GAA June 19th

GRANAGH-BALLINGARRY REACH FIRST FINAL SINCE 2012

West Junior B Hurling League semi-final

Granagh-Ballingarry…1-15

Feohanagh-Castlemahon…2-10

Granagh-Ballingarry made it through to their first West Junior B Hurling League final since 2012 with a hard-fought two-point victory over holders Feohanagh-Castlemahon at sunny Tournafulla on Wednesday evening. A small crowd watched this contest between two fine sporting sides played on a well laid out pitch with Martin O'Doherty of Rathkeale in charge.

The game was held up for three minutes straight from the throw-in due to an injury to Niall Cahill of Granagh-Ballingarry, but when play resumed points were exchanged by John O'Grady from a placed ball on 4 minutes and James Guina on 5 for 1-0 each on 5 minutes. Wides were exchanged before points were traded between James Guina on 8 minutes and Padraig Lynch on 11, Kieran Condron on 15 minutes and James Guina on 19, John O'Grady from a free on 20 minutes and James Guina a minute later to leave the sides still level on 0-4 each on 21 minutes. the points by Jack O'Donoghue on 23 minutes and John O'Grady from a placed ball on 25 put Granagh-Ballingarry two ahead 0-6 to 0-4 on 25 minutes. Feohanagh-Castlemahon began to raise their game with three points, Damien Brouder on 27 minutes and James Guina from play on 29 minutes and from a placed ball on 32 to send the holders in at the interval leading by one, Feohanagh-Castlemahon 0-7 Granagh-Ballingarry 0-6.

On the resumption Eoin Casey had a second-minute point for Granagh-Ballingarry from a long range placed ball to level the score for the fifth time at 0-7 each. Wides were exchanged before Richie O'Keeffe after a good solo run pointed from out near the side line to put Granagh-Ballingarry ahead for the fifth time in this close hard fought contest on 35 minutes. A crucial score arrived for Feohanagh-Castlemahon on 26 minutes when a line ball sent in by man of the march James Guina went all the way to the Granagh-Ballingarry net to put the holders two up 1-7 to 0-8. Then points were exchanged by Padraig Lynch on 36 minutes and James Guina from a placed ball on 38 before Guina increased the Feohanagh-Castlemahon lead to three 1-9 to 0-9 with a fine point following a good solo run on 40 minutes. The sides were level for the 6th tine at 1-9 each when John O'Grady finished past Feohanagh-Castlemahon keeper Donnacha O'Callaghan on 41 minutes. then Richie O'Keeffe on 43 minutes and John O'Grady from a placed ball on 45 minutes pointed for Granagh-Ballingarry before points were exchanged from placed balls by James Guina on 48 minutes and Eoin Casey on 50 to leave Granagh-Ballingarry to ahead 1-12 to 1-10. Granagh-Ballingarry were majestic for the next five minutes, playing textbook hurling with points by Richie O'Keeffe on 52 minutes and John O'Grady from a 65 on 55. Wides were exchanged before Damien Brouder finished past Granagh-Ballingarry keeper Conor Mulqueen on 58 minutes to close the gap to one. Then Richie O'Keeffe of Granagh-Ballingarry sowed his class a minute later when he sent a line ball between the uprights to increase his side’s advantage to two. The holders piled on the pressure in the final minutes in search of a goal but could find no way past a firm Granagh-Ballingarry defence who held out for a thrilling two-point 1-15 to 2-10 victory to qualify for their first West Junior B Hurling League final since 2012 against Tournafulla which was played last night in Coolcappa (full report next week).

Granagh-Ballingarry scored 1-7 from play, 0-6 from frees and 0-1 from a 65; Feohanagh-Castlemahon scored 1-7 from play, 0-3 from frees and 1-0 from a line ball.

Granagh-Ballingarry: Conor Mulqueen, Patrick Potter, Eoin Cahill, Stephen Hickey, Mark Tierney, Eoin Casey 0-2, Michael O'Rourke, Brian Fitzgerald, Michael Walsh, Jack O'Donoghue 0-1, Kieran Condron 0-1, Niall Cahill, Padraig Lynch 0-2, John O'Grady 1-5, Richie O'Keeffe 0-4. Subs used: Mark Snow, Edward Sheehy, Gordon Cagney.

The Feohanagh-Castlemahon scorers were James Guina 1-9, Damien Brouder 1-1.

Referee: Martin O'Doherty, Rathkeale.

