County Scór na bPáistí finals weekend highlight

It’s a big weekend for St Catherine’s, with qualifiers in three categories for the county Scór na bPáistí finals. Kate O’Connell performing John Condon in the solo singing and Stephanie Carr is in the sean nós dance decider. As are Shriya Tellis, Scarlett Dinneen, Edril Jessar, Ethan Bryan, Tomas Morrison, Layla McNamara, Julia Witnik and Emma Turley putting on Oiche insan Museum in the sketch final. Best of luck to all competitors. County Scór na bpáistí finals proceed in the Eire Óg GAA Pavilion on Saturday, April 1st. Beginning at 3pm.

LATEST LOTTO DETAILS

Results of the most recent weekly lotto draw from Monday night, March 27th. Numbers drawn were 2, 6, 9 and 10 and there was no jackpot winner. Consolation winners were Moss Beecher c/o PH Conna, Conor Hegarty Ballymonteen Ballynoe, Rena O’Regan, Cullinagh Ballynoe, K Mangan c/o PH Conna and Jennifer Galvin online. Draw in the Clubrooms, Ballynoe on Monday night, April 3rd at 9pm will be for a jackpot of €12,400.

ACTION ON THE NATIONAL FRONT

It was a day starting out with Westmeath preserving their top flight status. Beating not far away Laois in a division one Hurling League playoff at a poorly attended Thurles. Of course, the real stuff would follow on at LIT stadium in the first of the national hurling leagues semi-finals. Tipp starting admirably, going four points up at the short whistle. Yet were outscored 1-13 to 0-04 in the resultant 25 minutes. You just wonder what kind of psychological damage has been inflicted on Liam Cahill’s charges. Which could also be said about the Rebels from semi-final two played 24 hours later at Nowlan Park on Sunday evening last. Much is being made of the schemozzle and the resultant sending off. But you feel the Cats would collect the cream anyway. So, eight months on from the presentation of Liam and it’s Limerick and Kilkenny in a final again. No real cribs. They are the two best teams anyway. Question is, are the chasing pack closing in?

While the football draw with Derry was commendable. Over the years they were always viewed as the weakest province. Ones you’d like to get. Perceived to be the whipping boys. But Connaught dominated division one of this year’s National Football League. Mayo, Galway (both finalists) and Roscommon top three. Sligo topped group four. Whipping boys. Who are the whipping boys now?!

End of March, nearly into April. Football championship starts on the second weekend. Now there’s a competition that could put manners on ya!

ACTION FROM THE FIELD OF PLAY ROUND 3 DIVISION 2 EAST CORK JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE Glenbower Rovers 0-01 St Catherines 2-05

Windy and occasionally showery conditions prevailing in the first competitive outing over a five-day period. But at least this tie went ahead when played under the lights at Killeagh on Friday night last. Strong defensive play with Eoin Davis, Eoin O’Riordan and James Neville to the fore allied to the scoring prowess of Kieran Kelleher and Kevin Bally in particular, combined in placing the visitors into a lead not for relinquishing. Ahead on a half-time scoreline of 1-04 without reply before the strong running Eoin Condon picked out just introduced substitute Harry Draper who finished off the second and match winning goal on 38 minutes.

Scorers: K Kelleher (1-01), H Draper (1-00), K Barry (0-02), E Condon and R Galvin (free) (0-01 each). St Catherine’s team: E Davis, K Neville, E O’Riordan, J Neville, W Leamy, L O’Connor, F O’Connell, A Neville, R Galvin, E Wallace, K O’Donoghue, K Barry, K Kelleher, E Condon and S O’Donoghue. Subs: H Draper for K O’Donoghue (second half), P Keane for K Kelleher (37), B O’Connor for S O’Donoghue (39).

Referee: Anthony O’Regan (Youghal).

ROUND 3 DIVISION 2 REBEL ÓG EAST U18 FOOTBALL LEAGUE Bride Rovers 0-03 St Catherine’s 4-07

First of 3 underage games between these two clubs in a condensed eight-day period following this tie played at an initially sunny but eventually dull, overcast and misty Rathcormac at 1pm on Saturday afternoon last.

