First loss of campaign

Geography wouldn’t be in agreement but hurling’s two greatest and most successful provinces now share the last four places to be had in this year’s championship as the quest for Liam intensifies. Both defeated provincial finalists progress another rung up that ladder. In so doing putting paid to the third placed finishers from the initial group stages of the competition.

There are a few ways of looking at it. By that we mean the pairings from the provincial finals can still be repeated for the game’s greatest prize. Namely the All-Ireland senior hurling title itself. It could be Galway v Kilkenny with King Henry trying to reverse the result from the Leinster final and put one over on his ex-boss and the game’s greatest ever manager. But being a southern boy wouldn’t another Limerick/ Clare tussle whet the appetite? It’s possible of course. But there would be a lot of hurling to be played before that. All-Ireland semi-finals are on the first weekend of July. As the Rebels get ready for the Dubs in the quarter final of the football championship. Not exactly blessed with options now are we?

ROUND 7 GROUP 3A RED FM COUNTY PREMIER JUNIOR HURLING LEAGUE St Catherine’s 0-16 Midleton 3-10

St Catherine’s incurred their first loss of the campaign in what was ironically the last match in the group stages of the competition when this tie was played in an occasionally windy and at all times overcast Ballynoe on Sunday morning last. With that wind at their backs a quartet of Cian Crowley points helped the magpies into a 1-06 to 0-04 lead to sixteen minutes. Not allowing them to get too far ahead was vital, Philip Keane defending allied to points from Matthew Mulcahy and Kevin Barry managed to trim the deficit. Midleton ahead on a half-time scoreline standing at 1-07 to 0-08.

Now favoured by those conditions though genuinely the wind didn’t appear to blow as strong for the second half hour and the home team were briefly ahead for the first time since the third minute with a lead of 0-12 to 1-08 to forty minutes. Before parity would be restored for the fifth time in an evenly fought contest at 0-12 to 1-09 with the clock touching fifty minutes.

A Christian Daly goal looked to have inflicted tangible damage especially with Gary Carrol following it up with a point as the opposition would lead at 2-10 to 0-13 to 58 minutes. But Catherines stuck manfully to the job at hand. Taking a Harry Draper pass Brian Mulcahy split the posts. Sandwiched as it was between a brace of Rory Galvin points. Together again at 0-16 to 2-10 a minute overtime. Before Paul Connaughton struck for his second and match-winning third Midleton goal right at the death.

With twelve points accumulated from seven league matches played Catherine’s should have enough in the locker to make the knockout stages.

Scorers: R Galvin (0-05 frees) (0-07), B Mulcahy (0-03), M Mulcahy and K Barry (0-02 each), G O’Brien and E Condon (0-01 each).

St Catherine’s team: E Aherne, P Keane, Shane O’Brien, J Neville, K Neville, F O’Connell, C Hegarty, G O’Brien, T O’Donnell, E Condon, B Mulcahy, A Neville, M Mulcahy, K Barry, R Galvin. Subs: C Kearney for T O’Donnell (37), H Draper for M Mulcahy (49), Stephen O’Brien and N O’Regan for J Neville and K Barry (both 52).

Referee: Eoin Coleman (Youghal).

REELING IN THE YEARS – A BRIEF REFLECTIVE LOOK AT THE COUNTY JUNIOR B FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2012

A Padraig Noonan goal on eleven minutes was enough to establish an interval advantage of 1-03 to 0-01 and an eventual winning margin standing at 1-09 to 0-01 over St Johns, a small rural club north of Millstreet, probably in and around Ballydaly, in what was billed as a fourth-round match in the 2012 County Junior B Football Championship. Sandwiched as it was between first round and quarter final pairings with Charleville Rovers.

Winning the initial meeting on a scoreline of 3-07 to 1-03 when played in Mitchelstown on the afternoon of Sunday, April 29th. Current first team hurling manager Shane Kearney scored two of those goals. Three weeks on from the St John’s game and it was back to Ballyhooly and that second clash with Charleville in the quarter final played on Saturday evening, July 14th. Padraig Noonan (2), Eoin Condon and Shane Fitzgerald the goal scorers in securing a victory on an end scoreline of 4-04 to 0-08. Thus setting up a semi-final with Diarmuid O Mathúnas fixed for Kilmurry on Saturday evening, August 4th. It was level (1-03 to 0-06) at half-time. With the Castletown Kenneigh outfit extending a lead to 0-10 to 1-04 to 43 minutes. Late points from the aforementioned Shane Kearney and Allan Carr helped narrow the gap. But that was as close as it would go. Mathúnas moving on with the final score standing at 0-10 to 1-06.

Thus far this year’s campaign has yielded impressive results against Awbeg Rovers and Castlelyons. Now is the time to redress that setback from ten years ago.

St Catherine’s team v Diarmiud O Mathúnas 2012: Colm Mulloy, Ed Kenneally, Shane Fizgerald, John Mulcahy, Stephen O’Brien, Liam O’Connor (team captain), James Neville, Conor Hegarty, Allan Carr, Padraig O’Connor, Shane Kearney, William Walsh, Padraig Noonan, Shane Cotter, Eoin Condon. Subs used were Marty Conneely and Matthew Mulcahy.

Mentors were Pat Lane, Denis Walsh, Ger Mulcahy and Tim O’Connor.

UPCOMING FIXTURES

Saturday, June 25th at Cloyne or Shanagarry, Phase 2 Division 1 Round 3 Rebel Óg East U13 Hurling League v St Colman’s at 11am. Sunday, June 26th at Blarney, quarter final County Junior B1 Football Championship v Diarmuid O Mathúnas at 3pm. Monday, June 27th at Ballynoe, Round 3 Division 2 East Cork Junior Hurling League v Youghal at 8pm. Wednesday, June 29th at Aghavine, Round 5 Division 2 Rebel Óg East U15 Football League v Fr O’Neills at 7pm.

