First round victory in County Junior B Football Championship
ROUND 1 BON SECOURS SPONSORED COUNTY JUNIOR B FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP St Catherines 3-14 Abbey Rovers 0-07
A deserved victory for the Saints from this tie when played at Rathcormac on Saturday evening last. That said, Abbey Rovers (Castletownroche) were making the livelier start.
Full forward Dylan O’Connor with their and the game’s opening two scores going on to make that three out of four before a Rory Galvin free reached Daniel Mangam, picking his spot and duly finished off Catherine’s first goal and opening score on five minutes. Mangan was largely accurate from placed balls and with the respective goalkeepers Shane Fitzgerald and Johnny Batterberry both pressed into action and making telling contributions it was 1-06 to 0-05 at the interval.
Catherines making an explosive start on the resumption. Taking a timely Padraig O’Connor pass, Eoin Condon popped over one of the scores of the match before neatly slotting home the second goal, All within ninety seconds of the change of ends. With the score standing at 2-09 to 0-05 to 40 minutes.
By now danger-man O’Connor had departed the action with injury and with it the opposition’s main scoring threat.
There were some smartly taken Kyle Wallace points. Eoin Wallace picked out substitute Eoin Davis to finish off the third goal right at the game’s end. A win that sets up a third-round meeting with neighbours Castlelyons in about three weeks’ time. While before we leave it we sympathise with Castletown on the sad death of Liam Hazelwood.
Scorers: D Mangan (0-06 frees) (1-07), E Condon (1-01), E Davis (1-00), K Wallace (0-03), R Galvin (0-01 ’45) (0-02) and J Hurley (0-01). Abbey Rovers scorers: D O’Connor (0-03), P Sheehan (0-02), M Browne and D O’Neill (0-01 each).
St Catherine’s team: S Fitzgerald, B O’Connor, S O’Brien, K Neville, E Wallace, E O’Riordan (capt), F O’Connell, r Galvin, B Davis, J Hayes, K Wallace, P O’Connor, E Condon, E Kenneally, D Mangan. Subs: C Kearney for B Davis (22), E Davis for P O’Connor (42), T O’Donnell for J Hayes (44), J Hurley for B O’Connor (52).
Referee: James Bermingham (Bride Rovers).
REFLECTIONS
Clearly individuals would know each other. That said, no great rivalry would exist between the clubs. Still Castletownroche would have played a role in the evolvement of the St Catherines club.
Without knowing it or aware of it, ‘The Old Bridge by the Mill’ is entrenched in club history. It was of course the venue for the Milford/Catherines county junior hurling final. “Fabulously entertaining” was how it was described in the paper the following morning. Losing a county final on the afternoon of Sunday, November 1st meant an early start to the winter of 1981.
On approach to the match last Saturday, one hazily was trying to dissect the fractured memories of two clearly competitive matches between the teams from the summer of 1986. Oo return we tried to unravel what facts we could try to unearth.
Club notes then didn’t seem as significant as they have become in the intervening years. Three weeks on from an inaugural victory in the grade following a first round win over St Finbarrs in what was a double header at Castlelyons, saw St Catherines and Castletownroche paired in the second round of the intermediate hurling championship.
They were conquerors of St Vincents also on the afternoon of Sunday, May 11. Rathcormac would again be the venue. Date being Sunday, June 1st. Dave Relihan and Michael Magnier were major threats as Catherines were savagely protecting a three-point interval cushion on a half-time scoreline standing at 1-12 to 2-06. Two Danny Relihan goals, one a penalty, would see the Avondhu based team assume a four-point advantage to the three-quarter mark.
Strong and forceful play from the trustworthy Denis Walsh allied to points from Mike Mellerick and William Kearney saw two evenly matched teams together coming up to the finish. Christy Clancy would edge the Saints narrowly ahead. But Danny Relihan pointed a forty-metre free and on a scoreline of 1-20 to 5-08 we returned to the same venue on Friday evening, June 20th for the replay.
