Weather again the spoilsport
It’s all sounding that bit repetitive. Weather again the story. Initially heavy and consistent rainfall just like the previous seven days, as fixtures came a cropper, one day after the other.
First to go was the Minor hurling league tie v St Colmcilles fixed for Carraig na bhFear on Wednesday evening, April 3rd. We were even only back from a juvenile club meeting on the Thursday when secretary Lisa made us aware Rebel Óg East were cancelling all juvenile fixtures for the days to follow as by now another major stumbling block was surfacing, Storm Kathleen. That proposed round 3 division 4 County Hurling League tie scheduled for Kilworth on the Saturday evening falling victim to the conditions by Friday afternoon. As were the Ballynoe Point to Points which may get refixed fairly promptly. All in all, not a good weekend for local sport. Getting a bit tired of it aren’t we?
It finished up with the awfully sad news of the passing of Noreen Hamilton after a short illness borne bravely. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.
ST CATHERINES V MILFORD
Surely when the ultimate history of St Catherines is aired Milford will figure prominently. Between them serving up the memorable county junior A hurling final played in early November 1981 at Castletownroche. Can you believe it still enters conversation on and off over the years? Also meeting in the championship of 2013 and 2021. There have been plenty of league encounters over the years. St Catherines preserving their division four status with a well-earned two point success when winding up last year’s campaign on a 2-14 to 2-12 scoreline. Final game in the group when played up in Milford on the evening of Saturday, June 24th, 2023.
This week we revert back to what was a round ten Rochestown Park Hotel Intermediate Hurling League tie. Brought forward out of sequence and played in Milford on Sunday afternoon, March 28th, 2010 at 2pm. Catherines starting the livelier. A lengthy Padraig Cotter clearance up from the back reached Aidan Brennan whose scorebound effort came off a post back into play with the ideally positioned Stephen O’Brien first timing the breaking ball to the net. Just three minutes elapsed. With the visitors ahead on a scoreline of 1-02 without reply in what was an occasionally tempestuous league tie.
Milford’s opening score from play not arriving until the 11th minute. Largely keeping in touch through the accuracy of Sean O’Connell from placed balls. His goal from a 20 metre free tying up proceedings at 1-04 apiece to the end of the first quarter.
In one of the moves of the half Henry O’Gorman and Anthony Watson combined before Peter Kirwan forced in a second Milford goal on 19 minutes and although Brian Mulcahy and Noel O’Brien were on target for the Saints, the home team were never subsequently headed. In the lead on an interval scoreline standing at 2-08 to 1-09 in a thus far evenly fought contest. A well struck Jerry O’Brien point seemed the insurance score. One or two clearout chances were presented to the visitors. Unfortunately not availed of. It finished on a scoreline of Milford 2-14 St Catherines 1-12.
Scorers: S O’Brien (0-04 frees) (0-01 ’65) (1-06), S Kearney and S Cotter (0-01 free) (0-02 each), B Mulcahy and N O’Brien (0-01 each). Milford scorers: S O’Connell (1-05 frees) (1-07), M O’Gorman (0-04), P Kirwin (1-00), M O’Connell, J O’Brien and E Dillon (free) (0-01 each).
St Catherines team: Ed Aherne, Conor Hegarty, Ronan Clancy, Ed Kenneally, Liam O’Connor, Padraig Cotter, Conor Kearney, Shane Cotter, Patrick Roche, Noel O’Brien, Shane Fitzgerald, Brian Mulcahy, Shane Kearney (captain), Aidan Brennan, Stephen O’Brien. Subs used were: Michael Hegarty and Tim O’Connor.
Referee: Richard Murphy (Lyre).
SENIOR LEAGUE IN MILFORD, SUNDAY, APRIL 16TH 1995 Milford 2-10 St Catherines 2-14
Catherines lineout: Michael Dorgan, Maurice Hartnett, Barrie O’Regan, Shane O’Connell, Junior Sheehan, Martin O’Keeffe, Jim Lane, Declan O’Neill, Johnny Sheehan, Donal O’Leary, Kieran Morrison, Christy Clancy, Dave O’Connell, Eddie Geaney, Brian Cotter.
All this meant to whet your appetite with Milford visitors for round 4 Red FM division 4 county hurling league. Weather permitting of course!
TRIP TO CROKE PARK FOR MUNSTER HURLING GAA DAY
Ok then this is how it works or worked. Within the Imokilly division club coaching officers with Ciaran O’Brien of St Itas GDC for the Catherines area staging regular meetings. Letting those involved aware that they can apply for a day out in Croke Park. Taking in games, tour of stadium for U12 hurlers. Due to the cooperation of the coaching officers and work in the schools etc, St Catherines were the Cork club picked over 23 other clubs for the tour to headquarters.
