St Catherine's Notes (Dec 15th)
- Dec 15,2023
Munster Club Hurling Final Weekend
Another big upcoming weekend with the Saints up against Limerick representatives Feenagh Kilmeedy in the final of the AIB sponsored Munster Junior Hurling championship. Game fixed for Carrigoon, Mallow on Saturday, December 2nd. Throw-in will be 1.30pm. Very best of good luck. Just giving you an update on other events. With last weekend’s proposed round 3 group 3 U21 B Hurling Championship tie not played, now means the Saints are through to the divisional semi-finals. With the way the games have unfolded the Saints and Carrig na bhFear to meet in the Mulcahy Steel sponsored East Cork U21 Football Championship. Also coming up is the parent club AGM up there in Lacken at Glengoura Hall on the night of Saturday, December 9th.
Juvenile game of the week
Final division 1 Rebel Óg East U16 Hurling League
Bride Rovers 5-15 St Catherines 1-10
A physically stronger Bride Rovers wound up the clear and comprehensive victors. A brace of first quarter Denis Fitzgerald goals providing initial opening initiative and a lead of 2-02 to 0-04 to the 15-minute mark. Team captain Gearoid Sheehan playing his part before Sam Aherne struck for the visitors’ goal. Kyle O’Donoghue picking out Conor Murray with a quickly followed up point on 27 minutes and although five points adrift to 17 minutes the Saints clawed their way back into contention with parity restored for a third time on an interval scoreline standing at 2-05 to 1-08, in the final of the division 1 Rebel Óg East U15 Hurling League at an overcast Rathcormac on Saturday morning last.
That was as good as it was going to get. Bride Rovers very much on the front foot from there on in with midfielder Cormac Barry on top of his game. From both frees and open play we had him down for a tally of 1-11 in an ever-widening margin with their captain Jack Mannix, who later picked up the winning trophy from board officer Martin Leahy, crashing in the final goal almost at the death.
Pundits watch out for a few more games before we can claim a juvenile season to be over. There is a third/fourth place playoff Shield Final from the division 1 U15 Hurling Championship. That’s down for Cloyne v St Colmans. Also to be the venue for the division one U17 hurling league final. With the equivalent football squad playing Mayfield in a division 2 plate final scheduled for Lotabeg.
Scorers: J Temple (0-05 frees) (0-01 ’65) (0-08), S Aherne (1-00), A Cotter and C Murray (0-01 each). St Catherine’s team: Shane O’Donoghue, Shane Walsh, James Kenneally, Cathal Barry, Ronan Hickey, Tristan Clancy, Liam Moore, John Temple, Cillian Hickey, Kyle O’Donoghue, Gearoid Sheehan (captain), Sam Aherne, Thomas Dee, Conor Murray, Alan Cotter. Subs: Eoghan O’Mahony for James Kenneally (38), Callum O’Driscoll for Conor Murray (44), Shay McCarthy for Cathal Barry (51). Referee: David Butler (Carrigtwohill).
Condolences
We offer our sympathy to the Cotter family, Longueville, Ballynoe on the passing of Alice’s brother John Feeney, in Ballyduff. Predeceased by husband Paudie and condolences to the Galvin families on the death of Breda (Ahern) up there in Lacken, Glengoura. Ar dheis Dé to raibh na nanamacha dílse.
Lotto results
All the details from the weekly lotto draw held in the clubrooms, Ballynoe on Monday night, November 20th last at 9pm. Numbers drawn were 4, 10, 16 and 32. No jackpot winner. The consolation winners on the night were; Jeanette Barry, c/o The Big Tree, Aghern, Seamus Woods, Woodview Park, Tallow, Brian Hayes, Church House, Ballynoe, Christine McLean, Ballynoe, online and CMP O’Brien, Rathdrum, Ballynoe. Most recent draw now with an accumulated jackpot of €19,200 was scheduled for Monday night last, November 27th.
Big fixture of upcoming weekend
Saturday, December 2nd at Carrigoon, Mallow, Final AIB Sponsored Munster Junior Hurling Championship v Feenagh/Kilmeedy at 1.30pm.
St Catherine’s Juvenile GAA Club Annual General Meeting report
First there was the camogie get-together. Followed six evenings later by the ladies football version. Then a sizeable attendance was present for the AGM of St Catherine’s Juvenile GAA Club held in a side room off the main hall of Ballynoe Community Centre on Friday night, November 17th last. Addressing the meeting for the first time as chairman and after opening proceedings just a tad beyond the scheduled starting time of 7.45pm. Shane Fitzgerald emphasised the relevance and importance of John Mulcahy to the club. Company Mulcahy Steel continue as juvenile sponsors. Supplying the machine in helping the clubhouse café to get off the ground back in the spring. Thanking local businessman Vincent McCarthy for the strategic location of the timber seat adorned in club colours where you can enjoy your cappuccinos, americanos, minerals and snacks etc. Singling out Mike Walsh who as well as being a board official, always offers his services to referee local games if required. Now that the Saints have reached the Munster Club Junior Hurling Championship Final chairman Shane would like to see more of that panel get involved with the younger players down the pitch. Please contact James Spillane if any squad of players require the use of Conna Community field re team training. Seanie Farrell does great work in the schools and along with Steve Cummins were the chief organisers of the Parish schools football blitz. Having organised an equally impressive hurling turn-out 7 months previously.