Yet another brace of Kieran Kelleher goals, currently on fire in that forward line, allied to the point scoring ability of Ciaran Pietropaolo and in particular Kian O’Donoghue, eased the visitors into a lead not for catching.

Diarmuid O’Connell with his second and a fourth Saints’ goal just two minutes into the resumption more or less confirmed the outcome against a Rovers’ team enjoying large chunks of possession yet struggling in front of the posts.

Scorers: K Kelleher (2-01), D O’Connell (2-00), K O’Donoghue (0-01 free) (0-03), C Pietropaolo (0-02) and J Hickey (0-01).

St Catherine’s team: T Dee, T Bally, C McAuliffe, C Dunning, C McCarthy, E O’Driscoll, C Hayes, D Morrison, N Sheehan, C Leamy, K O’Donoghue, S O’Donoghue, D O’Connell, C Pietropaolo, K Kelleher. Subs: D O’Donovan and D Murphy for C Leamy and S O’Donoghue (both second half), J Hickey for K O’Donoghue (36), J Bryan for T Barry (46), K O’Donoghue for C Pietropaolo (54).

Referee: David Butler (Carrigtwohill).

ROUND 2 DIVISION 1 REBEL ÓG EAST U14 FOOTBALL LEAGUE St Catherines 2-08 St Colmcilles 2-08

Early goals from Sean O’Keeffe and Eoin O’Mahony in turn were standing the Saints in good stead when this round 2 U14 tie went ahead in sunny conditions at Ballynoe on Sunday evening last. A brace of Tadgh Walsh points followed. Establishing a 3-point lead on a half-time scoreline standing at 2-02 to 1-02.

Resisting ferocious third quarter pressure and Alan Cotter extended the margin standing at 2-08 to 1-05 to 52 minutes. But a late Joe Aitken goal secured a share of the spoils for the Carrignavar/Whites Cross combination who return for the hurling league this weekend.

Scorers: S O’Keeffe (1-02), A O’Mahony (1-00), A Cotter and T Walsh (0-01 free)(0-03 each). St Catherine’s team: J Cunneen, C McCarthy, S McCarthy, S Moore, K O’Connell, S Walsh, S O’Riordan, A Cotter, C Higgins, E Dillon, T Walsh, T Morrison, S O’Keeffe, E O’Mahony, A Burke. Subs: S Earley for A Burke (45), N Keane for S O’Keeffe (54).

Referee: David Butler (Carrigtwohill).

COMING UP ON YOUR FIXTURE LIST

Friday, March 31st at Ballynoe, round 1 division 1 Rebel Óg East U14 Hurling League v St Colmcilles at 6.30pm. Tonight (March 30th), at Ballynoe, round 3 division 2 East Cork Junior Hurling League v Castlemartyr at 8pm. Saturday, April 1st at Eire Óg , County Scór na bPáistí finals at 3pm. Sunday, April 2nd at Rathcormac, section 2 round 1 division 1 Rebel Óg East U16 Hurling League v Bride Rovers at 11am. Sunday, April 2nd at Ballynoe, round 3 division 4 Red FM County Hurling League v Ballyhea at 11.30am. Monday, April 3rd, U12 Football League starts, no fixture at time of going to press.

SAINTS LINE OUT VERSUS BALLYHEA

Ballyhea are visitors for county division 4 hurling league on Sunday morning. We present a few Saints’ line-ups from league encounters over the years. First the team that played senior hurling league in Ballyhea on Sunday, May 11th 1995. Winning on a scoreline of 3-15 to 3-13. We’re just whetting the appetite!

Scorers: C Clancy (0-08 frees), (1-00 pen) (1-10), D O’Connell (2-01), J Sheehan, D O’Leary, E Geaney and K Morrison (0-01 each).

Team: Michael Dorgan, Maurice Hartnett, Barrie O’Regan, Shane O’Connell, Richie Hegarty, James ‘Junior’ Sheehan, Patsy O’Donoghue, Johnny Sheehan, Declan O’Neill, Donal O’Leary, Kieran Morrison, Christy Clancy, Dave O’Connell, Eddie Geaney, Brian Cotter. Also, Ed Galvin and Michael Hegarty.

