Start of county JBFC will be the weekend highlight
Let’s face it, preparation hasn’t been ideal. It’s not rocket science is it? Still, it’s the same for both teams. With the weekend highlight being the meeting of the Saints and Araglin in round one of the McCarthy Insurances County Junior B Football Championships. Is it the first ever competitive pairing of the teams? Can’t recall there being a previous clash. It’s down for Glanworth this coming Saturday evening April 27th. Throw-in will be 5pm.
Third team in the group are Deel Rovers (Milford) facing Araglin in Castletownroche on Saturday, May 11th. They play the Saints in Buttevant on Saturday, May 25th. In the previous eight weeks the Saints had just two outings in division two of the East Cork Junior Football League. Wins in return recorded against both Midleton and Youghal. Such was the space in between you would have to question the rate of momentum built up. This could be all on the day.
Best of luck to manager Liam O’Connor, who should be playing and fellow selectors Pa O’Neill, Ray Collins and Denis Walsh. Take note this is a totally separate competition from the East Cork Junior B Championship, which should commence quickly on the completion of what we call Junior B 1. That should be early July. Calling that Junior B 2 as both competitions are decided at county final level. Stretching it out marginally and 11 teams constitute the divisional Junior C Football Championship. Catherines along with Midleton, Glanmire and Carraig na bhFear making up group one of a round-robin structured competition. St Catherines will be in with Erins Own, Fr O’Neills and Midleton in group three of the East Cork Junior C Hurling Championship. Before us
it is. It’s all to play for.
ROUND FOUR DIVISION FOUR RED FM COUNTY HURLING LEAGUE St Catherines 1-15 Milford 2-15
Glorious conditions prevailed with Milford winning out this County Hurling League tie played in Ballynoe early on Sunday morning last. Early dominance initially wheeled in when Kevin Barry goaled on 24 minutes with the opposition doing enough in response. Marginally ahead on an interval scoreline standing at 0-10 to 1-06. Kyle Wallace shooting over the leveller in the third minute of the second half. With two evenly matched teams going score for score thereafter, when back to back Gearoid O’Brien points had the home team ahead for the first time on a scoreline of 1-11 to 0-13 right at the end of the third quarter.
Turning again when Eoin Dillon goaled a penalty. Milford back in front at 1-13 to 1-11 to 48 minutes. Sean O’Donoghue registered a few well taken scores, be it from frees or open play when a peach of a Matthew Mulcahy point saw partly restored for an eight time at 1-14 apiece to 54 minutes, Brian Murphy goaling the defining score very near the finish.
There are upcoming league ties against Russell Rovers and Bandon and watch out for a lapsed fixture with Kilworth.
Scorers: S O’Donoghue (0-03 frees) (0-06), K Barry (1-02), M Mulcahy (0-03), G O’Brien (0-02), K Wallace and R Galvin (0-01 each). Milford scorers: B Murphy (1-04), H O’Gorman (0-5 frees) (0-6), E Dilion (1-00 penalty) (1-01), T Curran (0-02), T O’Flynn and A Watson (0-01 each)
St. Catherines team: E Davis, K Neville, E O’Riordan, F O’Connell, N Sheehan, O Fitzgerald, K O’Donoghue,
K Wallace, G O’Brien, B Mulcahy, R Galvin, W Leamy, M Mulcahy, K Barry, S O’Donoghue. Subs: P Keane for K O’Donoghue (39’), T O’Donnell and E Condon for W Leamy and B Mulcahy (both 45’), J Neville for N Sheehan (49’). Referee: James Bermingham (Bride Rovers).
ROUND THREE DIVISION TWO EAST CORK JUNIOR HURLING LEAGUE Killeagh 4-14 St Catherines 1-13
Aided by over half of the minor squad from the night previous and not shirking their responsibilities in any way, a much depleted Saints 15 were beaten by a better team.
