Mixed fortunes in various hurling leagues
After back-to-back defeats the Saints returned to winning ways. Defeating Bandon in round 5 of the Red FM Division 4 County Hurling League. Sluggish at the start yet they recovered well to win their latest Minor Hurling League tie. While there was a narrow loss in round 1 of the U14 Hurling Championship. Reports on the various league ties plus general club news to follow. Read on.
ROUND 5 DIVISION 4 RED FM COUNTY HURLING LEAGUE St Catherines 1-17 Bandon 0-13
Dropping points in the previous two encounters, St Catherines, due in the main to a strong fourth quarter performance, returned to winning ways in this tie played under lights at an overcast Ballynoe on Friday evening last. Starting lively with a peach of a James Neville point on 6 minutes the pick of the opening scores. With the home team ahead at 0-07 to 0-03 on 18 minutes. Losing their way momentarily, conceding four points without reply and two well matched teams were together on a half-time scoreline standing at 0-07 each.
With the teams taking it in turns in forcing their way into respective leads on the turnover. An excellent Sean O’Donoghue point, coming off the left shoulder saw parity restored for the eighth and final time on a score of 0-12 each just at the end of the third quarter. When the defining score of the hour materialised. A lengthy Eoin Davis free touched to the net by Matthew Mulcahy for the Saints’ and game’s only goal on 52 minutes. What should please the home mentors would be a scoring return from 10 players overall. Tally now is 4 points on the table from as many league matched played.
Scorers: S O’Donoghue (0-04 frees) (0-07), M Mulcahy (1-01), B Mulcahy (0-02), J Neville, K Wallace, E Condon, G O’Brien, N Sheehan, K Barry and O Fitzgerald (0-01 each).
St Catherines team: E Davis, F O’Connell, E O’Riordan, K Neville, K O’Donoghue, O Fitzgerald, C Hegarty, K Wallace, G O’Brien, J Neville, S O’Donoghue, K Barry, B Mulcahy, E Condon, M Mulcahy. Subs: N Sheehan and W Leamy for J Neville and B Mulcahy (both’45), A Neville and J Hayes for E Condon and G O’Brien (both ‘9), P Keane for F O’Connell (’54).
Referee: P Beausang (Midleton).
ROUND 4 DIVISION 1 REBEL ÓG EAST MINOR HURLING LEAGUE St Catherines 2-19 Midleton 1-13
Though originally billed for the opponents’ venue, a league tie between two understrength teams, relocated and played in dull, overcast conditions at Ballynoe on Thursday evening last. Midleton having the better of the early exchanges before, against the run of play, Ciaran Pietropaolo re-ignited the Saints’ challenge with a slightly fortuitous goal. Trimming the deficit to the minimum on a scoreline of 0-07 to 1-03 to 21 minutes. Jake Bryan brought off a stunning stop shortly afterwards. But the magpies wouldn’t be denied with Ryan Fitzsimmons goaling and the opposition still holding a one point advantage on a half-time scoreline standing at 1-08 to 1-07.
Checking it out and without getting a touch, ace free-taker Diarmuid O’Connell goaled direct from a placed ball on 34 minutes. Now ahead on a 2-08 to 1-09 scoreline. Into a lead not for surrendering. A much-improved home challenge gathered momentum as the contest evolved. Working hard a halfback line of Cillian Hickey, Evan O’Driscoll and Tristan Clancy the launchpad of numerous attacks in a free-laden league tie. Classy and well taken points from Alan Cotter, Ciaran Leamy and in particular John Temple followed, and victory followed.
Minor Football League was down for bank holiday Monday evening last. With hurling resuming on Wednesday evening, May 15th. Hopefully the injury count doesn’t get any worse.
Scorers: D O’Connell (1-11 frees) (1-13), C Pietropaolo (1-02), J Temple (0-02), A Cotter and C Leamy (0-01 each). Midleton scorers: R Fitzsimmons (0-04 frees) (1-04), S McSharry (0-02 frees) (0-02 ‘65s) (0-05), J Foley (0-02), D O’Donovan and N Coughlan (0-01 each).
St Catherines team: J Bryan, G O’Callaghan McCarthy, T Barry, C Murray, C Hickey, E O’Driscoll, T Clancy, D O’Connell, C Leamy, D ‘Chips’ Murphy, C Pietropaolo, G Sheehan, T Dee, J Temple, A Cotter. Subs: D O’Donovan for T Dee (’47), also S O’Donoghue and C O’Driscoll.
Referee: Arthur Murphy (Killeagh).
ROUND 1 DIVISION 2 REBEL ÓG EAST U14 HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP St Catherines 3-07 Whitechurch 3-10
Although witnessing an earlier 3 point lead wheeled in visitors Whitechurch restored initial advantage to lead on an interval scoreline standing at 2-05 to 0-05. When this round 1 championship tie, virtually running concurrent with aforementioned Premier Junior League tie, went ahead in Ballynoe on Friday evening last at 7pm.
