Progress on Club Development.

Our Steering Committee met last week to review the Open Night on the development of newly purchased lands and existing facilities.  The first port of call will be putting together a development group to scope out what can be done to the place and put it in draft formation to our club executive. As Rome was not built in a day the development plan will surely be in phased manner with the most urgent piece of the jigsaw first.  So, they are presently sourcing personnel to do this work and it is hoped to have a more complete report next week.  Our thanks to all the facilitators who came and supported us on the Open Night especially Tom Mannix and Noel O Callaghan who travelled from Clonakilty, as Tom made a most interesting presentation of their recent development in Clonakilty GAA including the many difficulties they encountered. Also, Pat Horgan, County Development Officer, Alan Donegan, Midleton, Don Hegarty Carrignabhfear, Donal O Keeffe Lisgoold, Dick Fitzgerald East Cork Board Development Officer all assisted us on the night.  While any development is challenging the future looks very good and its all hand on deck from now on.

Under 21 Football

Our Under 21 footballers defeated already by Glanmire in the Under 21 C Grade football championship are due to play Cloyne in the next round robin game.  This game deferred due to the adverse weather conditions at the weekend and at time of going to paper there was no new date set.

Castlelyons play Ballyhea in Red FM Division Two Cork Hurling League for 2020

Castlelyons are now placed in the Red FM Division Two Hurling League with Senior teams and have their first game away to Ballyhea on this Saturday at 4pm.  Overall this promises to be a cracker of a competition with a competitive edge to it.  We will have a tough outing for starters.  Ballyhea can turn it on anytime and overcame our neighbours Bride Rovers last year in a championship thriller in Mallow.  Incidentally this was a day when Barry Johnson of the Rovers gave a massive display scoring 3-9 and still, they lost 4-16 to 3-20. Ballyhea are a top-grade senior team and lads like Pa O Callaghan, Eugene O Leary Maurice O Sullivan and Gavin Morrissey are serious hurlers. We will need to be at our best and have a full panel available to us to make an impression but if we want success and keep up with the big boys no better place to start.  Best of luck lads.

Incidentally, while these leagues have great potential, they are starting earlier than ever they used start around St Patrick’s weekend then it was moved to end of February and now here we are in the middle of February. If it keeps getting much earlier the turkey will not be digested much less a bit of preparation and then there are weather conditions and pitch availability.

Fitzgibbon Cup Final on Wednesday 12^th February 2020 in DCU Grounds

University College Cork play IT Carlow in this year’s final of the Fitzgibbon Cup in DCU Grounds Dublin next Wednesday. Both teams are laden with stars with the cork side really shining to date.  All in all, it should be a thriller and some Castlelyons man will emerge a winner. Castlelyons men Barry Murphy is a member of the IT Carlow team panel and Niall O Leary is starring for UCC heading for the Fitzgibbon Cup Semi Finals.  There is extra time and its winner takes all so lads great to see ye involved, enjoy the day and come back to Castlelyons and give it a right belt for the year.

Point to Point Races in Knockanard on Sunday 16.2.20

The Knockanard Point to Point Races are on this Sunday 16.2.20. Castlelyons GAA have hosted a Refreshment Tent and are doing it again this year. There is a good bit of work in this and a “paper pick” at the end. We need help for a few hours on the day and we would appreciate if some volunteers gave their names to our Secretary, Michael Barrett.

This year Knockanard share racing with Punchestown and Nenagh. A strong entry is expected with seven races and possibly a divide. There is a retired jockeys’ race for charity with proceeds going to the injured jockeys fund So, for a great day its Race Day in Knockanard.  We wish the organisers the best of luck.

Results of Weekly Lotto Draw. 

Our weekly club lotto draw was held in the Peddlers on Monday 3^rd February and the numbers drawn were 5, 9, 18 and 29. There was no winner. There were eight Lucky Dip winners were as follows: - Sarah Coleman, Daithi Whelan, Conor McCarthy, Ina Madden, Darragh Lawlor, Colman O Connell, Mike Hegarty and Jacinta O Leary.

