Sunday’s U20 final now more important than ever
Nobody said it would be easy. Cork put to the pin of their collars by Leinster finalists Louth in getting their quest for Sam campaign underway with a narrow two-point victory in Navan on Saturday evening last. No time to celebrate. Their pool A series of matches cranks up another notch when the auld enemy visits Rebel shores this weekend.
You would imagine a match the Kingdom must win. Cork on +2, Kerry on -5. But scoring average goes out the door when the headto-head enters the picture. Third match on neutral soil against Mayo follows on after that. Expect a savage crowd for the double header in Thurles. Galway v Clare in Minor and that eagerly anticipated Cork/ Offaly pairing for the All-Ireland U20 Hurling final.
Congratulations to Catherine’s player Evan O’Driscoll, left halfback on a Cork East line-up that defeated a Dublin selection in the Celtic Challenge U17 Hurling final on a scoreline of 2-16 to 1-11 when played in Birr last Saturday.
So, after five weeks with each participant playing four games with one team free each week and we know the six teams from the two provinces that go forward. Down south we had the most formidable competition imaginable. Two draws. A further three decided by a point. At the end of which we have our finalists for what became the championship that keeps on giving and in a repeat pairing from last year Limerick and Clare will contest the season’s Munster Senior Hurling final.
They served up the proverbial cracker in the group game. Last year’s equivalent meeting unfolded as a final for the ages. A repeat seems likely. It’s on Sunday, June 11th. We don’t know where as of yet. One thing sure and certain is it will make for compulsive viewing.
There were some interesting articles penned over the weekend. Based on the hype and publicity generated by the Munster Hurling Championship. Impressive was the John Mullane column, the gist of which - such is the ferocity of the games in the southern province compared to Leinster where some games were won by teams playing in second and third gear. In other words it’s not the same and therefore not equal. Michael Duignan telling us after some ‘intense’ research that Munster hurling is overrated. Each to his own.
For the record Kilkenny and Galway will meet in the Leinster Final. Both provincial deciders are on the same day. Dublin go forward to the All-Ireland series. Wexford retain their championship status. It now looks like Tipperary v Offaly and Carlow v Dublin in those preliminary quarter finals. Still some way to go. Limerick now haven’t lost a do or die hurling match for four years. For Cork, next Sunday’s twenty final now takes on added meaning and significance. The future is right here, right now.
CLUB ACTION FROM THE PLAYING FIELDS OF EAST CORK ROUND 7 DIVISION 4 RED FM COUNTY HURLING LEAGUE Cloyne 2-24 St Catherines 1-25
A virtual barrage of finishing went with this extraordinarily high scoring round 7 league encounter played in subliminal early summer conditions in Cloyne on Saturday evening last. Daniel Mangan, Ben O’Brien and William Leamy on target for the visitors who lead 0-12 to 0-05 to 20 minutes. Likewise Brian O’Shea and Conor Cahill for the hosts who were right back in contention with Ian Cahill and Cloyne’s first goal seven minutes later. Before a late Sean O’Donoghue pointed free had the Saints ahead by the minimum on a half time scoreline standing at 0-15 to 1-11.
Darragh Morrison became the ninth Saints’ player to register on the scoreboard. Pointing from play within 30 seconds of the change of ends as the brisk rate of scoring continued with alacrity. Blink and you miss something. Even don’t blink and you could still be in trouble. Again the visitors saw a four point advantage at 0-21 to 1-14 hauled in. Ian Cahill again the goalscorer with the teams now together for a third time at 2-15 to 0-21 to 42 minutes.
Twice more it went level in the ensuing passages of play. Before hardworking Rory Galvin play picked out Kevin Barry to finish with aplomb for the Catherine’s goal and a lead of 1-24 to 2-19 to 55 minutes. Failing to hold on as five unanswered opposition scores secured a 2 point win for Cloyne on a 2-24 to 1-25 end scoreline.
Next up will be Ballinhassig in Ballynoe on the morning of Sunday, June 11th.
