St Catherine's Notes (Jan 5th)

• Jan 05,2024

Saints crowned Munster Junior Hurling Champions

 

 

AIB sponsored Munster Junior Hurling Championship Final

St Catherines 2-14 Feenagh/Kilmeedy 1-15

Safe to say losing is part of the game. Advancing that opening line though it’s how one reacts to a defeat. Catherine’s supporters were more disappointed with the performance than the loss to a good Erins Own team from the County Final in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on October 14^th. Now seven weeks on and fortunes have improved. Transformed to such an extent that following a rousing performance and contest the Saints are crowned provincial champions following an absorbing Munster Junior Hurling Final against Limerick representatives Feenagh/Kilmeedy at a well-prepared Mallow venue on Saturday afternoon last. Waterford representative Nicholas O’Toole throwing in the sliotar exactly on the 1.30pm starting time. Ironically a provincial decider between two teams beaten in their county deciders. Mungret were Limerick winners. With the Saints starting without four players for a multiplicity of reasons from county final day. There’s your backdrop. But that was then. This is now.

Eoin Condon with a lofty probing delivery causing consternation, not dealt with and the umpires had no hesitation in waving the green flag. Adjudging the sliotar to have crossed the line for the first and lead goal on three minutes. Joy short-lived. John O’Gorman releasing Ruairi O’Connor on the overlap. Billowing the net from close range for an emphatic response ninety seconds later. Game on.

Kyle Wallace, Kian O’Donoghue and Brian Mulcahy points saw the Saints shading it at 1-05 to 1-02 to the quarter hour.

In fairness the Limerick boys were more economical with their shooting and in their finishing. Only recording two first half wides. O’Connor’s goal aside, a Luke Ryan point was their first from open play but enough to tie up matters at 1-05 each. Eighteen minutes elapsed on a clock advancing oh so sharply. Eoin Davis, who tallied the game’s first score inside two minutes, again playing a significant part when striking from distance, saw his delivery flashed to the net quicker than you could say Eoin Condon, who we credit with the second goal as well and a lead of 2-06 to 1-06 to 22 minutes. Two Feenagh points both the property of centrefield player Sean Kelly saw the margin maintain itself at three points still favouring the East Cork team. Standing on an interval 2-08 to 1-08 scoreline. Clearly a competitive encounter between two even and well-matched teams. Assuredly way tougher than the previous two matches. Conditions were cold and largely sunny with little or no wind prevailing.

A second David Boyce point and two further pointed frees from the unerring Diarmuid Coleman would see parity restored for a second time at 2-09 to 1-12 to 39 minutes. Catherines resorting to the bench. Gearoid O’Brien, Eoin Wallace and Kevin Barry all surfacing in a subsequent seven-minute spell. Anything Diarmuid Coleman could do for Feenagh/Kilmeedy matched by the excellent Sean O’Donoghue. A trio of unanswered points including two from play as the opposition fullback saw red, saw the gap stretch out at 2-13 to 1-12 to the fifty minute mark. Kevin Barry with a beauty from a tightish angle had it at 2-14 to 1-13 two minutes later. Kilmeedy still reliant on Coleman from placed balls. Game over. Title for the Saints. Fourth Cork club to win the Munster Junior Hurling Championship in a five year period. There was no competition in 2020 due to the coronavirus. Bob Ryan of the Munster Council, with Sean Kelly in tow, made the post-match presentation. Eoghan O’Riordan the recipient. Other vice-captain Conor Hegarty is in New Zealand. But will be back.

Post match victory parade on Sunday evening coming up following the news that the Saints now meet last season’s beaten finalists Easkey of Sligo in the last four. We also congratulate neighbours Castlelyons on their Intermediate success. Now facing Tooreen of Mayo in their All-Ireland semi-final. We’re all on a journey. Where will it end?

Scorers: S O’Donoghue (0-05 frees) (0-09), E Condon (2-00), K Wallace, K O’Donoghue, B Mulcahy, K Barry and E Davis (free) (0-01 each). Feenagh/Kilmeedy scorers: D Coleman (0-09 frees), R O’Connor (1-00), D Boyce and S Kelly (0-02 each), M Fitzgibbon and L Ryan (0-01 each).

St Catherine’s team: E Davis, F O’Connell, E O’Riordan (vice-captain), L O’Connor, K O’Donoghue, O Fitzgerald, K Neville, K Wallace, S Cotter, W Leamy, R Galvin, S O’Donoghue, B Mulcahy, E Condon, M Mulcahy. Subs: E Wallace and G O’Brien for L O’Connor and W Leamy (both ’42), K Barry for M Mulcahy (50). 

Referee: Nicholas O’Toole (Mount Sion, Waterford).

What’s coming up

Saturday, December 9^th at Glengoura Hall, Club AGM at 8pm. Sunday, December 10^th at tba, semi-final East Cork U21 B Hurling Championship v Whitechurch at 2pm.

Condolences

Seemingly what are always busy weeks now began with the burial of Tom Twomey, Glentrasna, Ballynoe on the afternoon of Monday, November 27^th. Tom played at least U16, Minor and U21 hurling for the club. Son John lined out a fullback on the St Catherine’s team what won out the 2002 County U16 B Football Championship. Beating Seán Clarachs (Rath Luirc) in a Final played in Ballygiblin.

Deepest sympathy also to Munster Scór secretary Margaret Whelan, Knockaheem, Leamlara, on the sad passing of brother-in-law John Joe after a short illness borne bravely. Ar dheis Dé to raibh na nanamacha dílse.

Rebels’ Bounty

Cathal Noonan from Lismire up there near Kanturk collected the big prize of €20,000. But no success for what we call the locals from the most recent Rebels’ Bounty draw. Just one more coming up the middle of the month with that €100,000 sure to attract significant appeal. You never know!

Tractor Run

Mentioned as a possible fundraiser at the AGM, confirmed within a few days. And now St Catherine’s Juvenile GAA Club are delighted to host a Christmas Light Tractor Run on Saturday, December 23^rd. Starting at 4pm sharp with registration opening at 2.30pm at St Catherine’s GAA grounds in Ballynoe (P51H275). Registration is €20 per tractor which will include refreshments at the venue for drivers. Prizes for best lights and best Christmas dressed driver.

Route begins in Ballynoe and on to Glengoura, continue to Curraglass and on to Conna. Then turning left in Aghern and turning back to Ballynoe. Looking forward to a great convoy of tractors and spectators along the route. Any enquiries to Juvenile Club chairman Shane Fitzgerald or Paddy Ryan, vice-chairman St Catherine’s Juvenile GAA Club.

Lotto results

Details of the weekly lotto draw from Monday night, November 27^th. Numbers drawn were 1, 7, 23 and 29 and there was no jackpot winner. €30 consolation winners on the night were; Helen O’Sullivan, s/o Kals, Conna, Denis Lane, Ballynoe, online, Luke Fitzgerald, Garrycahera, Ballynoe, John Paul Flynn, online and Mo O’Connor, Ballybride, Conna. With a jackpot of €19,400, most recent lotto draw was scheduled for the clubrooms, Ballynoe on Monday night last, December 4^th at 9pm.

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.