Happy St Patrick’s Day
As sure as night follows day it’s a date that inevitably comes around. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, St Stephen’s Day (or for UK readers Boxing Day!), New Year’s Day. As you will have noticed events that share the same date annually. All celebrated in style. But March 17th has been struggling. Ravaged by Covid-19 over the last two renewals. This time last year we were in a very dark place. Struggling to cope with restrictions on distance allowed to travel, restaurants, pubs, barbers, hairdressers were all off limits. That initial vaccine shot and the drive to Mallow was all we looked forward to!
There was no competitive activity, intercounty action for elite athletes set the ball rolling. What an evening Monday, April 26th was with underage training resuming on the pitch. See the joy on their faces. Adults were back a fortnight later. First match on a condensed juvenile programme took place on Wednesday evening, June 9. There was the Intermediate Hurling League Cup below in sunny Timoleague four days later. At least the weather was good! Cúl Camp followed in a heatwave and from there on the season meandered its way through until natural termination two weeks short of Christmas.
Though it won’t be as before, this year will be different. St Catherines first choice hurling team are spending the day in the Déise county. St Catherines will be in Kilworth in the evening. Opening their U15 hurling league campaign. Other juvenile teams sampling the action over the ensuing two days. There is the junior football league coming up in Rostellan on Monday night. See fixtures section going with this report. So, for the first time since 2019 can we really wish you a happy St Patrick’s Day. Or in this case couple of days. Even a bank holiday thrown in and rightly so!
LOTTO
Coming right at the end of the long weekend will be the next weekly lotto draw, now featuring a jackpot of €20,000. Results of the most recent draw from Monday night last, March 14th - Numbers drawn were 8,12,15 and 32 and the jackpot of €19,800 was not won. Consolation winners on the night were D Noonan c/o PH Conna, Gabriel Gregan Clarecastle, Pat Hartigan Conna, Shane Cotter online and Richard Hegarty Ballymonteen Ballynoe.
Next draw after the junior football league match in Rostellan will take place in the clubrooms, Ballynoe on Monday night, March 21 at 10pm.
RACING SUCCESS
Right now we are in the throes of the most appealing festival of the season. Tomorrow is Gold Cup Day. Dropping it a notch and Richie Condon, this time as a favourite, landed a nice pot in Navan recently. While Johnny Hurley sprang a surprise when A Long, Long Story at the generous odds of 28/1 was successful in The Hunters Chase at Thurles on Thursday afternoon last. Trained at Shankill Cross, roughly halfway between Conna and Tallow by Sean Ahern, a great community man is Johnny. He wouldn’t leave the local amateur drama troupe down and some summers ago wasn’t he crowned Lord Mayor of Conna during the August weekend festival held in the village. Gary and Lorna Dunlop and William Kearney would be able to elaborate on that. He also figured on numerous hurling teams over the years and captained St Catherines to win an underage hurling title, defeating Cloyne in the final of the U11 C championship when played in Castlemartyr on Friday evening, September 9th, 2005.
Two days later Cork defeated Galway in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling final. Making for a great and memorable weekend overall. Names to figure prominently on that Saints’ team in a final won by the Saints on a 2-03 to 2-02 scoreline and refereed by Cathal McAllister (Midleton) were Jonathon Burke, Christopher O’Donnell, James Neville, Michael Wade, Daniel Mangan, Paddy Lee and Aaron Neville. Figuring at the head of affairs for the opposition were Tom Cannon, Stephen Beausang and Dylan Cahill.
We like to be able to name final teams. Especially winning ones. They put the meat in the sandwich! So here goes – Jonathon Burke, Christopher O’Donnell, Paddy Lee, Eoin Condon, Cathal Galvin, Shane O’Brien, Aaron Neville, Michael Wade, Johnny Hurley (capt), Robert Keane, James Neville, Daniel Mangan, Brian Lane, Mark Buckley, Paul Tobin. Also Cormac Mulcahy and Eoin Kearney. There’s a nice little brain teaser for you on our national feast day. Congrats again Johnny.
COMMISERATIONS
Although possibly because of geographical location but there was never that much rapport between the two clubs. But Neilius O’Neill would have crossed the divide. Getting to know Neilius and his family when based in Fermoy for many, many years and one found him a very warm, friendly and accessible individual. Deepest sympathy to the Glanworth Club on his sad departure. He will be missed.
CLUB APPOINTMENT
Ber Feeney has been appointed Children’s Welfare Officer of our club.
FIRST AID COURSE
Juvenile Chairman Brian Sheehan tells us a first aid course of roughly 3.5 hours went ahead from 9am in Ballynoe Community Centre of Saturday morning last.