Scorers: S O’Donoghue (0-08 frees) (0-09), K Barry (1-02), D Mangan (0-05), R Galvin (0-03), B Mulcahy (0-02), B O’Brien, W Leamy, D Morrison and E Davis (free) (0-01 each).
Team: E Davis, J Neville, O Fitzgerald, K Neville, A Neville, K Wallace, K O’Donoghue, D Mangan, B O’Brien, S O’Donoghue, R Galvin, D Morrison, B Mulcahy, K Barry, W Leamy. Subs: J Hayes for B O’Brien (37), P Keane for D Morrison (49). Also E Sheehan and C McAuliffe.
Referee: Pa O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers).
ROUND 5 DIVISION 2 EAST CORK JUNIOR HURLING LEAGUE St Catherines 1-22 Killeagh 0-17
Two well matched teams together on eight occasions in the first half alone made for a competitive, enjoyable and at all times sporting division 2 junior hurling league match when played in sunny conditions at Ballynoe on Monday evening, May 22nd last. Youghal based referee Anthony O’Regan throwing the sliotar in exactly on time for an 8pm start.
Darragh Morrison with the game’s first and only goal from a masterful finish as early as the third minute allied to some subliminal Kian O’Donoghue point scoring both from frees and general play on target for the home based team. Likewise Padraic Carroll and in particular Daniel Landers for Killeagh. Few would argue with a half time scoreline standing at 1-09 to 0-12 in a contest of some magnificent striking and well created, equally well taken scores. A game above average for its division 2 tag.
James Hayes ‘toasting’ the opposition defence with the first score within 30 seconds of the changeover. Harry Draper regularly causing problems. Possibly a bit tied down in the corner. But it was William Leamy with some gorgeous points who was now really catching the eye as the Saints executed the scores necessary for a win. By the time you read these words the round 6 fixture should have been played. Scheduled for Rostellan on Monday evening just gone, May 29th.
Scorers: K O’Donoghue (0-07 frees) (0-09), D Morrison (1-04), W Leamy (0-03), R Clancy and H Draper (0-02 each), Rd Galvin and J Hayes (0-01 each).
St Catherine’s team: E Sheehan, L O’Connor, S Kearney, S O’Brien, J Neville, K Neville, D Galvin, J Hayes, K O’Donoghue, A Neville, R Clancy, W Leamy, H Draper, Rd Galvin, D Morrison. Subs: C McAuliffe for L O’Connor (41), R English for J Hayes (48), P Tobin for S O’Brien (50).
Referee: Anthony O’Regan
(Youghal).
Juvenile section starts with round 1 division 1 Rebel Óg East U17 Hurling League
St Catherines 1-17 Fermoy 1-14
Like their football squad from a week previous and a winning start for the Saints when this tie went ahead in near perfect conditions at Ballynoe on Wednesday evening, May 24th last.
Fermoy made the more threatening start. But with Cian Dunning, Evan O’Driscoll, Timmy Barry, Cian McCarthy and Diarmuid O’Connell exercising a grip, it was the home team gradually getting the better of the play and assuming control. Adam Bryan with a clinical finish on 26 minutes easing the Saints into a half time lead standing at 1-09 to 0-06.
A couple of Ciaran Leamy points on the changeover, every bit as important as what went before as Fermoy’s best player Fionn Lardner, in a variety of positions, some of which he was unmarkable in, instigated a commendable recovery. Pointing the equaliser at 1-14 apiece on 58 minutes was his thirteenth score of the hour and a draw was a definite possibility. Getting a savage response off the bench and points from Tristan Clancy and Kyle O’Donoghue had the Saints back where they wanted to be before Ciaran Pietropaolo confirmed the deal with the insurance score very near the end of a contest preceded by a minute’s silence offered as a mark of respect for the late Kitty Keohane.
Scorers: C Leamy and D O’Connell (0-03 frees) (0-04 each), A Bryan (1-00), J Temple and C Pietropaolo (0-03 each), T Barry, T Clancy and K O’Donoghue (0-01 each).
