Derek Kiely, Evening Echo Match Report - East Cork Junior A Hurling Championship Round 1 Jamsey Kelleher , Friday 18 June 2010 in Copper Alley, Youghal.
GUTSY Performances all over the pitch from St Ita’s nearly brought reigning champions
Castlemartyr to extra time yesterday evening in Copperalley in the opening match in the
2010 East Cork Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship.

Castlemartyr breezed into an early three point lead after just three minutes of play with
two points from play from Barry Lawton and Darragh O’Keefe plus a pointed free from the
Red’s talisman Jimmy Smiddy.
On the seventh minute St Ita’s were awarded a free 90 meters out and their goalkeeper
Padraig O’Brien drove the ball into the breeze and the bounce just five meters out eluded
everyone including Dave Fleming in the Castlemartyr goal and the ball landed into the roof
of the net levelling matters.
St Ita’s had the lead for the for the one and only time two minutes later when the impressive
Peter Geary sent the ball over from a free 50 meters out on the left.
Castlemartyr were stunned back into life and rattled of three quick scores from Smiddy and
Eddie Clifford and Brian O’Tuama to regain the lead.
The teams went point for point after that adding two more scores each to leave the Reds in
front by two points at the break.
The second half started with a bang for Castlemartyr with a Jimmy Smiddy goal, but the
response from St Ita’s was impressive, Geary pointing from play and a goal from Seamus
Harnedy that was worth the admission price alone.
Castlemartyr led by six points with time up, but another goal from the Ita’s net minder
 Padraig O’Brien with a rocket from the ‘21’ made the last few seconds very nervous
indeed for Castlemartyr and when St Ita’s had a last chance free to level matters O’Brien’s
shot was bravely blocked and the referee blew the final whistle much to the relief of the
Castlemartyr supporters and mentors alike. Final Score St Itas (3 – 6) VS Castlemartyr (1 – 15) 

Scorers for Castlemartyr: 1-8 (7f) E Clifford, B O’Tuama, Barry Lawton, E O’Keefe, Brian Lawton and S Hennessy 0-1 each.
St Ita’s:
P O’Brien 2-0,
P Geary 0-4 (2f)
S Harnedy 1-0,
G McCarthy 0-1
N Foley 0-1 .

CASTLEMARTYR: D Fleming; O Smiddy, R O’Donovan, Barra O’Tuama; D O’Keefe, B Smiddy, A Bowens; P Horgan (Cpt) Brian Lawton; J Smiddy, E Clifford, Brian O’Tuama; Barry Lawton, M Bowens, E O’Keefe.
Sub: S Hennessy for M Bowens (37)

ST ITA’S: P O’Brien; M Cronin, M O’Brien, A Mythen; F Foley, E Coleman, N Foley; W Terry (Cpt) A Loughlin; G McCarthy, S Supple, P Geary; M Daly, S Harnedy, L O’Brien.
Sub: D O’Rourke for G McCarthy (31)

Ref: Pat O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers)

Photo taken from East Cork GAA website