Three wins in 10 days for seniors

Our senior hurlers have been very busy over the last couple of weeks with wins over Mallow, Bishopstown and Blarney. After a slow start in our league campaign, these wins have shot some impetus into our season and it is great to see some brilliant performances being put together with a good few of our key players out injured.

Our first victory against Mallow was played at home and we ran out convincing winners on a scoreline of 0-22 to 0-13. Brian O’Donovan leading the scoring with 9 points in what was a very solid performance by the team.

Next up was an away game to Bishopstown on Tuesday last week. We had a whirlwind start to the game with Shane Cotter leading from the front with 3 excellent points from play in the opening ten minutes. Barry Murphy scored a goal after 4 minutes when Ronan Fenton made a great run through the city side’s backline only for a mix up in the Bishopstown defence led Barry to scuffle the ball into the back of the net. Eoin Maye made it 1-05 to no score after ten minutes only for Bishopstown to get their first 2 scores on the board to reduce the gap. Alan Fenton responded with a signature long range point and extended our lead again.

LEADING AT THE BREAK

Bishopstown scored a goal when a long ball was snatched by their full forward and he buried the ball past Jack Barry in the goals. No sooner had our net stopped rattling, we had responded with another goal of our own on our next attack. Alan Fenton displayed quick wrists to flick the ball into the roof of the Bishopstown net from close range after a break fell his way. 2-06 to 1-03 after 20 minutes. The home side won a penalty soon after when their impressive full forward was fouled when through on goal. The referee reversed his decision and gave us a free out after retaliation by the Bishopstown player when he pulled back on Jamie O’Leary. James Kearney capitalised on the frustration in the ‘Town team when he popped over 2 points before the break to leave us 2-09 to 1-05 at the break.

Bishopstown fought back in the 2nd half and were on top for much of it but we managed to hold on for the win. Darren Tobin and Barry Murphy popping up with some much needed scores. After some serious pressure near the end and with Bishopstown pushing for goal we managed to hold on to a 2-13 to 1-14 win.

Team: J Barry, Peter Roche, J O’Leary, O Hallihan, M Rosner, Colm McCarthy, E Maye, R Feeney, A Fenton, R Fenton, B Murphy, S Cotter, B Spillane, D Tobin, J Kenny. Subs: C McGann for D Tobin, E Barry for A Fenton, O Morrison for J O’Leary

FENTON FIRES LATE TO DOWN BLARNEY

We played Blarney last Sunday on our new pitch on what was a rare dry, bright day. Last year’s beaten Senior A finalists are a serious outfit that we know well, having lost the 2020 Premier Intermediate final to them. We played some superb hurling in this game and the result looked in doubt up until the last minute of the game when Alan Fenton fired a goal from a 21 yard free to level the game, and he followed up quickly with a converted free to give us a one point victory in front of a large home crowd.

The impressive Barry Murphy opened the scoring after 1 minute with a nice score off his right. Alan scored 2 frees to extend our lead and was followed by a point by the jet setting man from Boston, Aidan O’Sullivan who marked his return with a lovely point and an excellent overall performance. Castlelyons were doing all the hurling for the first 15/20 minutes and should have been further in front. Brian Spillane had a couple of chances for a goal after being set up by the brilliant Leon Doocey. The first of Brian’s shots went just wide while the Blarney goal keeper made a fantastic save. Leon produced another piece of magic and looked set for a certain goal a couple minutes later only for another great save to deny him and it left us 0-10 to 0-06 ahead.

Blarney hit a purple patch approaching half time and outscored us 0-06 to 0-01 as they fired over some well taken points from play although there was some sloppy play by Castlelyons. We disappointingly went in one point down at the break 0-12 to 0-11.

THE SECOND HALF ACTION

The 2nd half saw Leon Doocey continue his fantastic performance as he looked unmarkable in his full forward berth. He opened the half with a point from play and he got the goal he deserved 3 minutes later when he collected a direct ball into his hand 25 yards out, rounded his man and buried the ball past the Blarney keeper to place us 1-13 to 0-13 in front.

Blarney responded immediately with a goal of their own and scored the next 3-in-a-row to retake the lead. Castlelyons dug deep however and refused to give in. Points from Darren Tobin and Brian Spillane levelled the game closing in on the final minutes. Blarney kept their noses in front by 3 points only for Alan to step up and bury the 21 yard free into the back of the net and we pulled the win out of the bag. It was a great performance against a good team, so we seem to be moving in the right direction.

Team: J Barry, J O’Leary, C Barry O Hallihan, Peter Roche, Colm McCarthy, E Maye, R Feeney, A Fenton (1-09, 1-08f), R Fenton, B Murphy (0-03), A O’Sullivan (0-01), B Spillane (0-01), L Doocey (1-02) and J Kearney (0-01). Subs: Matthew Rosner for J O’Leary 29 mins, S Cotter for J Kearney 34 mins, D Tobin (0-01) for L Doocey 45 mins, L Sexton for P Roche 48 mins, S Flynn for R Feeney 55 mins.

BEST OF LUCK NED

Well done to Ned Condon who has been chosen to represent Cork in the Primary Game this weekend at half-time of the crunch Cork v Limerick game on Saturday evening in SuperValu Páirc

Uí Chaoimh. Ned is a student in Castlelyons NS and plays with our U14s. We hope this is the first of many Cork jerseys that he pulls on in his career and we wish him luck in what will be a special occasion.

LOTTO

Numbers drawn on 29th April were 3, 5, 10 and 31. There was no winner of the jackpot. Lucky dip winners were Tara O’Sullivan, Trevor and Sinead Hickey, Matthew Walsh, Tom Courtney, Pat Collins and McCarthy family. Next week’s jackpot is €20,000. Make sure to buy your ticket to be in with a chance to win. Next draw will take place Tuesday, 7th May at 8pm in the Community Centre.

UPCOMING FIXTURES

Division 3 Hurling League v Valley Rovers at 7.30pm in Innishannon on Thursday, 16th May. Division 2 East Cork Hurling League Castlelyons v St Catherines on Sunday, 19th May at 2.30pm.

WEDDING BELLS

We wish Shaun Leneghan all the best as he marries camogie club member Isabel Fenton this weekend. Everyone in Castlelyons GAA wishes you both all the best for the future.

SPONSOR

Thanks to our sponsors East Cork Oil for their continued support.