Team: G Sheehan, D Cunning, E O’Driscoll, C Murray, T Barry, C McCarthy, C Hayes, D O’Donovan, D O’Connell, C Hickey, C Pietropaolo, C Leamy, A Bryan, D Murphy, J Temple. Subs: G O’Callaghan McCarthy for C Hickey (second half), K O’Donoghue for J Temple (34), J Bryan for D Murphy (40), T Clancy for A Bryan (43). Also T
Referee: Shane Hodgins (Erins Own).
ROUND 3 REBEL ÓG NORTH U12 HURLING LEAGUE Bride Rovers v St Catherines
Again the opposition were better. But the Saints continue to improve after this U12 Hurling League match played on the juvenile pitch of Bride Rovers at Rathcormac on Monday evening, May 22nd last at 6.30pm. Adam Coakley was on the front foot all the way and made a few smart stops and ideally played clearances between the sticks. Sean Moore and Sean O’Keeffe the scorers in chief. Jack Mulkerrins was captain for the day. There are a few players still to come back. Na Piarsaigh come to Ballynoe later in the month.
Team: A Coakley, C Fitzgerald, G Leahy, Z Pyne, S O’Keeffe, J Mulkerrins (captain), N Keane, D Temple, A O’Connor, S Moore, A O’Gorman, S Maguire, B Coakley. Also: J Kearney, J Bryan, O Sheehan, T Shiels and O Feeney.
Referee: John O’Brien (Ballygiblin).
FIXTURES
Tonight Thursday, June 1st, round 3 division 2 Rebel Óg East U17 Football League in Killavullen
at 7.30pm. Friday, June 2nd round 1 division 1 Rebel Óg East U14 Football Championship in Carrigtwohill (time tbc). Saturday, June 3rd at Rostellan U12 Hurling tournament for the Willie Ryan Trophy. Sunday, June 4th at Rathcormac, round 3 group B County Junior B1 Football Championship v Castlelyons at 7.30pm.
Monday, June 5th at Cloyne round 2 division 1 Rebel Óg East U17 Hurling League v St Colmans at 11am. Wednesday, June 7th at Magners Hill round 7 division 2 East Cork Junior Hurling League v Youghal at 7.45pm.
DEATHS OF WELL KNOW MUSICIANS AND SINGERS
Have you noticed how many singers and musicians of stature have recently passed away? Of course you have. Bass guitarists with the Smiths and Cream now up there for the great concert in the sky. Legendary though subsequently disgraced Australian singer/actor/ artist/musician Rolf Harris exited the stage last week. As did Annie Mae Bullock alias Tina Turner. The queen of rock and roll. An actress in her own right. Starred with Mel Gibson in the Mad Max movies. Recorded the theme track to the bond film
‘Golden Eye’. Written by The Edge and Bono. Though not singles Tina Turner recorded a few songs put together by the terrific songwriter Paul Brady who truth be known should have been a much bigger star than he was. ‘If paradise is here’ and ‘Steelclaw’ come to mind. Irish stars who passed away recently include Sean Keane of The Chieftains and Johnny Fean late of Horslips. Thank you for the music.
LOTTO
Your details from the most recent weekly lotto draw held on Monday night, May 29th. Numbers drawn were 6, 10, 21 and 27. No winner. Consolation winners were Pat McEvoy, Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny; Vince Morrison, Conna; Ann Lane, Curraheen, Conna; Margaret O’Connell, Kilphilibeen, Ballynoe; Michelle Higgins, Ballyknock, Ballynoe. Next draw Monday, June 5th, Clubrooms, Ballynoe at 9.30pm, jackpot €14,200.
ST CATHERINE’S GAA CLUB SPONSORS
T&A Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, Ballynoe are sponsors of St Catherine’s GAA Club. Mulcahy Steel are sponsors of St Catherine’s Juvenile GAA Club.