Minor Team of 1987

1987 was the year of a minor double in East Cork

Hurling

In hurling Castle Rovers won against Cloyne Rovers 3-6 to 1-2 and followed up by defeating Watergrasshill. In the final they defeated Aghada Rovers 1-10 to 1-7. In the County campaign Ballygiblin were defeated 4-8 to 2-7 before losing the Country section final to Banteer 4-5 to 2-7.

This is the report of the Ballygiblin game

Second Half Surge By Castlemartyr Proved Decisive 30/08/87

Castlemartyr 4-8, Ballygiblin 2-7

Castlemartyr’s absolute second half dominance swung this county minor hurling championship replay inexorably in their favour and secured their progress. Having trailed by eight points at half time, Castlemartyr lashed home four goals and four points during the second period, conceding only one point. It was truly decisive. From the moment that Liam Barry’s 47th minute goal put them ahead for the first time since the opening minute it was only a question of the final margin, such was the momentum they had generated. With a remarkable share of centrefield possession, John Morgan and Fergal Abernethy were afforded the platform to make the deadly incisions. Their combined contribution was 3-7- deadly indeed. Even in the first half when playing into the breeze, Castlemartyr were creating the chances. Morgan and Abernethy peppered the post, Matt Harte had a shot well saved by Ger Lawton and Ultan Murphy’s close-in drive went just over the bar.

Ballygiblin though used their ball with greater economy. Declan Power’s 75 yards shot dipped under the crossbar for their first goal after three minutes and by the quarter hour their lead had had stretched to 2-2 to 0-1 with John Donegan scrambling home their second goal. By half time David O’Connor, whose strong running and control tormented Castlemartyr, had added three more points, bringing his total to five, and Power then pointed a free from 70 yards. A three points burst in five minutes just before the break kept Castlemartyr in touch and left the half time score 2-6 to 0-4.

After half time, Castlemartyr made another burst, short and sharper. In four minutes, Abernethy scored 1-2 and Morgan added a goal from 60 yards after a fine run. A scoreless ten minutes ensued in which Ballygiblin’s Mossy Roche had a square goal. However, Castlemartyr emerged even stronger from this period. Barry’s goal was followed on the 54th minute by Morgan’s second after riding two rough tackles and before the end Abernethy ran in for two more excellent points. Ballygiblin’s only reply was Edmund Barry’s pointed free- a token gesture.

Scorers: Castlemartyr: F. Abernethy 1-7, J. Morgan 2-0, L. Barry 1-0, U. Murphy 0-1. Ballygiblin: D. O’Connor 0-5, D. Power 1-1, J. Donegan 1-0, E. Barry 0-1.

Castlemartyr: A. O’ Doherty, E. Roche, D. Flavin, K. Kelly, P. Cosgrave, J. Roche, S. McLellan, C. Joyce, R. Barrett, J. Morgan, D. Barry, L. Barry, F. Abernethy, M. Harte, U. Murphy. Subs: D. Barry for Harte, T. Barrett for D. Barry.

Football

The minor football team completed the East Cork double with a walkover from St Laurences in round 1 and a win against Carrigtwohill set up a final against neighbours Killeagh Rovers. The first game ended in a draw Killeagh Rovers 1-7, Castle Rovers 0-10. The replay saw Castle Rovers emerge victorious

Castle Rovers 1-11, Killeagh Rovers 1-8.

Having escaped from the jaws of defeat in their last outing, Castle Rovers stormed back to take the honours in convincing style at the expense of Killeagh Rovers in the East Cork Minor Football championship replay at Shanagarry last Tuesday week. And again Castle Rovers star John Morgan, whose injury-time pointed free prevented Killeagh Rovers arms from holding the cup, played the fiendish role for the Killeagh- Fr O’Neill’s combination with a personal tally of 1-8 and whose general participation in the contest earned him “Man of the Match.” Killeagh Rovers were forced to line out without the services of two key players, Damien Irwin and Adrian Budds, through injury, and the impact both players had on the drawn was clearly missing as the hour progressed. Not that Killeagh Rovers were struggling without them for the first ten minutes. Within a minute Tom Kelly yielded a great point for Killeagh Rovers as did Alan McCarthy three minutes later. Although Castle Rovers steadied themselves shortly afterwards, their forwards were yet victims of nerves and Gerard Scully added another point to leave three points between the sides.