There were a number of influential Sean O’Keeffe stops between the sticks as a Billy O’Connor strike from a ’ 65 eluded all and sundry for a rallying Saints’ goal now on a scoreline of 3-09 to 1-07. Goals from Tadhg Walsh and David Temple in turn insured the Saints remained competitive to the finish with Whitechurch confirming a league victory from March end again by a 3 point margin. Championship and lapsed league matches entailing both codes to go on over the summer months.
Scorers: T Walsh (0-04 frees) (1-04), D Temple (1-01), B O’Connor (1-00 ’65), R O’Donoghue and K O’Connell (free) (0-01 each).
St Catherines team: S O’Keeffe, C McCarthy, S Riordan, J Coughlan, Z Pyne, B O’Connor, N Keane, K O’Connell, C Higgins, A Burke, T Walsh, E Dillon, R O’Donoghue, T Morrison, D Temple. Sub: C Fitzgerald for A Burke (’45).
Referee: Eoin Coleman (Youghal).
ROUND 4 DIVISION 1 REBEL ÓG EAST U16 HURLING LEAGUE
A number of factors most notably injuries thus meaning you have to delve down the age groups saw a much-weakened Saints’ outfit losing out heavily in the U16 Hurling League when played in Passage on Monday evening, April 29th last.
St Catherines panel: S O’Keeffe, S McCarthy, S O’Donoghue, C Barry, S Walsh, T Clancy, J Kenneally, L Moore, J Pietropaolo, C O’Driscoll, E O’Mahony, C Higgins, B O’Connor, A Cotter, L Kilmartin. Also T Morrison for L Kilmartin.
Referee: Pat O’Leary (Valley
Rovers).
CANCELLATIONS
Despite all this, a few competitive games still went by the wayside. Most notably U13 football league in Mitchelstown midweek and U12 hurling league down for Sunday morning last. We’re assured of re-fixtures. While what a start was scheduled for the early part of the new week. Féile Peil in Kilworth and then off to Cobh for the most recent match in division 2 of the Rebel Óg East Minor Football League. That’s bank holiday Monday taken up. Round 3 in division 4 of the Red FM County HL was to go ahead in Kilworth on Tuesday night gone, May 7th. Exactly a month on from the original date of Saturday, April 6th. Cancelled due to the appalling weather conditions going on around that time. Reports to follow when next with you.
ALL-IRELAND SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW
This morning as we sit on the cusp of hurling destination weekend when, after the draws for the Sam Maguire Cup, the county senior footballers now know what they’re facing. That win over Limerick preceding the Kerry loss meant expulsion from the provincial race. Now awarded a place in group 3 as the quest for the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship begins in earnest. Cork situated in group 3 with Ulster winners, be they Armagh or Donegal, in what is a repeat from the division 2 football league. Losing Munster finalists and Tyrone. First game scheduled for weekend May 18th/19th with the Rebels away. Tailteann Cup games programme of matches also devised.
JIMMY’S WINNING RACES
Jimmy Mangan is now bringing joy to the parish normally reserved for successful GAA players and teams, club or county, especially hurling. What a win attained by Spillane’s Tower in the Dooley
Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase over 3 miles plus on the opening day of the 5 day Punchestown Festival on the evening of Tuesday, April 30th last. He now goes home for the summer with legendary owner JP McManus, with four new entrants, including Corbetts Cross, Fact to File and Spillane’s Tower already in Gold Cup betting. Ironically with Classic season upon us and here we are already talking about Cheltenham 2025.
Also best of luck to Jonathan Burke (son of dancer Liam!) now taking up residency as stable jockey to Fergal O’Brien for the new UK National Hunt racing season.
LOTTO RESULTS
Details of the weekly lotto draw from the clubrooms held on Monday night, April 29th. Numbers drawn were 8, 10, 17 and 30 and wasn’t won. Consolation winners on the night were Dick Hegarty, Garrycaheragh, Ballynoe, Michael A Leahy, Corrin View House, Glenreigh, Ballynoe, Ciara Finn, online, James Ahern, West Street, Tallow and Moroney family, Cooladurragh, Conna. Being a bank holiday, the most recent draw was scheduled for Tuesday night last, May 7th. Jackpot standing at €5,600.
REBELS’ BOUNTY
Big money going to Kilmeen-Kilbree with no success coming to the club following the April draw on Tuesday night, April 30th last. Still some way to go.
COMING UP FAST ON YOUR FIXTURE LIST
Tonight (Thursday), May 9th at Ballynoe, round 2 division 2 Rebel Óg East U14 Football Championship v Cobh at 7pm. Thursday, May 9th at Ballynoe, round 4 division 2 East Cork Junior Hurling League v Fr O’Neills at 8pm. Sunday, May 12th at Ballynoe, round 4 division 2 East Cork Junior Football League v Glenbower Rovers at 11.30am. NB Could be U13 Football League in Cobh at 11am. Monday, May 13th at Ballynoe, round 5 division 1 Rebel Óg East U16 Hurling League v St Colmans at 7pm. Wednesday, May 15th at Ballynoe, round 4 division 1 Rebel Óg East Minor Hurling League v St Colmans at 7pm.
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.