Castlelyons and Kilworth share the points in IHL

Castlelyons 1-15 Kilworth 1-15

We were at home to Kilworth last Wednesday evening in an eagerly awaited league tie. The evening was warm with the pitch hard and dry. The dust was rising around the square and the game certainly lived up to the billing. The referee, Aidan Barry, threw in the sliotar and right from the off it was hard and manly. We started well but our shooting could be better. Keith O Leary had 0-1. Kilworth worked the ball in well from midfield to a lively full forward line and and they tack on 0-3. However, David Morrison cut through the Kilworth defence and planted a great shot in the net which lived up the crowd and Barry Murphy had 0-1 for us. Kilworth attacked hard and Jack Barry was strong in goal bringing off one great save. Mike Spillane had 0-2 from frees and Darragh Lawlor 0-1 from play.

A Kilworth midfielder had a fine point and they had 0-1 from play to leave it 1-5 to 0-5 and then Barry Murphy had 0-1 to put us ahead. A feature of the game was the strong play of Kilworth full back Kieran Lane and our own full back Colm Barry as he had the lively Noel McNamara for company while our corner men Brian Carroll and Declan Varner were having battle royals with the Kilworth corner men Eoin Carey and Liam Whelan. Those lads put over a few points in between a Mike Spillane free to leave it 1-7 to 0-9 at half time. Considering that the Kilworth boys put four goals past Aghada in the championship our backs although under pressure were doing well as Aidan O Sullivan, Colm Spillane and Tommy Carroll held the half line well even if we fired a few loose cannons from far out at times.

The second half came alive with some good scores. Anto Spillane was going well and had a point while Keith O Leary cut over a beauty from a sideline. But Kilworth with Lane and O Connor mighty in the backs and Mockler around midfield forged ahead 1-9 to 0-13. Mike Spillane and Eoin Carey exchanged points and then our own Barry Murphy had to retire with a recurrence of hamstring injury. He was replaced by Brian O Donovan. If that was not tough on us we had tough luck again as Jack Barry, all six foot five of him, pulled down a shot from upstairs but when it dropped Kilworth reacted faster to the breaking ball and cracked it to the net in a cloud of dust and bodies. Darragh Lawlor settled us again as he floated over a nice 0-1 to leave it 1-11 to 1-14 in favour of Kilworth. The tackling was strong on both sides and unfortunately Anto Spillane was shouldered hard against the fencing and received a nasty injury to his knee which required ten stitches. At this stage there was fierce animation on the lines particularly on the Castlelyons side and I am sure referee Aidan Barry had some vibration in his ears. Colm Spillane landed a massive shot from his own half between the posts. Alan Fenton who came on for Anto landed a free and then Aidan O Sullivan had another excellent long-range missile on target for the equaliser at 1-15 apiece. There was a hectic last few minutes as both sides went for broke and had opportunities to win it but failed to land a winner.

This was a cracking game of hurling and now both sides are joint second in the league on 16 points apiece and Kilworth have a greater scoring average. However, it is noted that one of their games is declared void, so this may lead to a play off to decide who meets Ballinhassig in the final. What a game a play off could be but there is nothing definite as some chat must take place at the famous table of the Board so only surmising! Our treatment room is full as Ronan Fenton, Colm O Neill, Barry Murphy and now Anto Spillane are all receiving treatment for nasty injuries. Ciarán McGann played ten minutes the last night and is recovering. Eoin Maye did not play the last night but should be okay. All in all, tough going with the championship due shortly but the boys and management are are working hard.

Team: - Jack Barry, Brian Carroll, Colm Barry, Declan Varner, Tom Carroll, Aidan O Sullivan, Colm Spillane, Darragh Lawlor, Barry Murphy, Keith O Leary, Anthony Spillane, David Morrison, Michael Spillane, Shane Moroney, Ronan O Regan. Subs: - John Paul Murphy, Alan Fenton, Ciarán McGann, Declan Varner and Noel McAuliffe, Brian O Donovan, Peter Roche, Shane Flynn, Conor McCarthy, David Morrison.

Result of our Weekly Lotto of Monday 27.8.18. 

The numbers drawn were 4, 10, 25 and 27. There was no winner of our Jackpot of €11, 200. There were eight "Lucky Dip" winners of €20 each as follows: - M O Leary, Thomasina Hegarty, John Cotter, Sean Geary, Alan Waters, Kevin Daly, Mary Murphy and Noel O Brien

The Jackpot is now a cracking €11,400 so here is your chance to land a dream prize for just €2. Our next draw is Monday 3^rd September at 9.30 pm in the Abbey Tavern. Thanks for your support and please remind your friends that they can play our Lotto Online or purchase from the usual sources.

