The dust has now settled on a remarkable All Ireland Final, which had everything - except the right result.  Well done to Ciarán and all the Cork team on a wonderful season of entertainment which they provided in the summer of 2024 - here's hoping they can go one step further in 2025.

Hurling championship time is almost upon us with our intermediate team due to debut next Saturday evening against Valley Rovers in Riverstick.

Interestingly, all three of our opponents in Group 1 of the round robin series reached their respective league finals with two of them bringing home silverware.  It's clear the reds are up against three sides who have been in top form during spring and early summer.

Our first opponents Valley Rovers lost the division 3 league decider to Ballymartle  on a 2-20 to 1-19 scoreline, but prior to that had won six of their nine league fixtures.  Renowned also as a football force, they showed their metal by coming from six points down on Friday evening against Mallow in their opening premier senior tie, to eventually earn a merritt draw.

 Throw in at Riverstick on Saturday evening next for our much anticipated hurling opener is at 7.30pm.  Carrigaline meet Watergrasshill also on Saturday evening in Ballincollig in the other group opener.

What follows for Castlemarty are two games within the Imokilly division.  We make the short trip to Aghavine to play Watergrasshill on August 25th.  The "Hill" topped our division 5 league and went on to score 4-23 to 1-19 win over Tracton in the final.  

Carrigaline were also celebrating , as they rounded off a very impressive division 2 campaign, by registering an eye-catching 2-20 to 1-16 victory over St Finbarr's. Clearly they are a side on an upward spiral. Lisgoold will house our game against the south east side on September 8th

Hopefully our team will get off on a positive note and get into a good position after the first series of games.  We urge as many people as possible to travel to the crucial opener in Riverstick to support the reds.

Meanwhile, the junior hurlers also have championship games on the horizon.  They begin in Killeagh on Saturday 10th August against Youghal at 7pm. Two weeks later its another match against regular opponents Cloyne at Rostellan and then the concluding encounter is in Shanagarry against Fr O'Neill's on August 31st.

Club Jerseys
A limited number of our new club centenary red jerseys are available to buy in advance of the championship season.  Sizes remaining are  9 to 10 year old (€40) extra small, medium and large (€55) Please call John 086 -8778182 for all enquiries.

In between all of this hurling action, our junior footballers face a make or break encounter against Carraig na bhFear.

The form book was overturned in the second series of games last weekendMeantime a very strong start by Erin's Own saw them race into an early 1-4 to 0-1 advantage against Castlemartyr and they held a grip thereafter to win by 1-12 to 0-9.  
This group action will conclude when Aghada play Erin's Own on August 8th in Dungourney and we travel to Carrigtwohill to play Carraig na bhFear at 7.30pm on Thursday August 15th.

There's a huge day to look forward to this coming Sunday August 4th as we host our Centenary Club Day from 2pm onwards at Paddy Walsh Memorial Park.

Lot of activity on the programme, as we showcase the very best that Castlemartyr GAA has to offer.

There will be novelty events including tug o war, long puck, crossbar challenge etc whilst Pat Walsh's detailed historical exhibition will get another outing in one of our dressing rooms.

On the pitch a host of challenge games will be held beginning with two ladies football games at 2pm and a Kiltha Og match at 2.30pm.  This will be followed immediately at 3pm by some brief formalities including a reflection on Gaelic Sunday, which is such an important landmark in the history of the GAA .

 Afterwards, action unfolds again with  two games featuring our camogie stars, followed by a further KIltha og game before the adults will then take to the field.  At 4pm it's the Mothers & Others match as this vibrant group will take centre stage.

Then at 4.30pm we will have a men's equivalent with Dads and Lads to the fore.   The upcoming encounter has been billed as a clash of the golden oldies, a meeting of mis- fits and also rans - but in truth it's a Castlemartyr legends game, when many of the club's stars of the past will attempt to put on the football boots again.

(Unfortunately the ticketmaster site crashed when details of the match became available, but luckily Sky Sports have come on board and the much awaited encounter will now be broadcast to a global audience!  Respective team managers Adrian Bowens and Cha O'Neill are likely to announce their line ups at a press conference later this week)

The match will conclude what promises to be a great afternoon. Light refreshments will be available for children during the day, whilst there will also be a coffee van and ice cream truck in place where people can purchase plenty of other treats.  

Massive thanks to all who helped make the 2024 Golf Classic the biggest and most successful in the history of the club.  At the moment the sub committee are just wrapping up the loose ends and we appeal to all those people who may have money for tee boxes and teams still outstanding to chase and forward to the golf committee within the next few days.  It's important that we fully complete this process this week.  Thanks in advance for your cooperation.