Playing Fields full again.

The appointment of Covid Supervisors, completion of health questionnaires and use of sanitization by management, players and parents / guardians has been outstanding as is the compliance to date.  Páirc an tAthair Peadar and Leahy’s Field are full again as all age’s boys, girls and adults are training for the games.   Well done to all and a bit of success for some teams at the end of season would crown such great effort but it is the participation and enjoyment that counts and that is there. Tabhair aire.

Revised Club Hurling Championships 2020.

Its as you were for the premier intermediate hurling championship 2020 as Castlelyons meet Blackrock, Blarney and Inniscarra in the revised premier intermediate hurling county championship set out by the Cork County Board.  We will have our first game versus Blackrock on the weekend of July 31^st – August 3^rd. This game will be just seven days after our junior A football championship game, so the pressure is on already. Overall, the County Board have done well in setting out a ‘Festival of Games’ incorporating over 400 adult teams and over 6,000 players.  It is an ambitious and vibrant return of our games to all local communities in due reward for the magnificent contribution made by club members throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. It will reach a climax with 16 County finals and over 30 Divisional finals at adult level. The reality is there is a risk involved in playing these games as the pandemic is not gone away and the Chief Medical Officer has expressed concern over worrying trends and cases rising. Cumann Luthchleas Gael are conscious of a risk of this and any possible second wave of the pandemic and the programme has been compiled in line with GAA guidelines.  It is imperative that that we continue a strict adherence to these guidelines.

The County Board have made every effort to maximise use of the available club window and provide club players with a significant programme of games in both codes and across all levels. The inter-county programme confirmed late last week and the championship start dates for both Cork senior teams in early November were also borne in mind to allow the maximum preparation time possible for these county teams.  Despite the short timeline it is great to see our own club championships staying in the group system approved by clubs in 2019.

East Cork Board Draws.

It looks as if the Junior football championship in East Cork will be revised as an open draw.  There are sixteen teams in the Junior A football championship, and it is regretted that it cannot be run as agreed by clubs earlier this year. Starting on the Weekend of 24-26^th July (or if clubs agree could be brought forward a few days) this championship will now be a knockout competition only with no back door.  Winner will be decided on the day.

There is a Board meeting this Wednesday on the 1.7.20 with one representative from each club and the executive and while a few matters are outstanding, they will all be tidied up.  Also, it is important to note that there will be Junior B hurling and football championships commencing soon but the Under 21 games will not take place until later in the year.  Some teams may withdraw from the football championship due to the volume of games in the shortened season.  Castlelyons are out in intermediate hurling seven days after the football in a tough opener versus Blackrock so the pressure is on already.

Cork GAA Clubs Draw. 

Congratulations to Phillip Murphy, Castlelyons who won a luxury weekend break in the Cork GAA Clubs Draw, John Barrett was ticket seller.  This draw is on the go since 1992 and many clubs have taken it on as a fund-raising project and raised big money as a result. It is a risk-free draw with forty seventy percent of each ticket sale going to the club and rising on sales. John Barrett has coordinated the draw for our Club for many years and has all the relevant information.

Congratulations.

Warm congratulations to Marie and Martin Fitzgerald on the birth of their daughter Áine.  Marie is a great supporter of our club and now assisting the development group. Also, to Marie’s Mam and Dad, Colm and Bridget and their family as Colm’s cousin Michael Martin has been elected the 15^th Taoiseach in the new Government. Like Colm Murphy the new Taoiseach is a longtime supporter of Nemo Rangers, Cork and a great GAA fan. So best wishes to Michael Martin, his wife Mary and family in the future. 

Main Club Sponsor: ZEUS Packaging Group