Cobh prove too good for Castlelyons in Minor C Grade County Final

Castlelyons 2-13 Cobh 6-8

We played Cobh in the County C Grade Hurling Final last Saturday in Castlemartyr in glorious sunshine and a well prepared pitch.  We went in a confident mode but a number of our top lads were injured going into the game as with just a week since the semi final time was not on our side.  We knew this game would be tough as it was a repeat of the Eastern Region Minor Final which Castlelyons had won narrowly after a great game.

Ger Scully the Reiteóir threw in the slioter and like all good refs go out of the way and was anonymous for the game as both teams again served up another tremendous hours hurling in front of a huge crowd.  However, the old adage that goals win games was definitely borne out as Cobh bagged six got six and Castlelyons managed just two.  This proved the difference between the teams as Cobh took the silverware.

Cobh were tactically set up well as they sprayed the ball to the wings and kept width in their game.  Our lads found this hard to cope with and Cobh got in for a great goal just four minutes into the game and added a point shortly afterwards.  However, we responded well Barry Murphy pointed two frees and ten minutes into the game a mighty long range fee from Niall O Leary deceived the Cobh goalie and went into the net. Cobh fought back and scored 3 points without reply in the next six minutes.

Seventeen minutes in and Jamie O Leary played a long ball out of defence which Alex Henley ran onto and pointed to level the game again. Cobh fought back and another attack down the flanks resulted in another goal to put them three points ahead again. Mark Spillane caught a high ball out midfield and played a long ball into Alex Henley who made an equally good catch and turned to put over his second point. Two minutes later Niall O Leary made a great solo run from midfield and went for goal. The Cobh goalie made a good save initially but the ball broke to Niall who followed up by striking the ball into the net to put Castlelyons two points up. Cobh again fought back and pointed two long range frees to level the game. In the 26th minute Mark Spillane made a great catch and turn to score a point which nudged Castlelyons into the lead again. This was followed a minute later by a long range Niall O Leary free to put Castlelyons two ahead. However, right on the stroke of half time Cobh pointed from out on the wing to leave Castlelyons ahead by a single point after a mighty half hours hurling.

When the second half commenced Cobh immediately got into their stride and raced through for their third goal within two minutes of the restart. Good work between Niall O Leary, Pearse Varner and Mark Spillane freed up Alex Henley who was hurling well and he got his third point in the seventh minute. However almost immediately after this score Cobh again created an overlap down the wing and scored their fourth goal to go four points ahead. Our lads fought back and were unlucky to see a Pearse Varner effort go inches wide of the goals. Cobh tacked on a few long range frees to increase their lead. Jamie O Leary made a great run out of defence in fourteenth minute to score a fine long range point. Fouls on Niall O Leary, Keith O Leary and Mark Spillane resulted in three long range pointed frees by Niall O Leary to leave two points in it with ten minutes remaining. For the next five minutes both teams battled hard and with Castlelyons committed to all out attack Cobh scored a breakaway goal in the twenty sixth minute to go five points ahead. Keith O Leary scored a fantastic point from a side line ball in the twenty seventh minute to reduce the margin to four points. Fair play to our lads they threw the kitchen sink at Cobh for the remaining few minutes but their defence held firm and the carriage of war wounds from other games took its toll too. A minute into stoppage time Cobh again capitalised with another breakaway goal which put seven points between the teams as the final whistle sounded.

We always knew that this game would be a tough one as Cobh were edging closer all the time.  We have experienced victory in winning so many games, especially the Eastern Region Final, and the win over Kildorrery in the semi.  Although defeat was our lot on Saturday it was great to see that the lads gave it everything even though some of our big players carried injuries they still played strapped up every way.   There is a saying that that “the greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart” and somehow I think these lads will not lose heart and make a valuable contribution to Castlelyons hurling yet.  Well done lads keep it up and congratulations to Cobh on winning.  A big thank you to Jimmy O Leary, the Manager, Shane Hickey, Coach, Dave Hegarty and Ger McCarthy Selectors they worked hard for the lads all year as the lads won the East Region Final and were County Finalists.

Panel: - Michael Buckley, Keith O Leary, Red Walsh, Shane Moroney, Jamie o Leary, Shane Baragry, Niall O Leary, Mark Spillane, Pearse Varner, Niall Riordan, Alex Henley, Barry Murphy, James McCarthy, Thomas Stephenson, Jack Ronayne and Cian Donnellan, (Capt) Conor McCarthy(injured),  Andrew O Neill(played in second half)

Castlelyons lose to Mallow in vital League game.

