U18s win league final
On a glorious Friday evening in Castlelyons, in front of large local support, our U18s took on Diarmuid O’Murchus (Crosshaven and Shanbally combined) in the Div 3 Mid Cork final. When these two sides met during the league it ended in a draw after a cracking game, so expectation was high for another close exciting game, and it didn’t disappoint. O’Murchus opened the scoring with 2 early points, but a free from Jack Cremin and a super point from Adam Lardner levelled it up.
In the next O’Murchus attack, a half blocked shot just snuck inside the post, and they quickly followed up with a point to take a 1-03 to 2pt lead. It looked like they were getting a hold of the game, but the whole Castlelyons defence tightened up and started to deliver more quickly to our forwards. Jack and Adam capitalised with a few points each before the hardworking Brian Spillane added another. Just before half time, Sean O’Callaghan got on the end of a great move, burst towards the goal and flashed the ball just over the bar to leave Castlelyons 2 pts up, 11 pts to 1-06.
In the second half, O’Murchus came right back at us, with the physicality of their older players beginning to tell, and they had 2 unanswered points. Ronan Ryan almost had a goal, but a great team score followed where the sliotar was worked back out the field to Matthew Rosner to score from 70 yards out. In the next attack, Jack Cremin won a ball out on the 20 by the sideline and made a direct run for goal, beating 3 defenders on the way to plant the ball into the top corner of the net. Both sides exchanged points to leave the score 1-17 to 1-14, coming down the stretch.
It was all O’Murchus for the last 5 minutes as our half forward line got sucked right back into defence, making it difficult to deliver the out ball. Pinned back, our defence blocked, hooked and harried, and the one time O’Murchus got through, Kevin Barry put his body on the line to save a certain goal. We finally got the ball out the field, and the clinical Jack Cremin scored to put 4pts between the sides.
There was time for no more, and the referee blew the whistle, much to the relief and joy of the Castlelyons’ supporters. The final score read Castlelyons 1-18 Diarmuid O‘Murchus 1-14.
A great achievement for this young team with only 2 players on the age. Well done and well deserved as they have worked so hard so far this year.
INTERMEDIATES WIN ON THE ROAD
We travelled to Riverstick last Sunday morning to take on Ballymartle in the Red FM Div 3 Hurling League. Our opponents have dropped to the Intermediate grade this year after 10 years senior so we knew they would present a stiff challenge. The home side played with a strong breeze in the first half and raced into a 4 point lead.
Castlelyons had a couple of wides with our first chances but Alan Fenton was on target from the frees. Ronan Fenton won a puckout from Jack on 17 minutes who popped the ball to the on-coming Leon Doocey who found the lively Oscar Hallihan and he pointed the ball with a fine strike. Ballymartle stayed on top for the rest of the half and scored 5 in a row. Alan Fenton popped over another point to leave it 0-12 to 0-07 at half-time.
We did much better in the 2nd half. David Morrison had a chance of a goal soon after the restart but his shot blasted just wide. Keith O’Leary was hurling well at midfield and found the target to score a well worked point. Our defence was starting to get on top. Leo Sexton at centre back was very solid with Colm Barry, Rob Feeney and Shane Moroney all winning their personal battles. Oscar won a free for Alan to convert and the deficit was reduced to 3 points. David Morrison had another goal chance but his shot was well saved by the Ballymartle keeper.
We managed to recycle the ball for Colm Spillane to score a much needed point. Ballymartle had a goal chance themselves but Jack Barry in goals made himself big and produced a fine save. Alan scored another free to place us in the lead for the first time after James Kearney was fouled. Alan scored another free to finish off the scoring and we managed to keep Ballymartle scoreless for the remaining few minutes to hold onto a 2 point win. Final score Castlelyons 0-18 Ballymartle 0-16.
Team: J Barry, J O’Leary, C Barry, R Feeney, S Moroney, L Sexton, D Spillane, K O’Leary (0-2), A Fenton (0-12f), R Fenton, C Spillane (0-2), L Doocey, O Hallihan (0-2), D Morrison, J Kearney. Subs: P Roche for J O’Leary (ht), E Maye for R Fenton (40 mins).