Early start with 3 coaches and 19 panel members on the morning of Tuesday, April 2nd last. A feature, something remaining entrenched in the mind for many a day, seeing all participating names adorning the giant screen within the stadium. Bearing new strip on the day, other clubs present were Cappamore, Roscrea and Ballygunner. Liam Moore was also present as a young whistler. Sharing the refereeing duties. Another honour. Truly memorable. Won’t be forgotten for a while. Isn’t that how it should be? Purpose of the exercise!
Coaches with St Catherines travelling party were Steve Cummins, Sean O’Farrell and Johnny Sheehan. Nineteen players being Adam Coakley, Oisín Feeney, Darragh Kenneally, Oisín O’Farrell, Liam O’Keeffe, Olan Sheehan, James Beecher, Sean Cummins, Adam Fitzgerald, Ronan Geaney, Cillian O’Connor, Sean O’Keeffe, Cathal Twomey, Robbie Pietropaolo, Elliot Passaquay and Darragh Fitzgerald. Many thanks to mentor Steve Cummins and coaching officer Eamonn Buggy for their cooperation and assistance in the compilation of this piece.
INTERCOUNTY SCENE WITH EMPHASIS ON THE REBELS
We reckon pundits, players, supporters, teams are not overly happy. It’s all a bit too condensed. Over far too early. Just as we’re getting into the swing of it. Sure we knew that. Or are we just hard to satisfy? Mention of this with the intercounty Minor and U20 championships, both football and hurling now off the ground in a midweek or early weekend slot. Mixed fortunes for the Rebels. Going down to a 4 point loss (1-19 to 2-12) to Tipperary in phase one of the Munster Minor Hurling Championship at Thurles last Thursday evening. Still with round-robin there’s always a chance. By contrast Cork were too strong for Waterford when the U twenty hurling sprang up in Dungarvan 24 hours later. It was 0-21 to 1-10 at the finish. Provincial and All-Ireland champions up and running.
Maybe as part of a highlights package but the Cork/Limerick clash was never going to be the feature for the live Sunday Game return. That was the preserve of Cavan/Monaghan. Three second half goals saw the Rebels reverse a 0-07 to 0-06 half-time deficit into a 3-13 to 0-11 win at SuperValu Páirc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday afternoon last. Now in a hemmed in twoday period the Rebels will put their provincial credentials on the line. Down in Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday week, April 20th for the Munster Senior football semi-final. Twenty-four hours later it’s off to Walsh Park for round 1 in the round-robin equivalent hurling championship vs Waterford. Still how apt the banner headline going with last weekend’s Michael Duignan column – people are sick going to matches dressed as Eskimos!
WHAT COMES UP NEXT – WEATHER PERMITTING OF COURSE
Friday, April 12th at Magniers Hill, round 3 division 2 East Cork Junior Football League v Youghal at 7pm. Saturday, April 13th at Kilworth Féile na Peil qualifiers. Sunday, April 14th at Trabeg, round 2 U12 football league v Nemo Rangers at 4pm. Monday, April 15th at Ballynoe, round 3 division 1 Rebel Óg East U16 hurling league v Bride Rovers at 6pm. Wednesday, April 17th at Glantane, round 2 Coiste na nÓg U13 football league v Kilshannig at 7pm. Wednesday, April 17th at Ballynoe, round 3 division 1 Rebel Óg East Minor hurling league v Kiltha Óg at 7pm.
CAMOGIE CLUB QUIZ
Change of venue this year. We have the annual fundraising camogie club table quiz down for Conna Community Centre. If you’re in by 8.30pm you’d be on time. That’s Saturday night, April 13th. Best of luck. Hopefully it goes well and is a success.
LOTTO RESULT FROM EASTER WEEKEND
Being a bank holiday last week’s lotto draw was held over until Tuesday night, April 2nd. Numbers drawn were 3, 12, 22 and 30. It wasn’t won. €30 consolation winners on the night were; Nanna B, Conna, Denise Ryan, online, Shane/ Niall/Niamh O’Regan, Cullinagh, Ballynoe, Barrie O’Regan, Cullinagh, Ballynoe and Marie Leahy, Upper Aghern. Most recent draw with jackpot standing at €4,800 was held in the clubrooms, Ballynoe on Monday night last, April 8th. Results next week.
ST CATHERINES 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.