Castlelyons GAA Notes week ended 26^th February 2018

Intermediate hurlers draw in first league game.

Charleville 0-14 Castlelyons 0-14

Castlelyons back in Premier IHL this year made the trip to Charleville to play the locals on Sunday for our first game of the year. Yes, this was our first game as we had no challenge games due to the very bad weather and one or two called off. We faced up to last year’s table toppers and it was always going to be tough. The Charleville pitch was in excellent condition, a dry day and a strong breeze blowing down to the town end. We got the toss of the penny from Dave Copps, the Ballyhea referee, and choose to play with the breeze. We started well with a lot of our lads showing food form in this half particularly the middle third as we planted a few scores from far out and when the sliotar was dropped in Charleville backs fouled which yielded some tap over frees. Centre Back Aidan O Sullivan 0-1. Eoin Maye 0-2, Alan Fenton 0-1, all good scores and Mike Spillane had 0-5(0-1 play) and very accurate from frees. The flow in scoring left us four points to one up, but Charleville fought back to make it four all and then we really hit a good spell to make it nine points to four in our favour on the short whistle.

Facing the breeze in the second half was tough going as Charleville pressed hard, cut our lead and levelled it with ten minutes left. Our own hurling was good during this half as Colm Barry at full back was outstanding and indeed Brian Carroll and Robbie Feeney did well. Colm O Neill was massive on the wing and Tom and Aidan covered very well too against a strong breeze. Eoin Maye and Alan Fenton done trojan work in the middle and Alan Fenton managed 0-2 in this half. Ciaran McGann came out wing forward as Charleville found it somewhat difficult to handle the half forward line of Darragh Lawlor (0-1) and Shane Moroney while our full line work hard and Mike Spillane was very accurate from frees and Ronan Fenton working hard.

Ronan O Regan had to retire from the forward with a nasty heady injury in the second half which I believe required some stitches and we wish him a speedy recovery. Jamie O Leary, who has a fresher’s final with CIT this week came on for Ronan. Despite our great work against the breeze it looked as if Charleville would carry the day as they led 0-14 to 0-12 with just two minutes on the clock. However, our lads fought mighty when the cause was greatest. Brian O Donovan who had come on as sub won a sweet ball but was fouled and Mike Spillane planted the resultant free to leave the minimum between the sides. Then with some great defending and a good turnover Colm O Neill got possession and laid on a mighty pass to Alan Fenton who tore up the left wing, opened up the shoulders and struck a massive levelling score off his left from fifty yards out to leave it 0-14 apiece at the final whistle.

Team: - Jack Barry, Brian Carroll Colm Barry, Robbie Feeney, Tom Carroll, Aiden O Sullivan, Colm O Neill, Eoin Maye, Alan Fenton, Darragh Lawlor, Shane Moroney, Ronan Fenton, Michael Spillane, Ciaran McGann and Ronan O Regan, Alan Fenton. Subs: - Jamie O Leary for Ronan O Regan (inj) also Brian O Donovan came on, Peter Roche, Shane Fenton, Shane O Sullivan, Noel McAuliffe, Liam Moroney, Ian O Riordan with Declan Varner, Niall O Leary and Keith O Leary all present but injured.

There will be some way tougher assignments ahead but tosach maith leath na hoibre for our manager Mick Spillane, coach Darren Tobin and the lads. We are out again next Sunday in the Premier IHL and this one is at home in Castlelyons to Ballinhassig at 11.30am who have had the upper hand on us with a few years. However, looking forward to a good game this time. Best of luck lads.

Under 21 Footballers in action Friday 2.3.18.

Our Under 21 Footballers are at home to Glenbower Rovers in the Championship on Friday 2^nd March at 7.45am with Niall Barrett on the whistle. While our lads have very little football played they have a lot of physical work done over the last month and a lot of them got game time in a junior league game versus Dungourney recently. We have very few on the age but have a lot of up and coming men like Niall, Jamie and Keith O Leary, Barry Murphy, David Morrison, Peter Roche, Conor McCarthy and many others. The Barry brothers Donal and Colm have taken charge of the Under 21’s this year and we wish them the best as they had a great year in 2017 particularly in the hurling and most of the lads are underage again this year.

Result of our Weekly Lotto of the 26.2.18. 

The numbers drawn were 13, 15, 19 and 29. There was no winner. There were eight "Lucky Dip" winners of €20 each as follows: - Dick Dorgan, Sam Barry, William Martin, Ber Sice, Cal & Shane M, Conor McCarthy, MJ Dorgan and Billy Kelleher.

The Jackpot is now €6,200 and our next draw is Monday 5^th March at 9.30 pm in the Club Bar. Thanks for your support and please remind your friends that they can play our Lotto Online or purchase from the usual sources.

Waterford pull away to leave Cork in the points trail.

Cork hurlers suffered yet another league defeat on Sunday as Waterford pulled away in the end to win 1-15 to 1-20. This was a tough hard game played out in unusual conditions. Cork played very well at times and once again our own man Colm Spillane did very well and scoring 0-1 from corner back. However, despite Patrick Horgan’s great display and deadly accuracy from frees 1-10 (0-9 frees) we were a little too undisciplined ourselves and Pauric Mahony shot 0-10 (0-8 frees) for Waterford. So, its Thurles next Sunday for the last league game versus Tipperary. The Tipp lads say Thurles is the home of hurling and a true sod, but sure Cork always say they like Thurles so give the Rebels support and who knows it could yet be a quarter final for Cork – keep the faith folks.

 Loreto College Fermoy in All Ireland Camogie Final.

Loreto Secondary School, Fermoy play Coláiste Naomh Cormac, Kilcormac in Offaly in the O Neills All -Ireland Post-Primary Schools Senior D Final on this Saturday 3^rd March at a venue to be announced. Best of luck to Loreto College and to our own Castlelyons girls on the panel; Grainne McCarthy (captain), Billie Shanahan, Lucy McNulty, Ava Hallihan, Avril Beirne and Niamh Colman. Safe journey and hopefully a victorious outcome.

Castlelyons Main Sponsor: Zeus Packaging Group.