Now then, having previously given you the draws, this week we’re in a position to clear up the dates, times and venues for the forthcoming round robin stages of the McCarthy Insurances Confined County Junior B Football Championship.

Starting with the meeting of Glengarriff and the Saints which has been settled on for St Mary’s GAA Club in Enniskeane for Saturday evening, April 26th. Can’t recall playing there previously. Though we nearly did. Being the appointed venue four years ago for a first round clash with Garnish changed on the week of the match to Kilmichael. It could happen again. With the group A matches rolling over on a fortnightly basis it’s off to Kilworth on Saturday, May 10th playing Shanballymore who ran the Saints close in a championship quarter final at Castletownroche in June of 2023. While only last year the Saints began their campaign against Araglin. Returning to Glanworth this time for a round three qualifier on the evening of Saturday, May 24th. All games are timed for 5pm.

Mention of McCarthy Insurances who sponsor all football championships in the county and we take this opportunity of congratulating Charlie on his successful recent operation before Kopek Des Bordes ran out an impressive winner of the Champion Novice Hurdle named in the memory of the late Michael O’Sullivan. It being the first race on the card at the prestigious Cheltenham National Hunt Racing Festival on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 11th last. Trained by the peerless Willie Mullins and ridden by Lisgoold man, champion jockey Paul Townend.

What’s next on the agenda

Tonight (Thursday), March 20th round 2 division 3 Junior Hurling League in Cobh at 8pm. Saturday, March 22nd at Ballynoe, round 2 division 2 Rebel Óg East U14 Football League v Castlelyons at 2pm. Sunday, March 23rd at Ballynoe, round 2 division 2 Minor Football League v St Vincents at 5pm. Wednesday, March 26th round 1 division 2 Rebel Óg East U14 Hurling League in Castlelyons at 7pm. Rescheduled.

Action on the field of play

Round 2 division 2 East Cork Junior Football League

Dungourney 2-06 St Catherines 1-08

In what was a low scoring, evenly contested affair an Owen O’Neill point actually had the Saints ahead for the first and only time at 0-03 to 0-02 on 23 minutes of this round 2 league tie at sunny Dungourney on Sunday afternoon last. Jack Leahy with the game’s opening two scores put Niall McGrath through for the first goal shortly afterwards and Dungourney were ahead on a half time scoreline standing at 1-02 to 0-04.

Vital scores on the changeover were the two pointer kicked over by Cian Ryan making it 1-04 to 0-05 now five minutes into the second half after Diarmuid O’Connell had restored parity minutes before. Brian Flynn added the second opposition goal. Making it 2-05 to 0-07 on 50 minutes. With the Saints now a man down. But in a sweeping move Sean O’Donoghue picked out replacement Kieran Kelleher to finish off a sweetly struck goal. Trimming the margin to the minimum now at 2-05 to 1-07 to 58 minutes. Brian Forbes probably sealed it heading into overtime. Yet a late Kian O’Donoghue point meant what was left made life uncomfortable for the hosts. Before time ran out. Next up is away to Glenbower Rovers.

Scorers: K Kelleher (1-00), D O’Connell (0-03), E Condon (0-02), C Pietropaolo, O O’Neill and K O’Donoghue (0-01 each). Dungourney scorers: N McGrath (0-01 free) (1-01), B Flynn (1-00), J Leahy and C Ryan (two pointer) (0-02 each), and B Forbes (0-01).

St Catherine’s team: T Dee, C Leamy, E O’Riordan, J Neville, S O’Donoghue, E O’Driscoll, C McCarthy, C Hayes, R Galvin, K O’Donoghue, E Kenneally, C Pietropaolo, O O’Neill, E Condon, D O’Connell. Subs: K Kelleher and C McAuliffe for O O’Neill and C McCarthy (both 43’), S Cotter for C Pietropaolo (48’), J Hickey for R Galvin (50’), O O’Neill for D O’Connell (54’). Referee: David Hickey (Youghal).