Conditions weren’t great, with the Saints despite some wayward shooting, edging a low scoring championship encounter. It was 1-05 to 0-01 at half-time. Replays can be like that. Again the Relihans, both from placed balls, whittled back the deficit. Two late Pat Clancy points among the scores edging the Saints to victory on an end scoreline of 1-15 to 3-04.
Remember a post-match pint in The Rathcormac Inn. Though it might have been The Crossroads then. Or possible Rosnoulagh Lodge! Oh there’s posh! Wouldn’t be staying. Ballynoe Festival was in full swing then. Have a feeling Tweed were on stage that night. What a version the Ryder Brothers could deliver of the Cozy Powell classic ‘Dance with the Devil’ – ah, memories are made of this!
Castletownroche was also the venue for the intermediate relegation playoff both draw and replay in the early autumn of 2010. Wasn’t there a great championship victory over Kanturk there? Possible twelve months later. We wish them the best of luck!
REPLAY SCORERS FROM 1986
C Clancy (1-04), P Clancy (0-03), C Casey and W Kearney (0-02 each), P O’Donoghue, M Mellerick, D Walsh and D O’Neill (0-01 each).
St Catherine’s team: Willie Murphy, Maurice Hartnett, Pat O’Sullivan, Barrie O’Regan, Kevin Lane, Denis Walsh, Seamus Neville, Denis O’Neill, Cathal Casey, Pat Clancy, Mike Mellerick, Patsy O’Donoghue, Christy Clancy, John Mangan, William Kearney.
Same team for draw and replay. Referee was Willie Horgan of Brian Dillons. Cloghduv won the intermediate county hurling championship that year. Overcoming the Saints (1-16 to 1-12) in the quarter final at Church Road, Blackrock on Saturday evening, July 26th. Beating Erins Own (2-12 to 0-11) in the final itself. A team that included Liam Lynch, Brian McSweeney, Donald O’Leary (subsequent board referee), Tim Bally Murphy, Denis Ring (current Catherines and Imokilly coach) and Tim O’Riordan (of langer fame!). Wonder where was ‘Mo’ then?! Enough. Stop. We must move on.
Next week - 2022 East Cork Junior C Football and hurling championship draws.
ON THE WALKWAY
A lot of what you’re reading now was put together last Sunday morning. Very early last Sunday morning when the iron is hot! So between 6.40 to 7.20 we go for a walk around the walkway. As you do with the walkway! Sun up. Not a puff. Fog rising down by the river. Subliminal. All we had for company was the chirping and sounds of the various birds. Wouldn’t have the knowledge of Derek Mooney. But this was an idyllic place. Bye!!!!
INTERCOUNTY
A week of contrasting fortunes for the Rebels starting off with an awful, almost unacceptable performance at this level when losing to Kerry in the provincial minor football championship when played at Tralee on Thursday evening last.
Hanging by their coat tails now when facing the premier county who ran up an impressive 3-20 tally in their previous match. Indeed, it looks as if it will all be decided now by a trip to Tipp with the Rebels now fully understanding of their fate.
Win in Thurles on this forthcoming Sunday afternoon and their senior hurling aspirations remain alive. Reversing their league final loss to the Déise themselves by six points at Walsh Park last Sunday, always an exceedingly difficult venue to play and try and get the required result.
Just reflect on the memories of 1967 when the Rebels were All-Ireland heroes. They were league champions when losing there in 1974. Both Cork and Waterford started last Sunday’s round 4 encounter with 13 of their respective lineouts from the aforementioned league final of Saturday evening, April 2nd.
As the quest for third place is now the be-all-and-end-all in the provincial senior hurling championship. Last Sunday’s result from Ennis now means Limerick and Clare will meet again in the Munster final. Fixed for Sunday, June 5th at 4pm. Though overshadowed by what is going on elsewhere, surely the Westmeath performance against Wexford deserves special mention from last Saturday evening, especially as the Leinster Championship doesn’t seem to throw up the same excitement as that generated by its Munster counterpart.
MALLOW IS FOCUS FOR JUVENILE MATCH PROGRAMME
Round 5 Premier 2 U15 Hurling League Mallow v St Catherines.