ACTION CONTINUES ON THE JUVENILE PLAYING FIELDS OF EAST CORK Round 1 section 1 division 2 Rebel Og East U13 Football League - Killeagh v St Catherines
Numerous descriptive words could be sued for the opening tie of this league, relocated to Killeagh with a 2.30 start on Saturday afternoon last. Horrendous is the one we’re opting for. Massive credit goes to the 30 players on view in what were the worst conditions imaginable. An added bonus for the visitors was collecting the points on offer. Same two teams meet in the equivalent hurling league at Ballynoe this weekend. Not such good news for Pat Fitzgerald, Noel Kielthy and co. Dropping their second proposed fixture when the awful weather led to the cancellation of the Carrigtwohill match in the Division 1 Rebel Óg East U17 Football League. Still, what can you do?
Scorers v Killeagh: C Higgins (3-00), A Cotter (1-02), T Walsh (1-01) and E O’Mahony (1-00). St Catherine’s team: S O’Keeffe, T Morrison, B O’Connor, E Dillon, S Walsh, A Burke, A Cotter, T Walsh, K O’Connell, C Higgins, S Moore, E O’Mahony, R O’Donoghue. Also J Mulkerrins and D Temple for S Moore and R O’Donoghue. Referee Jim Hennessy (Kiltha Óg).
INTERCOUNTY SCENE
There was no game club-wise on Sunday afternoon last. A proposed U17 football league match for the morning didn’t materialise.
Then sussed out the county scene, with two Leinster teams figuring prominently from before now, again taking the limelight. It might surprise any younger observers that a Meath/Cork football league match from 30 years ago would be high profile. It would be match of the day. They were the two best teams in the country. Fuelled by a bitter, intense rivalry only gradually diffusing itself. Especially after the sad funerals of John Kierans and Mick McCarthy. It’s unlikely any stench atmosphere manifested itself in Navan on Sunday with the Rebels sinking deeper into the mire. Oh dear.
Oh yes there were a few historic clashes with Wexford too. Art Foley and the Rackards. Christy Ring being shouldered off the halcyon Croke Park surface after the 1956 All-Ireland senior hurling final. Completing a two in a row for the Yellowbellies. Didn’t a league match around that time enter the annals as The Battle of New Ross!
In 1990 Cork received a mauling in a league semi-final. You shouldn’t need reminding on how that year finished up! There were some key tussles in the noughties also. One requiring a replay.
But if it’s draws and replays you want, look no further than the legendary series of matches served up by Cork and Wexford from the National Hurling League final of 1993. Realistically, the Slaneysiders should have won the first day. Inexplicably the normally reliant John O’Connor off target from a late (very late!) eminently scoreable free.
Just look at the various scores forthcoming like half time, full time, half time extra time, full time extra time from the replay a week later. 0-05 each, 0-11 to 1-08, 0-15 to 2-08 and 0-18 to 3-09. Second replay again in Thurles on Saturday, May 22nd. Cork losing Leonard Forde early. Send off on ten minutes. Goals from Barry Egan, Thomas Mulcahy and John Fitzgibbon helping fourteen-man Cork to clinch a historic title 3-11 to 1-12. Denis Walsh and Cathal Casey played in those games. Winning captain was Brian Corcoran.
However Cork lost out to Clare at Limerick in the first round of the championship that year. Wexford lost out to Kilkenny in a replayed Leinster final. Not to peak too early would appear to be the lesson. No pressure of that nature as Cork and Wexford go to Chadwick Park this Sunday for a round 5 league fixture. Both unbeaten. Both automatic semi-finalists. Still it could be a Cork/Wexford final again. Though Kilkenny and Waterford might have something to be saying about ideas like that.
EVENTUAL CORK LEAGUE WINNING TEAM OF 1993
Ger Cunningham, John Considine, Sean O’Gorman, Leonard Forde, Denis Walsh, Jim Cashman, Brian Corcoran, Cathal Casey, Sean McCarthy, Teddy McCarthy, Pat Buckley, Thomas Mulcahy, Ger Manley, Paul O’Callaghan and Barry Egan. Subs used – Tony O’Sullivan, Mark Foley, John Fitzgibbon. Also on panel were Tom Kingston, Brian Sheehan, Liam Meaney, Ger Fitzgerald, Kevin Hennessy and Pat Hartnett.
FIXTURES FOR ST PATRICK’S MORNING
Thursday, March 17th at Kilworth, round 1 Premier Two U15 Hurling League v Kilara Óg at 4pm. Friday, March 18th round 2 Premier Two U17 Hurling League in Bishopstown at 5.45pm. Saturday, March 19th at Ballynoe, round 1 division 2 Rebel Óg East U13 Hurling League v Killeagh at 1pm. Sunday, March 20th round 2 division 4 Junior Hurling League in Dungourney at 12 noon. Monday, March 21st at Rostellan, round 2 division 2 East Cork Junior Football League v Aghada at 8pm. Fixtures correct at time of going to press.
ST CATHERINES GAA CLUB SPONSORS
T&A Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, Ballynoe are sponsors of St Catherines GAA Club. Mulcahy Steel are sponsors of our Juvenile Club.