Major Fundraising Draw.

Castlelyons Adult Club, Juvenile Section and Camogie Club launched a major fund-raising initiative on Monday night. All clubs gathered at the official launch on Monday evening in the Club Bar. Declan Spillane Chairman of the Juvenile Club and driving the initiative spoke of the social values of the clubs to the local community and the increased numbers involved in all grades. Many teams are still involved in the business end of competitions including the Intermediate hurlers in the county quarter final, the U21A hurlers in East Cork East Cork, some juvenile teams still in Rebel Óg including Colm McCarthy and Leon Doocey involved with county teams. The Camogie Club is going from strength to strength with many girls representing the club on Cork teams this year too. The Juvenile Section is now catering for a record number of juveniles and are keeping up the traditional quality. This can be seen in the skill level of Castlelyons as Colm Spillane and Niall O Leary have represented Cork at the highest level in senior and U21 hurling this year and This writer remembers them as juveniles just a few years ago. It costs a bit to run these clubs. This fundraising committee are highly motivated, motoring well and have €3,000 in prizes for the Draw with tickets priced at €10 each. Your support is appreciated.

The famine continues for Cork. 

Cork having crushed all before them, including Tipperary by thirteen points, with some power hurling on the road to the U21 All Ireland hurling final were awaiting coronation in Páirc na nGael, Limerick on Sunday evening. After all there were six Cork seniors plus many senior panellists on board all part of a golden generation and rightly expected to take Tipperary again. However, while Sunday evening had a serious buzz the evening was grey with a drizzle and the crowd huge. Tipp matched the Rebels crowd wise and one could sense this when the decibels rose after throw in and it was evident they were not going down easily.

Sure, enough it was Tipperary who got the big start and raced into an early lead helped by the breeze but more importantly by a hungry motivation to win every ball. Cork rallied well and made a game of it scoring 1-6 without reply but Tipp were on their tails. Still Cork lead 0-2 at half time and the Rebel confidence around the ground while tested was upbeat. However, against the breeze Tipp tacked on four of the first five points in the second half and the roar around the ground for the Premier was deafening.

The Rebels countered with some great scores especially from Conor Cahalane, but the forwards were outplayed, and Tipperary seemed to clear everything at times and put savage pressure on the backs. Tipperary fought like tigers and found a way through to claim the national honour. The future is still bright for Cork and there was little in a great game so keep the heads up. Well done to our own Niall O Leary who had a great campaign and a great game on Sunday evening. This writer asks the question why so little change leaving a Tipp half back line clear ball at will down to their forwards in the second half. Sure, no Cork backline could stand that pressure but folks it’s all in the sport and as a famous character in Fermoy used to say, “the clock is still in the Square” and lads while autumn leaves are falling sure 2019 approaching. However, its time Cork got back to winning ways.

Castlelyons East Cork Junior Champions 1993 to be honoured at this year’s Final

Our Junior hurling team who won the East Cork twenty-five years ago will be guests of honour at this years East Cork Junior Final. This was a watershed as we hit the big time and although beaten by Courcey Rovers in the first round of the county after a replay we did come back to do the business again and eventually hit senior ranks for nine years. This year’s final will be in Castlemartyr and we will have more details next week.

Vote of Sympathy.

It was with great regret we heard of the passing of the late Derry O Leary of Main Street, Killaloe, Co. Clare recently. Derry, born and raised in Castlelyons, was very involved with our club in the sixties and played in goal when Castlelyons defeated Sarsfields 6-8 to 2-3 in the replayed East Cork Junior B Hurling Final of 1965. Derry, who worked at Cavanaghs, joined the Garda Siochána and was stationed in Killaloe for many years until his retirement. He was very involved with the local community and especially the club over the bridge in Tipperary, Ballina GAA Club, as his wife Peggy being a mighty Tipp supporter. He was one of the founders of their Juvenile Club and a former intermediate selector. In fact, he contributed hugely to underage teams in Ballina, Ballinahinch and Smith O Briens. He often came to Castlelyons with Juvenile teams from Ballina and attended all Castlelyons games in recent years. Derry was an outstanding Gael and a true gentleman. We wish to express our sincere sympathies to his wife Peggy, daughter Pauline and extended family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainm dílis.

Castlelyons Main Sponsor: ZEUS Packaging Group.