A week of drama on the sporting fields but no division 1 clash on Sunday
Last week there was a plethora of sport to whet the appetite of most sporting fans but sadly our Division 1 hurling game against Ballyhooly in Ballyhooly on Sunday morning had to be curtailed due to both pitches in Ballyhooly and Killavullen deemed too soft to take the game.
After a dry spell, 25mm of rain fell in Killavullen on the 9th of this month and that, coupled with a hectic adult juvenile and ladies’ program of training and games, scuppered our chances of hosting the game. Ballyhooly to be fair were similarly compromised.
In Cheltenham last week the local horse Noble Yeats ran an excellent race to finish 4th in the Blue Ribbon event and any money garnished by his breeder James Hunter was surely spent by his lovely wife Kristine who was all glammed up and looking extraordinary on the day, and why not. The big story of the week in Cheltenham was Honeysuckle who won the Mares Hurdle on Tuesday and caused many a tear for even hard-nosed punters for the uplift that he gave to the De Bromhead family.
Congratulations also to those who prefer the oval ball to any GAA offering and Ireland winning the Grand Slam on Saturday against England in the Aviva stadium was magical and shows how sport can transcend life. It again brought sport from the back pages to the front-page news of all publications and news events and that is brilliant.
All sporting success starts locally in the training fields and underage matches around the country and we should always be grateful for the army of volunteers and coaches that make themselves available night after night week after week.
On equine matters, congratulations is in order to the local Turner family of Carrig who saw their horse Hathaway’s Cottage romp to glory in Liscarroll Point to Points last Sunday. The race was the 5 year Old Mares Maiden sponsored by Top Line Burtons from Kanturk for the Rising Centenary Cup. Keeping all things local, the horse was trained by Maire Harding from Castletownroche and ridden by Eoin O’Brien from Mitchelstown. Donie Turner in the winners enclosure after the race said that the result was a surprise to them but how she had coped very well with the testing conditions and how Liscarroll had been a very lucky track for him over the years and how that was his fifth winner at the venue.
His sons Sean and Don and grandchildren Teddy, Katie and Kelly and a large circle of well-wishers accompanied Donie in the winners’ enclosure as he received the cup.
PERHAPS NOT PRETTY BUT EDUCATIONAL FOR ALL INVOLVED
The game in Division 3 hurling last Thursday night in Mourneabbey was strong-willed and tough and fair and played in a great spirit. Mourneabbey had a youthful team while the Killavullen outfit was a mixed bag with young players like Colm Hannon and Barry Cotter lining out with the likes of Pa Sheehan and Ian O’Gorman. The purpose of a 2nd team is to give these young players experience in a non-pressurised setting and it more than meets this brief.
Against a strong wind Killavullen were first to score from Ian relishing the tough conditions but Clyda got the next two points. Seamus O’Mahony was one of a number of players to put his hand up and impress the Junior A Management team in attendance and Seamus scored next. Clyda got the next 3 scores to forge ahead before Kevin Fox - and he now settling in after being home from Australia only 4 days - got our 3rd point of the night in the 16th minute of an entertaining opening period.
Clyda though had the greater fire power on the night and were able to take their chances better and raced into a commanding lead with another 4 points in quick succession. Still the game was very worthwhile with Sean Bartley, Sean Palmer, Joe Cagney and Eoin O’Hanlon very good for Killavullen in this period. Pa Sheehan was assured as always in the fullback line while Billy Norris was ice-cool in our goals and parried a good shot. Kevin scored again from his midfield berth but Clyda got the final 4 points of the opening half to bring their tally to 0-13 as against 0-04 for us.
With the aid of the wind we started the comeback with a point from Colm Looney in the opening minute of the second period. We coughed up two more points from Clyda in break-out moves but we got a lifeline into the game when a long delivery from Ian O’Mahony evaded everyone in the Clyda goal and went all the way to the net. Clyda answered back with a point before Ian scored another free.
Clyda as is their ilk did not shy away from a battle though and carved out another point for themselves. Colm Looney scored a goal for us to bring respectability to the scoreline.
Sean Palmer scored a lovely point from distance and Colm Hannon scored an impressive free while Clyda stayed in front with another point. Steady in the frees, Colm Hannon scored again and we finished up with a tally of 2-09 to the fine score that Clyda put up of 21 points. A very worthwhile exercise and loads of positives.
The team was Billy Norris, Eoin O’Hanlon, Pa Sheahan, Joe Cagney, Kevin Fox (0-02), Pa Angland, Sean Bartley, Sean Palmer (0-01), Ian O’Mahony (1-01 0-01F), Seamus O’Mahony (0-01), Ian O’Gorman (0-01), Colm Looney (1-01), John O’Regan, Pa Cronin, Colin Carey. Substitutes - Barry Cotter for John O’Regan – injured, Michael Walsh for Pa Angland, Colm Hannon (0-02F) for Colin Carey, Conor Shanahan for Pa Cronin, Ed O’Connor for Eoin O’Hanlon.