JUNIORS WIN A BATTLE
Our Junior B hurlers took on Carrignavar last Friday evening in the East Cork League. We started brightly with Griffin O’Keeney and Ian O’Sullivan scoring great points. Carrignavar settled into the game and scored two points from play themselves. Dara Spillane was a constant threat for us at full forward and was a brilliant option throughout the game. His shot on goal was saved after 12 minutes and Brian O’Donovan scored the resulting 65. Shane Cotter was hurling well at midfield and scored a stylish point from 50 yards out from goal.
The crucial score of the half came just before the break when Dara Spillane won a high ball in and was able to turn and drive the ball into the Carrignavar net to leave the score 1-06 to 0-06 at half time. Sub Cees Kouwenberg made an immediate impact on the re-start to pop over a score after a fine ball in from Jack Waters. Dara Spillane hit another crucial goal when he forced his way again through the Carrignavar defence. Frees from Brian O’Donovan pushed our lead to 8 with 10 minutes left.
We came under fierce pressure in the closing stages. There were numerous examples of last gasp defence to deny Carrignavar goals. Liam Moroney, Eoin Barry and Peter Roche in the fullback line all staying solid while John Healy, Conor McCarthy and Seamus Moroney all doing their part in the halfback line. Goalkeeper John Paul Murphy made some great high catches and pulled off a couple of key saves to keep his clean sheet.
Corner forward Alan O’Regan made a block down and placed his body on the line and unfortunately broke his hand. We hope he recovers quickly. Carrignavar scored the last 5 points of the game to leave the final score 2-11 to 0-14 in our favour and to place us in a good position going forward to make a league final.
Team: JP Murphy, E Barry, L Moroney, P Roche, S Moroney, C McCarthy, J Healy, S Cotter (0-01), B O’Donovan (0-04,0-03f), S Flynn (0-01), J Waters (0-1f), G O’Keeney (0-01), A O’Regan, D Spillane (2-0), I O’Sullivan (0-01). Subs: C Kouwenberg (0-02) for I O’Sullivan (ht), M Griffin for A O’Regan (45 mins).
U12 HURLING LEAGUE Castlelyons 3-5 Nemo Rangers 3-4
Our U12s travelled to play Nemo Rangers in the third round of the league on Monday. It turned out to be a very tight contest with scores at a premium. At half time we trailed by 3 points with Nemo having found the net twice.
In the second half the lads took the game to Nemo. Our defence stood solid in the second half only giving up 2 scores and the goal scoring exploits of Ned Condon pushed us on to go ahead by 4 points going into the closing stages. Nemo Rangers got a goal with the last puck of the game to leave the bare minimum between the sides at the final whistle.
Team: Christopher O’Sullivan, Carter Clegg, Elliot Mc Loughlin, John Moloney, Ewan McCarthy, Jimmy O’Riordan, Ned Condon, Malik Abdelrazik, Ryan Wallace, Cionnath Cotter, Alex O’Brien, Robbie Wallace, Cathal Henley, Tom Barry.
U10
Our U10s played a mighty game of hurling against Fr O’Neills in Castlelyons on Saturday. Both teams played with great skill, with loads of hooking and blocking during the game. Bobby did well in goals, with Fionn and Tom playing really well in the backs, Robbie W and Liam worked really hard in midfield, getting on a lot of ball and Cian and Luke got lots of good scores up front.
It’s great to see the boys improving every week, next up is a game v Fermoy. Well done boys.
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Junior football county cham
pionship v St Oliver Plunketts in Ballymaw at 7pm on Saturday, 20th May. U17 Football League v Lee Gaels 7.30pm in Castlelyons on Friday, 19th May. U12 Hurling League v St Colmcilles 6.30pm in Castlelyons on Monday, 22nd May. U17 Hurling League v Fr O’Neills 7pm in Castlelyons on Wednesday, 24th May.
LOTTO JACKPOT €20,000
Numbers drawn on were 13, 17, 26 and 29. There was no winner of the jackpot. Lucky Dip winners were Mary Hartnett, Denis Fenton, Kieran Milward, Con Shanahan, Carmel Ryan, Michelle Harrington K Reynolds and Margo Spillane.
Next week’s jackpot is still a huge €20,000. Make sure to buy your ticket to be in with a chance to win. Next draw will take place on Monday, 15th May in the community centre.
SPONSORS
Our main sponsor is Zeus Packaging. We would like to thank them for their continued support.