Mallow simply had too much for the Saints from this hurling league tie when played in Carrigoon on Wednesday evening, May 11th last.
Scorers: J Temple (0-01 free) (0-01 ’65) (0-06) and G Sheehan (free) (0-01).
St Catherine’s starting fifteen: A Cotter, B McKee, J Kenneally, L Moore, J Pratt, F McCready, T Clancy, J Temple, J Pietropaolo, K O’Donoghue, C Hickey, S Wallace, C O’Driscoll, G Sheehan, T Dee. Subs: R Hickey for t dee (36), J O’Connor for C O’Driscoll (37).
Referee – Dave Kelleher (home club).
ROUND 5 PREMIER 2 U17 HURLING LEAGUE Mallow 1-17 St Catherines 0-13
Second trek to the venue inside 48 hours for this U17 HL tie played in sublime conditions at Carrigoon on Friday evening last. Early scores for the home-based team emanated from the half forward line. But with Kian O’Donoghue who struck one awesome first half point and Evan O’Driscoll tightening up considerably at the back, a much greater supply of ball was coming through.
Ciaran Pietropaolo, Darragh Morrison and Sean O’Donoghue were finding the target with the teams together on a half-time scoreline standing at 0-08 each.
Key score was the Mallow goal, finished off by Liam Malone five minutes into the second half. Billy Murphy and Simon Leneghan added on the points against a Saints’ outfit presented with numerous chances but were frequently off target with the wides tally increasing as the second half advanced.
Scorers: S O’Donoghue and D Morrison (0-01 free) (0-04 each), K O’Donoghue (0-01 free) and C Pietropaolo (0-01 ’ 65) (0-02 each) and S Cotter (0-010. Mallow scorers: S Leneghan (0-06 frees) (0-09), L Malone (1-02), B Murphy (0-01 ’65) (0-03), C Mullins, D Copps and P Buckley (0-01 each).
St Catherine’s team: J Bryan, C McCarthy, C McAuliffe, E O’Driscoll, K O’Donoghue, O Fitzgerald, T Barry, C Pietropaolo, D O’Connell, N Sheehan, D Morrison, C Sheehan, S Cotter, S O’Donoghue, C Leamy. Subs: D Murphy for C Sheehan (44), A Bryan for C Pietropaolo (63), G O’Callaghan McCarthy for S Cotter (65).
Referees: Brendan O’Regan (Doneraile).
WHAT’S COMING UP ON YOUR
FIXTURE LIST?
Friday, May 20th at Ballynoe, round 5 division 3 group 3 A county premier junior hurling league v Aghabullogue at 7.30pm. Saturday, May 21st at Caherlag, round 6 division 2 East Cork junior hurling league v Erins Own at 7.30pm. Wednesday, May 25th at Araglin, quarter final Rebel Óg East/Mid/ North U14 hurling championship v Kilworth/ Araglin Óg at 7pm.
LATE NEWS FROM MONDAY NIGHT LAST
Result round 3 division 4 East Cork junior hurling league: St Catherines 0-10 Bride Rovers 0-18. Report will appear next week.
LATEST LOTTO RESULTS
Draw held on Monday night, May 16th. Numbers drawn were 5, 12, 21, and 32. No winner of jackpot. Consolation winners were Mgt Spillane, Kilavorilla, Aghern, Maeve Horgan, Ballymonteen, Ballynoe, Noel Fenton, c/o Kals Conna, Aoife Neville, online and Pat O’Sullivan, Aghern.
There is a lotto draw after the junior hurling league match in Shanagarry on Monday night, May 23rd. Jackpot €20,000. If the current jackpot holds there will be an extra consolation prize of €150 (€50 x 3) included in the weekly lotto draw, once a month, starting with the draw on bank holiday Monday, June 6th.
ST CATHERINE’S GAA CLUB SPONSORS
T&A Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, Ballynoe are sponsors of St Catherines GAA Club. Mulcahy Steel are sponsors of St Catherines Juvenile GAA Club.