Draws all round
Castletownroche 3-09 Araglin 0-18
The 2023 North Cork Hurling League continued last weekend, with Castletownroche playing Araglin in their second fixture on the morning of St Patrick’s Day.
The game had been originally scheduled for Araglin, but with the wet weather last week meant the Araglin pitch was unplayable and the game was switched to Castletownroche. Conditions were quite heavy underfoot, but the pitch held up about as well as could be expected.
This was a game that ebbed and flowed throughout. In the end both teams will be happy to have secured a share of the spoils, yet given the fact Castletownroche were never headed over the course of the hour, they will wonder how they did not manage to hold on.
The game started brightly and Mark was on song from the outset from placed balls. Castletownroche led by 3 points to 1, when they struck for the first goal. A good move saw the ball arrive into the square and Seamus was first to react, finishing well from 10 metres out. Araglin had two purple patches, where they scored 3 points within 2 minutes on both occasions.
This kept them in touch and the teams were back level as the half drew to a close. A long speculative ball arrived in to the Araglin square and from the ensuing scramble, Seamus bundled the ball over the line for his second goal of the game. At half-time, Castletownroche led by 2 points, 2-05 to 0-09.
The second half continued to be a close affair. Scores were at a premium in the third quarter, with the teams exchanging 4 points in the period. An opportunist finish from Niall, following a defensive lapse in the Araglin side saw Castletownroche take a 5 point lead. This seemed to stir Araglin in to action and they owned the final quarter. With 5 minutes left, Castletownroche led by 4 points, yet Araglin were relentless and scored a point a minute in the final stages, to a single point from Castletownroche.
The last puck of the game saw Araglin point the equaliser and that signalled the end of the game, with referee John O’Brien, who had a good game, calling for the ball. The final score was Castletownroche 3-09 to Araglin 0-18.
All told, this was an encouraging performance and is another step on the path to preparing for championship at the start of May. The next league game will take place in early April - details to be confirmed in the next few days.
Team: Mick Ryan, Liam McGrath, Thomas Barrett, Adrian O’Donovan, Will Madden, Muiris Browne (0-02), Jack Relihan, Billy Batterberry, Noah O’Brian, Niall Hazelwood (1-00), Aiden O’Leary, James Linehan, Seamus Sheehan (2-00), Mark O’Callaghan (0-06), Dane O’Neill (0-01). Subs: Eoin O’Connor, James Ladd.
CLUB LOTTO
The next club lotto draw takes place on Monday, March 27th, in the Rockforest Bar, with the jackpot now standing at €6,300.
Tickets are available through local retail outlets in the village, from your usual sellers or through any club officer. The club would like to express our appreciation to everybody who continues to support our draw.
CLUB MEMBERSHIP
A reminder that club membership is due now for the 2023 season. It has been decided to maintain at €50 for adults and €20 for OAPs/students. Membership can be paid to any committee member.
Please note that membership must be paid by March 31st, 2023, as per the rules of the Association, in order to have full membership rights.
SPORTS PREDICTOR FUNDRAISER
We had a terrific response to the 2023 Sports Predictor Competition, with 165 entries in total. A huge thanks to everybody who entered and those who sold entries. All funds raised will go towards the upgrade of the old dressing rooms in to a gym.
The first two events took place last week in Cheltenham, with 40 people on full marks. With 23 more events over the course of the year, concluding in late October, there is plenty of time to make up the lost ground. Best of luck to everybody and we will post updates in theAvondhu in a regular basis.
REBELS’ BOUNTY 2023
Enrolment for the 2023 Rebels’ Bounty Draw is now open, with the closing date fast approaching. This is one of our main fundraising focuses for the year, with the club and county both benefitting from the signups. Many thanks to everybody who has renewed to date.
Draws take place on a monthly basis, with 30 individual prizes each month. The prize pool for the year is €500,000. The closing date for draw entries is March 30th and the draws for January, February and March will take place at that point. To be in with a chance, please contact any committee member or text 087-6175447 or 087-9261367 to get further details.
CONDOLENCES
The club extends our sympathies to the Fitzgerald family, following the death of Peggy Fitzgerald RIP. The late Peggy hailed from Rockchapel and is the mother of Tony, chairperson of the Ballycastle Gaels LGFA. May she rest in peace.
BOOKINGS FOR ASTROTURF
The astroturf facility is open to the community between 10 and 7 every day. From 7pm onwards, the state of the art floodlit pitch can be booked by groups. Please direct all enquiries via text or WhatsApp to either 087-6175447, 087-9261367 or 086-6089168.