Mallow 3-16 Castlelyons 2-17

This pivotal league encounter was always going to have the ultimate bearing on which of these clubs were going to be promoted to the upper level of the Intermediate League for 2016 and accordingly was hotly contested from the throw-in. Playing with what was a strong yet tricky wind in the first half, Castlelyons started this contest very brightly and after six minutes led by a scoreline of 0-3 to 0-1, one free and two from play, all courtesy of Anthony Spillane. Mallow scored a rather fortuitous goal after ten minutes but the Castlelyons response was immediate with two further points from play which were followed by an opportunist goal in the fifteenth minute from corner forward, Ronan O’Regan. Anthony Spillane (free), Shane Moroney and Darragh Lawlor (from play) had us 1-8 to 1-3 ahead after 25 minutes when Mallow poached a second goal. However, three points from Spillane book-ended by two points from play from Ciaran McGann had Castlelyons leading 1-13 to 2-04 at half-time.

The second-half was always going to involve a very strong Mallow comeback and in the first ten minutes of the half they outscored Castlelyons by 1-03 to 2 points.  Despite some heroic defending, where Jack Barry in goal brought off a number of fine saves and Declan Varner who had a fine game all through at corner-back, Mallow, through a series of points from play, hit the front ten minutes from time. However, two minutes later, Castlelyons were given a real life-line when Eoin Maye found Aidan O’Sullivan thirty yards from goal and he beat the Mallow goalkeeper, Patrick Buckley, in the corner. Unfortunately that was to be our last score as we were a bit on the back foot and Mallow added four unanswered points, eventually winning by a margin of two.

Team: J Barry, C O’Leary, C Barry, D Varner, D Sexton, C Spillane (0-1), T Carroll, R Feeney, A O’Sullivan (1-0), C McGann (0-2), A Spillane (0-11), S Moroney (0-1), R O’Regan (1-1), T McCarthy, D Lawlor (0-1).

Subs used:  E Maye for D Sexton, A O’Regan for C McGann, C O’Neill for R O’Regan.

Club Lotto Draw

Our Club Lotto Draw was held on Monday night 28.10.15 in the Abbey Bar.  There was No Winner and the next draw will be in the Community Centre on Monday 5.10.15.  The Jackpot is now €2,800 so get your ticket for just €2.

Our Lucky Dip Winners were: -

 1.      Denis Granville – Macs Shop

2.      Maureen Carroll – Maurice Carroll

3.      Jo McGann – Jo McGann

4.      Mary Geary – Mike Hegarty

5.      Eileen Pyne – Ned Fitzgerald

6.      Phil Shanahan – Post Office

7.      Declan Sexton – Seamus Sexton

8.      Andrew Meade – Brian Sheehan

Fundraising Draw

The first of the two current fundraising draws with a total of €2,000 in prizes will be held in the Abbey Bar on this Saturday night 3.10.15 and it is believed that ticket sales have gone very well.  Of course, the second draw will take place the following Saturday night in the Community Centre.  The two top prizes amounts are €500 in cash each and a host of others.

We are very thankful to our sponsors include Murphy Vehicle Repairs, Lagan Group, East Cork Oil, Suit Distributors Cork, Bord Gáis Networks, Fitzgerald Bros, Metrology Systems and Services, The Abbey Tavern, The Grand Hotel, Forge Bar & Restaurant, Castle bride Plastics, Bertie Murphy Painting Contractor, Cheers Bar and Martin Dorgan.

Tickets are available from any club member and select outlets in the parish so please support and help the club to continue all the good work they are doing for the youth of the parish.

Thanks to our Stewards and CES Workers.

County Championship Football returned to Castlelyons last Saturday evening for the second time in six years as Fermoy took on Glanworth in the County Semi Final of the IFC.

An ideal evening for football and played before a large crowd it was a typical derby - a tough struggle - with Fermoy eventually coming out on top to win by 1-8 to 0-6.

We wish to thank Ms Assumpta Mangan and the lads in the Community Employment Scheme who had Páirc An t’Athair Peadar O’Laoghaire and surroundings in pristine condition, also, to Ms Michelle Griffin and the ladies in the Tuck Shop who provided teas and goodies and finally but not least to all our Stewarts who did a great job who helped make the evening such a success.

Congrats to Cork Ladies Football Team.

Congratulations to the Cork Ladies Football Team on their marvelous achievement at Croke Park on Sunday and especially to neighbours Fermoy’s Aishling Hutchings who had a mighty game and Bride Rovers Grace Kearney, Eleanor Ahearn, Jennifer Barry.

Great win for our U15 Camogie Players.

Like the County ladies teams these days the local girls are flying the flag for Castlelyons as they won yet another trophy.  On Saturday they captured the U15 B Grade East Cork Championship as they defeated Castlemartyr in Killeagh.  Their victory parade through the village led by Captain Niamh O Donovan resembled the great days of the lads winning counties and a mighty wake up call to all.  Well done to the girls and to Mary McNulty, Manager and Ger McCarthy, Trainer.