With John Morgan now revealing his severe threat, the fouls imposed upon him were rapidly self-converted to leave the minimum between the teams after a quarter of an hour. Although Timmy Hurley salvaged a point a minute later for Killeagh Rovers, the remainder of the half solely belonged to Morgan who unshackled numerous opponents variously marking him for the game. Another pointed free and one from play in the 24th and 25th minutes from Morgan levelled the scoring and from this stage onwards, Castle Rovers were dominating the match. In control at midfield where Dominic Barry combined well with the players around him, Paul Cosgrave and John Roche stunted the Killeagh Rivers onslaught and their cumulative football eventually forced a penalty, which, needless to say, Morgan converted to give his team the lead for the first time in the game.

The Killeagh Rovers outfit, however, never did say die and they fought gamely to correct the arrears in the scoreboard. Full-back Martin Terry and to a lesser extent centre-back Michael Harty, were bravest in containing their opponents but their forwards were lacking bite and squandered what good work had proceeded them. Three minutes before half time they made amends, however, when Gerard Scully and Timmy Hurley combined to allow Eamon Motherway with a relatively easy task of beating goalie Eamon Roche with a fisted goal to leave the scores 1-4 to 1-4 at the interval.

Within seconds of the resumption, robust play from Donal Flavin gave Aidan O’Keeffe the simple task of a pointed free on the edge of the Castle Rovers square, but it was to be the last time that Killeagh Rovers would lead in the game. A fine pass by Seamus McLennan to Aidan O’Doherty looked promising before O’Doherty was dragged down and Morgan converted the difficult free, while the resultant kick out was weak and O’Doherty himself punished with a fine point. It was in the next quarter of an hour that the Castle Rovers pressure was fully capitalised upon in virtue of a fist class display from their half forward line in particular. A defence splitting run by Morgan was brought to a crushing end by Donal O’Regan and while O’Regan was being booked by referee Pat Glesson, Morgan had put the ball over the bar again.

Castle Rovers dominance urged absurd sight of Killeagh Rovers forward sextet inside their own half-back line, such was their starvation of possession. Tom Barrett increased the Castle rovers lead by another point in the 12th minute as Dorgan sailed another free on to the scoreline four minutes later, while a similar effort after 16 minutes was Castle Rovers last score. For the remainder of the battle Alan McCarthy converted a free and Aidan Clifford pointed to reduce the lead to a goal with five minutes remaining. Increased pressure upon the Castle Rovers could ply no goal from a staunch full-back line and although Killeagh Rovers were rewarded with a penalty just before full tie, justice was served when a fine double save from Eamonn Roche kept Castle Rovers lead as the better team deserved to win.

THE LINEOUTS

Castle Rovers: E. Roche, K. Kelly, D. Flavin, U. Murphy, C. Joyce, J. Roche, P. Cosgrave, S. McLennan, D. Barry, F. Abernethy, L. Barry, J. Morgan, T. Barrett, I. Knowles, A. O’Doherty.

Killeagh Rovers: J. Hodnett, D. O’Regan, M. Terry, R. Beausang, D. O’Neill, M. Harty, T. Scanlon, T. Kelly, A. Clifford, T. Treacy, G. Scully, A. O’Keeffe, T. Hurley, E. Motherway, A. McCarthy,. Sub: C. Galvin for T. Treacy (52nd minute)

Scorers: Castle Rovers: J. Morgan 1-8 (1-7 frees), A. O’Doherty 0-2, T. Barrett 0-1 Killeagh Rovers: T. Kelly 0-1, A. McCarthy 0-3 (0-1 frees) G. Scully 0-1, T. Hurley 0-1, E. Motherway 1-0, A. O’Keeffe 0-1, A. Clifford 0-1.

Referee: P. Gleeson, Lisgoold.

Castle Rovers Panel: Eamon Roche, Kevin Kelly, Donal Flavin, Ultan Murphy, Carey Joyce, John Roche, Paul Cosgrave, Seamus McLennan, Dan Barry, Fergal Abernethy, Liam Barry, John Morgan, Tony Barrett, Ivor Knowles, Aidan O’Doherty. Pat Shanahan, Sean O Dwyer, Michael O Riordan, Dominic Barry, Pat Costigan, Mattie Harte, Ronnie Barrett

This team then lost in the county campaign to Ballinora. Mossie Hodnett was acknowledged as a major influence to this minor team with great help from Seamus Lawton and Pat Barry.