This Junior Hurling League tie going ahead in Killeagh on Thursday evening last. Throw-in just after the 8pm appointed time. Team manager Gary Hartnett telling us next up will be a visit from Fr O’Neills.
Scorers: R Clancy (0-03 frees) (0-05), E Sheehan (1-01), C Pietropaolo and E O’Driscoll (0-02 each), C Leamy, D O’Connell and K Dinneen (0-01 each).
St Catherines team: J Bryan, C O’Brien, D O’Donovan, M Dinneen, T Barry, P Keane, C Leamy, D O’Connell, E O’Driscoll, C Pietropaolo, R Clancy, D ‘Chips’ Murphy, K. Dinneen, A Neville, E Sheehan.
Referee: Shane Hodgins (Erins Own).
ROUND THREE DIV 1 REBEL ÓG EAST MINOR HURLING LEAGUE St Catherines 0-08 Kiltha Og 1-10
Fionn Daly with the all-important goal on eleven minutes allied to some masterful point taking was the scorer in chief as Kiltha Óg won out this Minor Hurling League tie at a dry albeit bitterly cold Ballynoe on Wednesday evening, April 17th last. Points from Gearoid Sheehan and Ciaran Pietropaolo in turn had the
Saints upsides their opponents to the interval on a half-time scoreline standing at 0-06 to 1-03.
Safe and reliable Kyle O’Donoghue and Evan O’Driscoll defending, allied to the accuracy of Diarmuid O’Connell and Ciaran Leamy, kept the momentum going. But favoured by the conditions the opposition maintained the upper hand and late points from midfielders Cillian O’Callaghan and Sean Morgan sealed the deal.
Scorers: D O’Connell (0-03 frees) (0-04), C Pietropaolo (0-02), G Sheehan and C Leamy (0-01 each). Kiltha Óg scorers: F Daly (0-04 frees) (0-01 “65”) (1-08), C O’Callaghan and S Morgan (0-01 each).
St Catherines team: J Bryan, G O’Callaghan McCarthy, D O’Donovan, K O’Donoghue, T Barry, E O’Driscoll, T Clancy, D O’Connell, C Hayes, D Murphy, C Pietropaolo, C Leamy, J Temple, G Sheehan, C Hickey. Subs: J Pietropaolo for C Hickey (49’), C Murray for D Murphy (54’), T Dee for G Sheehan (57’).
Referee: Michael Carey (Bride Rovers).
Round Two Division 1 Rebel Óg East U16 Hurling League – St Catherines v Bride Rovers (match not played). Round Two Division 2 Rebel Óg North U14 Football League St Colmcilles v St Catherines (match not played). With a well-earned win over St Dominics in the football at Ballynoe on the previous Saturday evening, St Catherines made the long trip over to Glantane where they recorded a sizable victory over Kilshannig in the Coiste na nÓg County U13 Hurling League on Wednesday evening, April 17th last. Scorers; K O’Connell (4-02), O Sheehan (3-01), S O’Keeffe (1-01), J Bryan (1-00), N Keane (0-02), B Coakley and S Moore (free) (0-01each). St Catherines team: P O’Sullivan, A Coakley, S Moore, O Feeney, C Fitzgerald, S O’Keeffe, J Mulkerrins (match captain), K O’Connell, Z Pyne, A O’Gorman, N Keane, S Maguire, J Bryan, O Sheehan, B Coakley. Sub: D Kenneally for O Sheehan (second half).
U13 REPORT
Then on Friday evening last from class finishing two Olan Sheehan goals, at opposite ends of the opening half, helped the Saints into a slightly misleading six point halftime lead on a 2-04 to 0-04 scoreline in a round two encounter played in Grenagh.
Tenacious Adam Coakley and
Sean Moore defending vital with the opposition shooting ten first half wides. Though the visitors were denied a seemingly certain goal by a sparkling Dylan Lynch stop early in the second quarter.