Round 1 division 3 East Cork Junior Hurling League

Erin’s Own 1-13 St Catherines 2-19

Two Ciaran Leamy goals at opposite ends of the opening quarters allied to the prolific point scoring, both frees and play, from Kevin Barry, laid the foundation for a well-earned Saints’ victory from the opening Junior League tie when played under the lights at Caherlag on Monday night, March 10th last. A Ciaran Forde goal on 19 minutes allied to the accuracy of Peter McCarthy from placed balls was keeping the opposition in the picture. Leaving it at 2-07 to 1-06 to 25 minutes. With the visitors finishing the half strongly. Two points from the subsequently injured Brian Davis before cousins Kieran and Aaron Neville, added to the tally with the Saints ahead on a half time scoreline now standing at 2-12 to 1-06. Fourteen points shared equally on the change of ends with Philip Griffin among the contributors. Good start. Round 2 set for Cobh tonight (Thursday), March 20th. See fixtures.

Scorers: K Barry (0-07 frees) (0-12), C Leamy (2-00), B Davis (0-02), C Hayes, H Draper, K Neville, A Neville and P Griffin (0-01 each).

St Catherine’s team: J Bryan, T Barry, M Geary, C McCarthy, C McAuliffe, M Mulcahy, K Neville, A Neville, C Hayes, K Barry, P Griffin, G England, C Leamy, B Davis, H Draper.

Subs: S Cotter for B Davis (26’), E Sheehan for J Bryan (second half), R Clancy for K Neville (38’). Referee: Peter O’Donovan (Carrig na bhFear).

Juvenile report

Round 1 division 2 Rebel Óg North U16 Hurling League

St Catherines 2-20 Ballygiblin 1-03

First half goals from Ronan Hickey and Alan Cotter added to the point scoring exploits of Kenneth O’Connell and Ronan O’Donoghue set the Saints up for a comprehensive success from their opening U16 hurling league tie when played early in Ballynoe on Sunday morning last. Many thanks to Eoin Davis for officiating in the absence of the appointed referee. Next hurling league tie will be in Kildorrery at the end of the month. A reminder that a lapsed football league match must still be picked up in Cobh.

Scorers: A Cotter (0-03 frees) (1-06), R Hickey (1-02), K O’Connell (0-04), S Walsh (0-01 ‘65’) (0-01 free) (0-03), R O’Donoghue and T Walsh (0-02 each) and C Higgins (0-01).

St Catherine’s team: S O’Keeffe, S Moore, B O’Connor, C McCarthy, N Keane, S Walsh (team captain), S McCarthy, A Cotter, K O’Connell, E Dillon, R Hickey, C Higgins, T Walsh, E O’Mahony, R O’Donoghue. Subs: T Morrison, S Riordan, J Coughlan, A Burke and J Cunneen for S Moore, N Keane, R O’Donoghue, E Dillon and K O’Connell (all second half), D Temple and C Fitzgerald for A Cotter and C McCarthy (both 36’). Referee: Eoin Davis (host club).

Please note

The round 1 division 2 Rebel Óg East U14 Hurling League tie featuring Castlelyons v St Catherines was not played. The match is rescheduled for Castlelyons on Wednesday, March 26th at 7pm.

Cork footballers

Now then Tipperary are in the hurling league final. Should Cork overcome Galway this weekend they will join them and we would then have a Cork/Tipp decider, at one time the greatest rivalry in the game. That would make it the first final between the teams in 65 years. Tipp winning that final of 1960 on a 2-15 to 3-08 scoreline. Sadly it’s at the other end of the table occupying the interest of the county footballers. Last Sunday’s win over Louth was encouraging. But must get something from this weekend’s trip to Cavan and guarantee their place in division 2 of the national football league for another season. It’s on in Kingspan Breffni Park on Sunday coming, March 23rd. Throw in is 1.30pm. At least their destiny is in their own hands. They know what they must do. Over to John Cleary and the Cork footballers.

Scór na bPáistí finals

Best of luck to the Saints who have four qualifiers for the East Cork Scór na bPáistí finals scheduled for the community hall in Lisgoold on this coming Sunday afternoon, March 23rd at 1pm and 4pm.

Lotto results

It was a case of returning from Caherlag and on to the weekly lotto draw in the clubrooms, Ballynoe on the night of Monday, March 10th last. Numbers drawn were 12, 17, 19 and 30, no jackpot winner. Consolation winners were Peter Barry, Tallow (phone number given), Breda Dinneen, online, P Barry, Carrigmore, Conna, Ml Kenneally, Shean, Ballyduff and Paddy O’Donovan Snr, Barrafohona, Britway. Due to our national feast day this week’s draw featuring a jackpot of €14,400 was held back until Tuesday night just gone, March 18th. Next week it will be Monday night, March 24th. Thank you for loyal and unfailing support.

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.