JUVENILE CLUB NOTES

This week’s juvenile section starts with the Division 1 Rebel Óg Mid/East/North U14 Hurling Championship final.

St Catherines 4-14 Watergrasshill 5-08

What a glorious three-week spell has been served up by this particular age group. With both deciders condensed into a memorable four-day spell starting with the football success over Bride Rovers at Dungourney on the previous Sunday evening. Before securing a well-earned three point victory over a gallant Watergrasshill outfit in an enthralling Division 1 U14 Hurling Championship final played in Ballinacurra on Thursday evening last.

A trio of Alan Cotter points from placed balls a precursor to two Callum O’Driscoll goals allied to some beneficial tinkering with the starting line-up all combined in establishing a half-time lead of 2-10 to 1-00. Full forward Tadhg McCarthy on target for the opposition. There was a deceptively stiffish breeze blowing towards the Midleton side prevailing. Was this divisional final settled? Not on your life. Indeed, Watergrasshill dominated the third quarter and had reduced the deficit to five points at 2-11 to 2-06 to 43 minutes.

Eoghan O’Mahony will score more goals through his career. It’s unlikely he will score one as crucial or important as the one he glanced home exactly halfway through the second half. A point quickly followed making it 3-12 to 2-06 to 48 minutes. When Kyle O’Donoghue gathered the sliotar directly across from the dugout side of the ground it was obvious starting a menacing run there was only one thing on his mind. Crashing home a mighty goal befitting of winning any final. Sending supporters and mentors into raptures as the scoreline momentarily eased out at 4-12 to 2-08 to 54 minutes.

David Barry with his second goal was the immediate response. Watergrasshill were hurling well and in just under a 3-minute spell Jack Counihan added two more. The closing stages witnessed from this final were spine tingling. The hooking and blocking of both teams were mindboggling. Cathal Barry, Liam Moore and Billy McKee were Herculean. Whistle blows. Euphoric scenes greet the Saints’ success over a valiant, sporting Watergrasshill fifteen. Afterwards Eoin O’Mahony, Vice-Chairman of Rebel Óg East made the presentation. St Catherine’s goalkeeper and captain Shane O’Donoghue the recipient.

Scorers: A Cotter (0-07 frees) (0-01 ’65) (0-08), C O’Driscoll (2-00), K O’Donoghue (1-02), E O’Mahony (1-00), J Pietropaolo (0-02), T Clancy and T Walsh (0-01 each).

St Catherine’s team: Shane O’Donoghue (team captain), Cathal Barry, James Kenneally, Liam Moore, Billy McKee, Sean Walsh, Ronan Hickey, Alan Cotter, Julian Pietropaolo, Tadgh Walsh, Tristan Clancy, Billy Ahern, Callum O’Driscoll, Kyle O’Donoghue, Eoghan O’Mahony. Subs used: Cathal Higgins for Tadgh Walsh (59), also Liam Kilmartin, Billy O’Connor, Shay McCarthy and Thomas Morrison.

Referee: Pa Beausang (Midleton).

PHASE 2 ROUND 2 DIVISION 1 REBEL ÓG EAST U13 FOOTBALL LEAGUE Aghada 5-12 St Catherines 4-06

At the start Aghada were ahead by all of 14 points and there was a serious prospect of being overrun in this division 1 tie when played at 8pm in Rostellan on Friday evening last.

But a bit of tweaking there and a few scores appearing on the board and that bit of confidence improved matters. Trailing 3-09 to 1-03 at the break, Catherines had it cut to 4-12 to 4-06 to 54 minutes. Jack Cunneen, Sean Walsh, Alan Cotter, Ronan Hickey, Tadg Walsh and substitute Kenneth O’Connell trying their utmost and never giving up. But victory went to the better team. This weekend it’s hurling away to St Colmans. Venue will be confirmed as the week advances.

Scorers: A Cotter (1-02 frees) (2-05), E O’Mahony and R Hickey (1-00 each) and K O’Connell (0-01).

St Catherine’s team: J Cunneen, C McCarthy, C Higgins, B O’Connor, A Burke, S Walsh, E Dillon, A Cotter, R Hickey, T Morrison, T Walsh, S McCarthy, N Curtin, E O’Mahony, J O’Connor. Subs: K O’Connell for J O’Connor (second half), D Temple for N Curtin (43), S O’Keeffe for C McCarthy (46).

Referee: Arthur Murphy (Killeagh).

CONDOLENCES

Sympathy to Billy and Eileen Neville, Ballynoe on the death of Sr Philomena Sweetnam of Kanturk and Mallow. Also to the Donnellan families of Fermoy, Kilworth and Castlelyons on the death of Sean Donnellan, for many years an institution on 103FM County Sound radio. Ar dheis Dé to raibh a anamacha dilse.

LATEST LOTTO DETAILS

Results of the most recent weekly lotto draw held on Monday night last, June 20th. Numbers drawn were 5, 13, 18 and 32 and the €20,000 jackpot wasn’t won. The consolation winners were Majella and Cathal, Britway, Cathal Higgins, Ballycullane, Ballynoe, Martina McHugh, online, Moss Beecher c/o PH and Ciara Coady, online. There will be a draw on Monday night, June 27th after the Junior Hurling League match below in the pitch. Jackpot €20,000.

ST CATHERINE’S GAA CLUB SPONSORS

T&A Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, Ballynoe are sponsors of St Catherines GAA Club. Mulcahy Steel are sponsors of St Catherines Juvenile GAA Club.