday night, March 1st last. Still if it means €20,000, I wouldn’t mind waiting an extra five days! Would you?
LOTTO RESULTS UPDATE
Right, let’s get this show on the road. An update starting out with all the details from Monday night, February 21. Numbers drawn were 2, 6, 8 and 11 and there was no winner of the jackpot of €19,200. The consolation winners were Catherine McCready Castleview Conna, Pat Noonan Carrigmore Conna, Bernie Flynn Conna, Mary Leigh c/o F Galvin Ballytrasna Fermoy and Moroney 5 c/o Kals Conna.
Results from Monday last, February 28th. Numbers drawn were 2, 3, 10 and 13 and the €19,400 jackpot wasn’t won. Consolation winners were Deirdre Hayes online, Neilus Kearney c/o PH Conna, Marie Mellerick Conna, Veronica Martin Tallow and Una and Liam Barry online. There will be a draw on Monday night, March 7. Jackpot is now €19,600. Lotto draw is held in the clubrooms every Monday night at 9.30pm.
CONDOLENCES
Deepest sympathy to wife Amanda, son Jack, daughter Dearbhaile, brothers Denis (well known in athletics circles) and John (now chairman of Castlelyons GAA Club), and extended family, on the sad passing of Tommy McCarthy, Newtown, Ballynoe last week. Sadly, all too young.
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.