SEMI-FINAL SPOT BOOKED

West Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final

Granagh-Ballingarry…0-14

St Kieran's…0-12

Granagh-Ballingarry qualified for a meeting with Newcastle West in the semi-final of the West Senior Hurling Championship with a two point win over gallant St Kieran's in a hard-fought encounter at Askeaton on Friday evening. The Askeaton groundsman had the pitch in top class condition for this game played in front of 28 spectators with Martin O'Doherty of Rathkeale in charge.

The first ten minutes were tense and exciting with points exchanged by Donie Nolan (free) on 3 minutes and Jack O'Donoghue (free) on 5, Donie Nolan (free) on 7 minutes and David Condron (free) on 10, for 0-2 each. Then points for Granagh-Ballingarry by David Condron from a placed ball on 11 minutes and Michael Clancy on 13 were cancelled out by Donie Nolan from a placed ball on 15 minutes and from play on 18 to level the score for the third time at 0-4 each. Granagh-Ballingarry keeper Jimmy Shiels brought off a top class save from Michael Enright before points for St Kieran's by Michael Enright on 20 minutes and Donie Nolan from a placed ball on 22 were cancelled out by David Condron from placed balls on 23 and 26 minutes to leave the side St. ill level, 0-6 each, four minutes before the interval. The highlight of this hard fought first half was a line ball sent between the uprights by Donie Nolan to put St Kieran's ahead for the fourth time on 28 minutes. There were no more scores in this half and St Kieran's went in still one ahead, 0-7 to 0-6

Granagh-Ballingarry dominated the first 7 minutes after the interval with three points from play by David Condron, Niall McCarthy and Jack O'Donoghue before points were exchanged by Michael Enright on 8 minutes and Jack O'Donoghue on 10 toleave it 0-10 to 0-8 to Granagh-Ballingarry on 39 minutes. St Kieran's upped their game with points by Donie Nolan from a placed ball on 41 minutes, Seamus Mangan on 43 and Donie Nolan from a placed ball on 45 to leave the Saints one ahead 0-11 to 0-10 at the end of the third quarter. Granagh-Ballingarry dominated the next 8 minutes with points by David Condron (free) and two by David Clancy to go two ahead 0-13 to 0-11 on 43 minutes. both sides found it hard to make scoring chances in the next four minutes before man of the match Donie Nolan found the range with a fine point from a 46 metre placed ball on 58 minutes, cancelled out from play by Pat Carroll on 60 to restore Granagh-Ballingarry’s two point lead. St Kieran's created a number of scoring chances in added time from both play and placed balls which they failed to convert and Granagh-Ballingarry held out if only just for a two point 0-14 to 0-12 win and place in the West Senior Hurling Championship semi-final against Newcastle West on a date to be confirmed.

Granagh-Ballingarry scored 0-9 from play and 0-5 from frees; St Kieran's scored 0-4 from play, 0-6 from frees and 0-1 from a line ball.

Granagh-Ballingarry: Jimmy Shiels, Darren Clifford, Cian Cagney, Michael Carroll, John Carroll, Donagh McCarthy, Niall McCarthy 0-1, Seán Lenihan, Bobby Houlihan, Pat Carroll 0-1, David Clancy 0-2, Michael Clancy 0-1, Brendan Lynch, David Condron 0-6, Jack O'Donoghue 0-3. Sub used: Kevin O'Connor.

St Kieran's: Ray Cahill, James O'Connor, Paudie McCarthy, Mike Windle, Seán Windle, Anthony Molyneaux, Maurice Shine, Jack Ben Hartnett, Ian Mackessy, Seamus Mangan 0-1, Jonathan Ruttle, Michael Enright 0-1, Danny Collum, Donie Nolan 0-9, C Enright. Sub used: Paddy Hartnett.

Referee: Martin O'Doherty, Rathkeale.

BRIAN INSPIRES SOUTH LIBERTIES

County Hurling League Division 2 round 5

South Liberties…1-15

Granagh-Ballingarry…0-11

The accuracy of county minor Brian Ryan from both play and placed balls, finishing with a personal tally of 0-9, helped enormously in acquiring a deserved seven-point win for South Liberties over table toppers Granagh-Ballingarry to take their second brace of points at sunny Ballingarry on Tuesday 9th June. Donal Mulcahy had the Ballingarry pitch in top class condition for this game played in front of a good crowd with Paddy Lyons of Staker Wallace in charge. Both sides had to line out minus key players due to inter-county involvement and work commitments.

