Caastlemartyr GAA NewsFeed
By Club PRO John Cashman
Intermediate League
Cloyne 1-9 Castlemartyr 3-22
A fine start to the playing season for our intermediate hurlers, who despite missing a number rof regulars, ran out convincing winners in their opening division 5 league match in Cloyne. The hosts, who were also understrength, were reduced to 14 men before the quarter hour, at which point Castlemartyr had raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead. In truth they never looked back thereafter and stretched their advantage to lead by 1-12 to 0-1 by half time.
The second half continued the same vein , with the cushion at 2-16 to 0-5 in 45 minutes and eventually finishing in a very comfortable and impressive nineteen points. Charlie O’Neill was in top form registering 2-3 whilst Barry Lawton nailed 0-10 in a display where many players enjoyed an excellent hour and the McGann brothers tallied with a combined 1-9.
Team
Derek Bowens, Barra O’Tuama, Darragh Joyce, Conor Whyte, Liam Martin, Brian Lawton, Mike Cosgrave, Darragh Leahy, Ciaran Sice, Jack McGann. Barry Lawton, Mike O’Dwyer, Billy McGann, Eoghan Martin, Charlie O’Neill.
Subs – Niall O’Donovan for Liam Martin, Dave Lawton for Brian Lawton, Daire Coughlan for Eoghan Martin and Conor Ronayne for Charlie O’Neill.
Scorers – Barry Lawton 0-10, Charlie O’Neill 0-5, Jack McGann 1-4 and Billy McGann 0-5.
Next up is our first home match against Argideen Rangers in two weeks time.
Junior League
Meantime, our junior hurlers will have to wait to debut in division 1 for another two weeks, with their opener against Cloyne scheduled for this Saturday having been postponed. Sarsfield’s are due to visit Paddy Walsh Memorial Park on Sunday 24th for a game that is currently listed to begin at 2.30pm. The Riverstown side began their season with a 0-23 to 0-11 loss in Carraig na bhFear this weekend.
Centenary Tree Planting
Also on that weekend the Centenary committee will host a tree planting ceremony to mark our 100th anniversary. It is proposed to have this ceremony in advance of the aforementioned intermediate match – more details to follow in due course.
Footballers In Action
Best of luck to our junior football team for the 2024 season – first up is a home game against Lisgoold this coming Saturday afternoon at 2pm.
Bundles/Rebel Bounty
The club committee are asking all members and friends to make one more effort as we bid to wrap up the membership bundles and Rebels Bounty draw for 2024. It’s almost time for the first draw. Every membership and every ticket count – so please think about widening the net in the next few days.
Captain Ciarán
Great to see our own Ciarán named as Cork captain for the game v Offaly. Unfortunately a hand injury denied him the chance to lead the team, but hopefully he will be back in action for the trip to Wexford Park on Saturday.
East Cork Draws
The dust has settled on the East Cork GAA junior draws which were made on Wednesday night last. Here’s a quick recap.
Lisgoold were crowned Michael O’Connor Motor Factors junior ‘A’ football champions for the first time in 2023. They are top seeds in group ‘A’, where Youghal, Dungourney and Carrigtwohill will test their credentials. Fr O’Neill’s, Midleton, Cloyne and Bride Rovers compete in what is a very open looking group B, with 2023 runners -up Carraig na bhFear, beginning their quest to go one better by taking on Erin’s Own, Castlemartyr and Aghada. Six teams will exit the competition after this phase leaving the respective group winners and runners up to contest the destination of the Jim Ryan Cup.
The divisional junior ‘B’ hurling championship has the makings of a really keenly fought competition. Last year’s runners up Castlemartyr are joined by Youghal, Fr O’Neill’s and Cloyne in group A. Top seeds Castleyons are bracketed with St Catherine’s, Erin’s Own and Carrigtwohill in group B, whilst Killeagh;s third string face Sar’s fourth string, along with the respective second selections from Watergrasshill and Aghada in group C.
Imokilly Centenary
Meantime, the East Cork GAA Board are also celebrating their centenary and current chairperson Avril Geary has been giving me this update.
“April 13 1924 was the date that the very first Board meeting was held in Cobh and marks the foundation of our division. Ben Purcell from Cobh was in the chair at the time and to mark this day, we will hold a mass celebrated by Bishop Crean at 6pm in St Colman’s Cathedral on Saturday April 13 in memory of all former players, administrators and friends of the Imokilly division.
As a group, we want to do something to honour the late Teddy McCarthy and this will be co oridanted in association with Sarsfield’s. Our East Cork hurling final is scheduled to be played with you as hosts in Castlemartyr – as the club is also celebrating their centenary year. The very first final was played in Mogeely, so we are taking the decider back to the same parish for what should be another significant fixture. The culmination of the year will be on November 16 with the staging of a gala dinner at Garryvoe Hotel, where newly elected GAA President Jarlaith Burns will be our special guest. We would hope that this event will be really well supported by clubs throughout the division.
Lotto Update
Just a quick look at the lotto situation – the draw of course takes place every Monday evening. The jackpot now stands at €4,300. Most recent winners of €25 were Faith Ansbro, Eoghan McGovern, Maurice O’Keeffe, Noreen Cotter and Jake O’Shea.
Calendars/Jerseys and Stickers
A gentle reminder that centenary calendars – which of course are invaluable insight into the club’s past, along with centenary car stickers and jerseys are still available – drop a text if you would like to acquire any of the following.
Community Round Up
Great to see some of our members in training currently for the Ballintotis 4 Mile race on April 18th – the new greenway now will obviously add to the running and walking options. Well done to Ollie Smiddy who had another great run in the Killeagh 4 Mile race on Sunday, where he won category honours and a big well done to all the members of the community who helped out with the clean up in the local areas over the past weekend.