Referee: Pierce Jacob (Milford).

INTERMEDIATE HURLING LEAGUE IN BALLYHEA ON SUNDAY, APRIL 10TH 2O11 Ballyhea 2-13 St Catherines 4-12

Scorers: K Morrison (2-03), K Dinneen (0-02 frees) (0-02 ’65) (0-01 sideline cut) (1-04), B Mulcahy (1-03), S Kearney and S Cotter (0-01 each).

Team: Ed Aherne, Conor Hegarty, Ronan Clancy, Martin O’Keeffe, Stephen O’Brien, Patrick O’Neill, Ed Kenneally, Patrick Roche, Liam O’Connor, Shane Cotter, Shane Fitzgerald, Brian Mulcahy, Kevin Dinneen, Kieran Morrison, Shane Kearney. Also: Matthew Mulcahy and Noel O’Brien.

Referee: Michael Sheehan (Liscarroll).

INTERMEDIATE HURLING LEAGUE IN BALLYNOE ON SATURDAY, APRIL 21ST 2012 St Catherine’s 0-06 Ballyhea 0-11

Scorers: D Mangan (0-03 frees) (0-04), S Kearney and B Mulcahy (0-01).

Team: Ed Aherne, Conor Hegarty, Shane Fitzgerald, Ed Kenneally, Cal Aherne, Liam O’Connor, Patrick Roche, Stephen O’Brien, Ronan Clancy, James Neville, Daniel Mangan, Brian Mulcahy, Shane Kearney, Kieran Morrison, Padraig O’Connor. Also Matthew Mulcahy, William Walsh, John Mulcahy, Conor Kearney and Aaron Neville. Referee: Jer O’Connell (Lisgoold).

QUALITY PROGRAMMING ON TG4

We would all accept that perhaps they lack the resources. But few would deny TG4 produce quality programming. They have access to European rugby competitions. Occasionally show the odd race meeting. Their week-long Listowel coverage is accurate and informative. They present excellent GAA items of interest. Show intercounty football and hurling league action, county and provincial club games in both codes, promote camogie and the Laochra Gael programmes are legendary. Frequently worthy of repeats. While all the time TG4 are sponsors of the Ladies Gaelic Football Championship. Impressive eh? In Ros na Rún have their own soap opera and produce well structured quality documentaries.

Still very much in the mind was two years in the making condensed into four hourlong historical reviews on the history of the Blackwater. Two more popped out at us last week. Laochra na Rasaíochta recently did and excellent review on top trainer Willie Mullins Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup winners over the years. They might have to do another one now! Most recent version homing in on Aintree National winners emanating from the old sod taking in the years 1999-2007. So you had BobbyJo, Papillon, Numbersixvalverde, Silver Birch, Ted, Ruby, the Carberrys, onto Martin Brassil, Robert ‘Puppy’ Power and Gordon.

There it was. After the first commercial break signposts around the area, a quick flash of Tom’s Corner Shop, without closing in on the lotto posted placed on the front door! And of course the bridge. Yes, we’re in Conna heading for Curraheen. Jimmy Mangan and Montys Pass, Aintree Grand National winner 2003. Making various contributions throughout the hour was Barry Geraghty, winning jockey on the day. Imminent would be the back-to-back victories of Tiger Roll and Davy.

Then on Thursday night Darra Ó Cinnéide started na Goirt Órga (Fields of Gold) featuring the great stadiums of the world. Jason Mohammed of BBC Sport, who we would recognise from Final Score, blown away by the size and atmosphere generated by Croke Park. There was a visit to the Anfield dressing rooms and a stadium in Korea whose name now escapes me. But the real highlight was the stadium of Portuguese club FC Braga. Now the winner of numerous awards. Built from scratch. Hewn from a cave and a rock. Mind boggling. Quality programming. It’s back on tonight (Thursday) featuring what Croke Park is like on All-Ireland final day. Also a trek across the Irish Sea and a visit to Wrexham FC. Watch it.

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.