On the turnover Sean O’Keeffe and Kenneth O’Connell quickly added to the tally and the margin between the teams extending. Cian Fitzgerald, captain for the night, forced in a fourth goal before Evan O’Mahony billowed the net from a powerfully struck placed ball close to the finish. It ended on a scoreline of 4-10 to 2-08 in favour of the Saints. Referee was Peter O’Donovan of Carraig na bhFear. Fixtures against St Dominics and Mitchelstown to come.
Scorers: K O’Connell (0-01 free) (1-05), O Sheehan (2-01), S O’Keeffe(0-02) (65”) (0-02 free) (0-04) and C Fitzgerald (1-00).
St Catherines team: P O’Sullivan, A Coakley, S Moore, T Shields, C Fitzgerald (match captain), S O’Keeffe, J Mulkerrins, K O’Connell, A O’Gorman, B Coakley, N Keane, S Maguire, D Kenneally, O Sheehan, J Bryan. Also O Feeney.
U12 REPORT
After a brave performance against Nemo at Trabeg six days previously and in the best conditions of the year so far, a winning start for the Saints. Securing a solid well-earned victory over Youghal when the U12 Hurling League started in sunny conditions at Ballynoe early on Saturday day afternoon last. Throw-in was 2pm. Referee Stephan Hackett (Brides Rovers).
Two teams familiarising themselves with each other. Meeting in the football league at Youghal on this forthcoming Saturday afternoon, April 27th at 4pm. It ended in Ballynoe on a scoreline of St Catherines 5-09 Youghal 2-07.
Panel of players: L O’Keeffe, J Leahy, O Feeney, A Coakley, A Fitzgerald, J Beecher, E Passaquay, R Pietropaolo, O Sheehan, O O’Farrell, C Fitzgerald, D Fitzgerald, C. Kelly
CONDOLENCES
Deepest sympathy to the O’Donoghues on the their recent sad family bereavement. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
LOTTO RETURNS
Giving you the results from the weekly lotto draw held in the clubrooms Ballynoe on Monday night, April 15th last. Numbers drawn were 8, 11, 23 and 30 and it wasn’t won. Consolation winners were, Josephine
Gallagher, Conna; John Morrison c/o H.O.C; Gavin England, Ballynoe, online; Garry Ahern, Shanakill, Curraglass and Mary Delaney, Carrigmore, Conna. Latest draw jackpot €5,200, scheduled for Monday night last April 22nd.
WHAT’S UP NEXT ON YOUR FIXTURE LIST?
Friday, April 26th at Cloyne round one Division Two Rebel Óg East U14 Football Championship v St Colmans at 7pm. Saturday, April 27th at Kilworth round one County Junior B Football Championship v Araglin at 5pm.
Monday, April 29th round four Division One Rebel Óg East U16 Hurling League in Passage at 7pm. Wednesday, May 1st round three division two Rebel Óg North U13 Football League in Mitchelstown at 7pm.
INTERCOUNTY ACTION
A week starting with the Kingdom inflicting a four point loss at U20 level. While the Rebels had much fancied Kerry, thanks to an early Paul Walsh goal, rattled going four points to the good inside five minutes. They were still ahead by the minimum on the sound of the half whistle. Not entirely expected before the Kingdom eventually wore down a brave Cork challenge in the first of the provincial senior football championship semi-finals in Killarney last Saturday evening. Kerry now play Clare in the Munster final. Cork going to the qualifiers. Not the result sought for or required.
Compounding a horrible weekend for the red jersey. Waterford deserving winners with the visitors not finishing with their full quota of players from their round-robin Munster Championship tie at a sunny Walsh Park 24 hours later. Now what a game we have. League champions Clare having looked so good for so long before losing out to all conquering Limerick, now coming to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in what clearly is a must win game for both teams. Difficult to see any team recover pointless from two matches in a competition as competitive as a championship such as this. Sunday coming between 2pm and 4pm will reveal an awful lot.
ST. CATHERINE’S 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.