Remarkably only two days before the general meeting there were those memorable successes in the Sciath na Scol Finals at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Curraglass securing a win in the girls’ football. First time ever for Ballynoe NS to attain a football title when winning the boys’ 9-a-side early on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 15th at the prestigious Cork city venue.
Elsewhere there was a drug awareness night. While a follow-up might come in a focus on cyber bullying. Telling the meeting that St Catherine’s camogie, ladies football and juvenile GAA clubs annual social is pencilled in for the Rochestown Park Hotel on Friday night, March 8th 2024. Further details later.
Often wondered how chairmen and secretaries divide their issues re highlighting at AGMs. Shane Fitzgerald and Lisa Moore achieved it. With only the slightest hint of overlapping and sure we’re all human!
It was a secretary’s report commencing with this year’s annual social attended by in excess of 300 people on Friday night, January 20th. Next items of profile were the safeguarding courses taking place in January and February with full attendance each night. Then time for membership renewals. Away from the main age groups there were U11 tournaments in Mullinahone with the U10s participating in the annual tournament in Ballyduff. Congratulating Shane Riordan representing Curraglass NS and Cork in the football primary game v Clare in Ennis on the afternoon of Sunday, April 9th. Evan O’Driscoll being a member of the Cork East team, conquerors of Dublin in the hurling Celtic Challenge tournament final played in Birr in early June. In fairness Lisa wouldn’t omit anything. Taking time out commending Ally Mulkerrins being part of the Cork team that defeated Galway in the All-Ireland U16 camogie final. Decider played in Mallow on Saturday, July 29th. Daddy was delighted! Without saying, there was the contribution of Laura Hayes part of the Cork squad thrashing Waterford in the Senior camogie final on the Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend.
There were two club successes in the county Scór na bPáistí finals this year held in the excellent GAA pavilion in Ovens on Saturday night, April 1st. Kate O’Connell performing ‘John Condon’ in the solo singing category and Stephanie Carr in sean nós dance. I tell ya – they’re no fools!
A record attendance in excess of 150 boys and girls converged on the GAA pitches for the week-long Kellogg’s annual Cúl Camp from the morning of Monday, June 26th. Expressing thanks to Martina O’Connor, camp co-ordinator and camp head coach Padraig O’Connor. Child Protection Officer Ber Feeney does an excellent job. A reminder that all injuries must be reported to club medical officer, Ronan Clancy. Lisa’s full and meticulous report read, presented and adopted.
Supporting the secretary’s report and club PRO John O’Mahony presented a resume of all juvenile competitive matches played in what remains a still intensely busy season. League and championship in both codes. To which we add Féile na nGael and Féile na Peil. Succeeding in getting both domestic tournaments in honour of two club stalwarts played. Doubling as a league match with the Saints seeing off the challenge of Castlelyons in the U12 hurling tournament final for the Paddy Sheehan Cup. Having already beaten Fr O’Neills in the Albert Griffin Cup, currently an U13 hurling tournament. With the way the age groups evolve, expect a change there towards the end of 2024.
Treasurer Paddy Ryan presented a double-barrelled financial report entailing regular club business. Treating the dealings of the club house café separately. Paddy’s as always well prepared report read and adopted. Sought for an oversight and outgoing parent club chairman Tom Morrison thanked the officers re reports. All work being done for the benefit of the youth. Stressing the importance of Strictly coming up early in the new year. A major fundraiser going towards the development of extra land. Appealing for your support for the weekly lotto draw. Concluding by presiding over election of officers.
Managers appointed accommodating both codes
U6 Liz Lane, U7 Denis Linehan, U8 Paddy Ryan and Eamon Buggy, U9 and 10 Patrick O’Neill, U11 and 12 Steve Cummins and Sean O’Farrell, U13 and 14 Martin O’Keeffe and Paul Higgins, U16 Brian Davis, U18 (minor) Brian Sheehan.
Officers elected
Chairman Shane Fitzgerald, vice-chairman Paddy Ryan, secretary Lisa Moore, treasurer Eric Flynn, Asst treasurer Ray Collins, membership Marie Coakley, PRO John O’Mahony.
A well constructed meeting of 2 hours duration. With people spilling our from host room to outside hallway one couldn’t be sure how many were in attendance. It was lashing outside. Make a beeline for the car. Oops – passenger window half open. Now there’s consternation!
St Catherine’s GAA Club Sponsors
T&A Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, Ballynoe are sponsors of St Catherine’s GAA Club. Mulcahy Steel are sponsors of St Catherine’s Juvenile GAA Club.