Next week’s draw will be held on Monday 17^th February at 9.30pm in the Peddlers. The Jackpot is still a massive €20,000 so don’t forget your ticket for next week.  The results of the Club Lotto are published on both the Avondhu and social media.  Thanks to all our Lotto players who support us each week as without you we would not be able to invest in the future of our club.

Glennon Brothers – new sponsors for Castlelyons Juvenile GAA.

Chairman of the Castlelyons juvenile GAA committee, Mr Declan Spillane, has announced that Glennon Brothers are now sponsoring the juvenile teams.   Glennon Brothers has been manufacturing high-quality timber products and is now the premier name in the Irish and UK timber processing industry.  They have plants in Longford and Fermoy, and Windymains Timber and Adam Wilsons in Scotland and supply both the Irish and UK markets with products for the construction, pallet wood and fencing industries.  Their Products include kiln dried strength graded carcassing, pallet and packing case material, CLS for the timber frame manufacturing industry and machined whitewoods for the construction and garden shed industries. They also offer Glendeck timber decking and fencing for outdoor use, as well as timber frame homes and engineered roof trusses.  Declan was most thankful to Riordan’s Super-Valu, Fermoy who was their sponsor for many years and is looking forward to a similar relationship with Glennon Brothers.

Castlelyons GAA Sports Booking Platform.

Our Sports Booking Platform, Bookapitch, has gone reasonably well since its inception.  There was an agreement at the meeting held in Kilmagnier NS that the teams would only book one month in advance.  The reason being that the previous system was all over the place with some bookings in for even twelve months in advance.  Often the pitches were not taken up at all although booked.  However, here we are again with savage slippage as people are again booking six months in advance already. So please adhere to the simple rule of booking one month in advance and all will benefit.

Club Membership.

Club membership payments is outstanding to date this year and a big thanks to our hurling management who have done a promotion and collection.  As we swing int actin for the new season in both Under 21 and intermediate grades it is assumed that all players are paid up. But if you’re a player and /or patron who has not paid to date please attend you can fix up with Donal Barry Treasurer and /or James Maye Registration Officer, or any of the hurling management team.

Cork County Board Finances.

The Runaí of the County Board, Mr Kevin O Donovan, is working hard with his executive ad advisory groups in this area. He addressed delegates at the County Board meeting on the 4.2.20 and outlined how a three-point plan was needed to tackle this the financial issue. The first point was the restructure of finance and fundraising, which was currently underway. The second point was a combined business plan to cover all aspects of Cork GAA, including the stadium, and this too had been initiated. The third point was repaying €1.2m owed to Central Council. This amount was due to be paid to Central Council in 2017 but was redirected to Páirc Uí Chaoimh when a cash flow issue arose with the stadium, with the agreement of Croke Park, and would eventually be paid back to the County Board by the stadium. The Runaí said that the Executive had agreed and commenced a repayment process with Central Council.  While the finances of the Board are tough going it is most encouraging that they are being addressed in a constructive manner.

Cork GAA Season Ticket Available.

It was announced at the last County Board meeting announced that a Cork GAA season ticket costing €150 would be launched shortly. This would be for County Championship games only, including County Finals, and would not cover Divisional and Rebel Óg games. There will be a limit of 1000 tickets and anyone who buys one will be entitled to buy an All – Ireland Final ticket if Cork are in the Senior Final. Further details will issue to all secretaries shortly.

CLCG Uí Mac Coille Fundraising Draw.

First Prize: Two Premium Seat Tickets for Páirc Uí Chaoimh; Jerome O Brien Cloyne

Second Prize: €200 Cash; Brian Walsh Aghada.

Third Prize: €100; Ger Lane Bride Rovers.

East Cork GAA Division wishes to thank all who supported the draw.

Fixture.

Red FM Division Two Hurling League; Ballyhea v Castlelyons in Ballyhea on Saturday 15^th February at 4pm with Referee to be announced.

Main Club Sponsor: ZEUS Packaging Group