A week of Sporting and Dancing

U21 Victory - Castlelyons 2-14; St Catherines 1-7

We played their first championship match of the year when we took on St Catherines in the quarter final of the East Cork Football Championship at home last Friday night. We settled fact and built up a four point lead after five minutes with points from Anto Spillane, Niall O Leary and Alan Fenton. St Catherines got in for a goal shortly after for their first score of the match but Ronan Bransfield replied with a well taken goal for Castlelyons. 

We dominated the rest of the half and with points from Anto Spillane, Niall O Leary, and Alan Fenton we were well on top. Jack Barry got the last score of the half when he got on the end of a 45 to fist the ball to the net to leave the half time score Castlelyons 2-12 St Catherines 1-02.

St Catherines came into the game a lot more in the second half and with both defences on top scores were harder to come by which resulted in a low scoring second half. Castlelyons added two points in the second half through Alan Fenton and with our defence holding strong by the good work of goalie Shane Hickey, Tom Carroll, Shane Fenton, Declan Varner and Jack O Leary we won on a score of 2-14 to 1-7. 

A good performance by all the panel and we now go forward to play Glenbower Rovers in the semi final.

Team : -  S Hickey, M Geary, S Fenton, D Varner, J O Leary, T Carroll, C O Neill, R Bransfield (1-0), S Moroney, B O Donovan, A Fenton (0-4), N O Leary (0-4), D Beausang, A Spillane (0-6), J Barry (1-0)

Subs Used: - C Kearney, B Enright, D Murphy.

Hurling Challenge v Ballyduff

We played a very strong Ballyduff senior outfit in a hurling challenge in Castlelyons on Saturday afternoon. This was our first game to date this year whereas Ballyduff already had a few challenges.

The first half was a very even affair with Ballyduff leading by a point at the short whistle. Powered on by Jamie Kearney and Stevie Molumphy the Ballyduff men’s extra match fitness began to show as they pulled away to win by a few points.

However, while we were missing many of our stronger players the panel showed up very well.  Aidan O Sullivan did a pile of good work in the half back line and Michael Spillane back after some niggling injury last year showed up really well in the full forward line.  Overall it was a great team effort and augurs well for upcoming games.

We wish to thank John Lenehan who refereed the game.  He may be new to the whistle but he knows his hurling and has a facility to apply rules with ease in a common sense manner.  Sure aren't all Tipperary men the same.   

Celebrating County Final Victory

What a great night we had on Saturday night in Vienna Woods when we celebrated the achievement of winning our first County Football Title since 1989. With a large crowd in attendance this made for a great night of celebration.

Donal O Leary was out MC for the night and got proceedings going by outlining all the victories that led up to the County Final and of the Final itself. He then introduced John Healy, Chairman of Castlelyons GAA who addressed the gathering and told all how proud the club are of this bunch of players and the effort they put in. 

Donal then introduced our special guest of the night Ger Lane, Chairman of Cork County Board who spoke eloquently of the achievements of Castlelyons GAA Club over the last number of years and wished us all the best for the years to come. We then got down to the main business of the night when the players were presented with their County football medals and their Premier Intermediate Hurling runner up medals from 2013. 

We wish to thank our Football Management Team of 2014 who worked so hard in molding this team in a winning unit namely Mick Spillane, Manager, Michael Barrett, Selector and Logistics and later on Ciarán McGann.

Also thanks to our Hurling Management Team of Con Lawlor, Gerald McCarthy and John Boylan who put in so much work in 2013.  We were almost there to win a County Premier Intermediate title and did win the League in 2013. The great Douglas McArthur said that “in war, you win or lose, live or die - the difference is just an eyelash”.  That could certainly be said of the County Final in 2013 versus Youghal – history now but it took serious effort from all concerned.

Our last County Football Winning Team of 1989 and first ever Castlelyons County winners were also honoured on the night.  Most of the team in attendance it was a great opportunity for them to meet up and recall past glories.

The lovely fashion and design really added to this night and it was not all the ladies either.  That multibillion dollar fashion designer Ralph Lauren said “I don’t design clothes I design dreams”.  Thanks for making the night such a cracker as our players and their friends mixed so well it is a tribute to them.  The feedback was great and everyone enjoyed the night. 

We would like to thank Vienna Woods for looking after us so well and to that mighty Rovers man Maurice Dooley for ensuring the dance floor was full all night.

So now lads the celebrating is down, even “Donegal Tuesday” is over, down to business for the year.

Congratulations to Anto

Well done to Anthony Spillane who got his first taste of senior hurling when he came on for Cork in their league victory over Clare on Saturday night.  I believe we have six men from the Parish who have now played National Hurling League with cork and I am assured there are a few more on the way.

Scór Sinsir.

Well done our singers Stacey Cronin, Dick O Brien, Story teller Eilis O Brien and John Healy's Quiz team who all done the club proud in Lisgoold on Sunday night last.  We got a runner up in the Solo Singing as Stacy Cronin brought down the house with a mighty version of the Banks.  Thanks again to all.

Membership

Membership for the 2015 season is now open .Fees of €50 for Adults and € 20 for Students and OAP can be paid to Donal O Leary our Treasurer , Denis Fenton our PRO or any club officer. We would encourage people to pay their membership on or before 31th March as this is the cut off date for the issuing of membership cards from GAA head office in Croke Park.

Fixtures

PIH League V Carrigaline in Carrigaline on Sunday 1st March at 4.00 pm

Club Lotto Draw   23/02/2015

Numbers Drawn - 7, 22, 23 and 28.

No Winner

Eight Lucky Dip Winners of €20 each

Maureen and Dick O Brien

Dylan &John Barrett

Dick Mackessy 

Mike & Michelle Griffin 

Donal Hourigan 

Paula Dorgan

Florence Waters

Barry O Connell

Jackpot now €4000

Next Draw – Monday 2.3.15 at 9.15 pm

Community Centre

Club Main Sponsor: - South Coast Logistics