Thanks to Ava for keeping the score and statistics remarkably well and it you are looking for an impressive cake for Mother’s Day or any occasion just check out her creations online.
GAA LOTTO UPDATE – WEEK 11 2023
There was no winner of the lotto jackpot last Tuesday night. The numbers drawn were 3, 8 and 12. The jackpot on the night was at €1,100. The next jackpot on next Tuesday night will be €1,200 if there was to be a winner. The winners of the lucky dips on last Tuesday night were as follows; €50 Joseph Taylor seller Rosemarie Taylor, €30 Tom Barry Ballyduff seller John Beechinor, €20 Mike Carey seller Mary Deady.
Purchase your ticket from any committee member or from our website - Killavullengaa. com. Thank you for your anticipated and ongoing support.
UPCOMING ADULT FIXTURES
The 2023 football leagues will continue with the following games concerning Killavullen.
Sunday, 26th March at 13.00 in Killavullen, Killavullen v Liscarroll – Churchtown Gaels 2023 Avondhu Division 3 Football League. Sunday, 26th March at 17.30 in Glantane, Killavullen v Kilshannig 2023 Avondhu Division 1 Football League.
MEMBERSHIP 2023
With all games now up and running it is imperative that all players have paid their 2023 membership. Remember no membership paid, no insurance cover for you in the event of an injury. The club would be appreciate it if people will pay the appropriate fee on the new Central GAA App – Foireann and select Cill An Mhuilinn as your club.
Any person experiencing difficulties on the platform can play their subscription to any committee member or make arrangement to pay directly to the club treasurer Sean Turner at 086-6015779 or membership officer Ian Roche on 086-3979833.
REBELS’ BOUNTY DRAW – FINAL PUSH
When these notes are published their will only be 7 days to purchase a Rebels’ Bounty ticket for 2023. Cork finish their 2023 Allianz Football league with a mouth-watering clash against Derry in Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 2pm on 26th March for which we will have Premium tickets.
Tickets are now on sale for the Rebels’ Bounty Draw. The first draw of Rebels' Bounty 2023 will take place on Thursday, March 30th in Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 7pm. Draws for January, February and March will take place on this date. Ticket sales will close at 1pm on the day of the draw. Paid up members of either (membership or Rebels’ Bounty) for 2023 will be in the draw for premium tickets.
O’CALLAGHAN CUP SUCCESS FOR ST COLMAN’S AND JAMIE MAGNER
Congratulations to St Colman’s College, Fermoy and local player Jamie Magner on winning the prestigious O’Callaghan Cup when they defeated Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaidh on a final score of 1-24 to 1-10 recently.
This was St Colman’s first win since 2010 and Jamie was instrumental to their success, scoring 0-11 in the final, 0-07 from frees and 4 points from open play.
The Dr O'Callaghan Cup, officially known as the Cork Post-Primary Schools Senior A Hurling Championship is an annual inter-schools hurling competition organised by the Cork Post-Primary Schools division of the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It is the highest inter-schools hurling competition in the county of Cork.
U8 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Well done to our U8 Player of the Week Robert Deane. Great listening when the coaches are explaining skills and super effort in learning those skills. Keep it up.
ANNUAL RUBBISH COLLECTION 2023
Killavullen GAA are proud to lend a hand with the clean-up of the roads of the Parish which will occur on the Saturday, 1st April. Sadly this seems to be necessary every year and we wish it was not but under the guidance of John Magner, Carrigacunna and Marion O’Regan from Killavullen Community Council again this year a large volume of material will be invariably picked up.
The material will be placed in the Club GAA Grounds on Saturday and removed by Country Clean on Sunday which we appreciate.
Coffee cups, Coke cans, plastic bottles, pizza boxes and some large old televisions and tyres were the most common items picked up in 2022, all of which can be recycled if a person is civic minded enough to do so.
Much of made of the young climate activists marching through the streets demanding action on climate change. Very laudable but start on your doorstep. Society needs to change and young people can bring about that seismic shift. Report instances of littering and if you are in a car that discards litter ask them to stop, pick it up and refrain from doing so again.
A handful of individuals are spoiling the countryside for us all and the law needs to start prosecuting people for this crime. Leaving or throwing litter in a public place is an offence. You can get an on-thespot fine of €150 or a maximum fine of €4,000 if you are convicted in the District Court. Local authority litter wardens and the Gardaí can issue on-thespot fines.
Club sponsor - Howard Farm Feeds.