County Junior B Football Final this Sunday

Castlelyons play Kilmeen in the County Junior B Football Final this Sunday in Pairc Ui Rinn at 2.30 pm. These two teams know each other well having played each other in the first round of the championship both last year and this year.  Kilmeen knocked us out last year but we took them in the early round this year.

This year's match was played in Ballinhassig on the 10th of May with Castlelyons winning on a score of 2-06 to 0-06. We defeated Doneraile in our next match on a score of 4-17 to 0-08 and defeated Rathpeacon in the quarter final by 4-11 to 0-08. The semi final against Grange was a very tight match but we won on a score of 0-07 to 1-02 to set up this final. 

However, Kilmeen re-grouped well and have recorded victories against Lismire, Lough Rovers, Ballinacurra and Bride Rovers to qualify for the final and they will provide very tough opposition.  They have a number of very good forwards and none more so than the free scoring Darragh Coakley who has scored at least a massive 5-14 in the championship to date.

We last won the County Junior B Football Championship 1989, which, at the time, was the Club’s first County title win at adult level.  We defeated Whitechurch in an epic encounter in Watergrasshill with Castlelyons taking the title by the bare minimum 3-4 to 1-9. The Castlelyons team that day was: - Aidan Barry, Paul O'Sullivan, Anthony O'Regan, Ger O'Regan, Declan Spillane, William O'Riordan, Nelius Murphy, Mick Spillane, Donal Sheehan, Ger Barry, Ned Kearney, Joe Hartnett, Martin O'Riordan, Kieran McGann, Aidan Crowley.

Preparations for the final are a bit disjointed at present, with the U21 East Cork hurling final taking place on Mon 18th and our Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter Final against Ballyhea match due on Saturday Aug 30^th leaving an extremely full programme of games.  However, a full weeks football will be put in and with a full squad hopefully available everyone's aim is to bring back the Junior B Football title . Best of luck to all the panel and the management team and please come along to Pairc Ui Rinn on Sunday @ 2.30 and support this fine team.

U21 A Hurling East Cork Final

Castlelyons 0-15: Sarsfields 2-11

Castlelyons played Sarsfields in the U21A East Cork hurling final in Caherlag on Monday night last. This was our first time to contest an A Final at this level.  On a fine night with a strong wind blowing directly down the pitch this turned out to be a fine game but ended in heartbreak for Castlelyons as we got piped in the last minutes after leading for most of the match. 

Sarsfields, playing against the wind in the first half, had the first score but a point from a free by A Spillane levelled the match. Sarsfields got in for a goal shortly after but Castlelyons dominated play for the next 20 mins and added points from R O Regan, E Maye, A Spillane R Bransfield and C Spillane to lead at half time by 0-12 to 1-03.  There was a mighty buzz at half time as we wondered was our lead good lead turning into the wind for the second half.

Sarsfields scored a goal in their first attack of the second half which gave them momentum and with the wind advantage they took the game to us and cut into our lead. Castlelyons replied with points from S Moroney and A Spillane to stretch our lead to 5 points with fifteen minutes to go and the game in the melting pot Sarsfields kept scoring points and levelled the match with five minutes to go. 

We were unlucky with a few goal attempts but it was not to be as Sarsfields added two more points almost on full time to win by 2-11 to 0-15.  While it was a most disappointing result there was really great effort and commitment by all our lads, especially some of the younger players which boosts our stock of good young hurlers and no doubt a rich future for the club.

Team: - Eoin Barry, Tom Carroll, Cian O Leary, Liam Moroney, Coran Lawlor, Colm Barry, Ronan Bransfield (0-01) , Eoin Maye (0-01), Ronan O Regan (0-01), Darragh Lawlor, Colm Spillane (0-01), Shane Moroney (0-01), Alan Fenton, Jack Barry, Anto Spillane (0-10 - 6f’s & 2 65’s)

Subs Used: - B O Donovan.

Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship

Our Premier Intermediate Hurling squad are training away at present under Coach John Boylan with all eyes on our championship match against Ballyhea in Kilworth on Saturday 30th August.  Due to the U21 Hurling and Junior B Football final it has been difficult to arrange challenge matches however we did manage to fit in a challenge match against Courcey Rovers senior team on Sun 10^th August.

This was a fast free flowing game, with some great scores taken and very good combination play between backs and forwards, which Castlelyons won on a score of 1-16 to 0-15. This was a good workout for all the squad and a very useful exercise ahead of our championship match.

Fundraising Draw

The countdown is well and truly on for the two fundraising draws, both of which will be staged in September. The total prize fund is in excess of ¤2,000 with the two top cash prizes being €500 each. In all, there are in excess of fifteen prizes to be raffled.

To date, the response to this fundraising initiative has been exceptional as befits a locally based draw with a prize-fund of this scale. In excess of 70% of the projected numbers of lines are already sold and final efforts are now in train to achieve a target which reflects in a very positive manner on the entire Castlelyons community.

The success of this ongoing initiative has been has only been made possible by the generosity of the sponsors who have once again come on board and supported us. These sponsors include Murphy Vehicle Repairs, Lagan Group, East Cork Oil, Suit Distributors Cork, Bord Gáis Networks, Fitzgerald Bros, Metrology Systems and Services, The Farrier's Bar, Abbey Tavern, Bertie Murphy Painting Contractor, The Paddocks Bar Ballyduff and The Grand Hotel, Fermoy.

Raffle Cards and lines are still available from any GAA Committee Member, The Juvenile Club and the Camogie Club. Also, you are requested to return all completed cards to any member of the Adult Club.

The initial draw takes place in the Community Centre on Saturday September 13th with the second draw scheduled for The Farrier's Bar on Saturday September 27th.

Fixtures

Junior B F Championship Final V Kilmeen on Sun 24th @ 2.30 pm in Pairc Ui Rinn

Premier IHC Quarter Final V Ballyhea on Sat 30th @ 6.15 pm in Kilworth.

Club Main Sponsor: - South Coast Logistics.