The opening six minutes saw points exchanged from placed balls by David Condron and Brian Ryan before Ryan hit the first point from play on 8 minutes to put Liberties one ahead 0-3 to 0-2. David Condron and Jack O'Donoghue had wides for Granagh-Ballingarry before points were traded by Brian Ryan from a placed ball on 10 minutes and Jack O'Donoghue on 12 to leave South Liberties still one ahead 0-4 to 0-3. The points by William Healy on 13 minutes and Brian Ryan from a placed ball on 5 extended the east Limerick side’s lead to three, 0-6 to 0-3, at the end of the third quarter. The hurling in the next three minutes was pooruntil points were exchanged by David Condron from a placed ball on 17 minutes and William Hickey on 19, Eoin Casey on 21 and Jamie Butler on 23, Brian Ryan on 25 and David Condron on 27 to leave South Liberties still three up 0-9 to 0-6 two minutes from half time. A foul on David Condron of Granagh-Ballingarry on 29 minutes resulted in a penalty for the home side saved by keeper Seán Keane from Condron to the delight of the Liberties supporters. The last few minutes of this well contested half produced no more scores so the visitors went in still three ahead, 0-9 to 0-6.

Granagh-Ballingarry made a good start to the second half with a second-minute point from a placed ball by David Condron to close the gap to two. South Liberties were majestic for the next 13 minutes striking four points courtesy of Brian Ryan free, William Hickey and Brendan McSweeney to go six ahead, 0-13 to 0-7, at the end of the third quarter. David Condron won points back for Granagh-Ballingarry from placed balls on 47 and 29 minutes cancelled out by Brian Ryan on 50 minutes and a placed ball on 52 to restore the Liberties’ six point 0-15 to 0-9 lead. Then after three scoreless minutes David Condron pointed from a 40 metre placed ball on 56 minutes to close the gap to five. The first goal of the game arrived on 58 minutes when David O'Neill cut through the Granagh-Ballingarry defence to finish past keeper Jimmy Shiels and put the game out of the home side’s reach. Granagh-Ballingarry had a chance to close the gap to five in the final minute when they were awarded a free in front of goal only to see their keeper Jim Shiels’s shot for goal saved and cleared into the hands of John Carroll who was fouled in possession and sent the resulting placed ball between the uprights in added time to close the gap to seven.

The final whistle sounded from the puckout to leave South Liberties worthy winners of their second brace of points in Division 2 of the County Hurling League by seven points 1-15 to 0-11, a result which brings an end to Granagh-Ballingarry’s 3-game unbeaten league run

South Liberties scored 1-9 from play and 0-6 from frees; Granagh-Ballingarry scored 0-3 from play and 0-8 from frees.

Granagh-Ballingarry: Jimmy Shiels, Michael Walsh, Donagh McCarthy, Edward Sheehy, Michael Clancy, David Clancy, Michael Carroll, John Carroll 0-1, Bobby Houlihan, Pat Carroll, Kevin O'Connor, Brendan Lynch, Jack O'Donoghue 0-1, David Condron 0-8, Eoin Casey. Subs used: Stephen Hickey, Padraig Lynch.

The South Liberties scorers were Brian Ryan 0-9, David O'Neill 1-0, William Hickey 0-3, Jamie Butler 0-1, Brian O'Brien 0-1,Brendan McSweeney 0-1.

Referee: Paddy Lyons, Staker Wallace.

West Junior A Football Championship round 5 preview

Pairc Caoimh O Luing in Feenagh is the venue this Friday 18th June for the meeting of Granagh-Ballingarry and Newcastle West in round 5 of the West Junior A Football Championship at 7.30pm when Granagh-Ballingarry were crowned Junior West and County League and Championship winners in 2010 they suffered their only defeat at the hands of the Magpies in round 3 of the West B Championship 0-15 to 0-10 at Cappagh on Tuesday 27th July; the Granagh-Ballingarry side that evening was Patrick Kenrick, Eoin Cahill, David Clancy, Mickie O'Keeffe, Niall Cahill, Donal O'Grady 0-3, Kieran O'Keeffe, Niall Cahill, Donal O'Grady 0-3, Kieran Condron, Michael Clancy 0-1, Eoin Kennedy 0-1, Pat Carroll 0-1, Kieran O'Donovan,. Stephen O'Brien 1-3, John O'Grady 0-1, Kevin Moynihan, and the Newcastle West scorers were Jonathan Carey 0-6, Mike O'Doherty 0-3, Ian Corbett 0-2, Shane O'Doherty 0-1, Seán Gleeson 0-1 and Tommy Kelleher 0-1.

Newcastle West, who were county Junior B champions in 2012, made a winning start to their 2013 West Junior A Football Championship campaign beating Granagh-Ballingarry 0-9 to -1-5 at Knockaderry on Sunday 23rd June and that Ballingarry team was Patrick Kenrick, Eoin Cahill, David Clancy, Kieran Condron, Pa Healy, Mark Snow, Cian Cagney 0-1, Michael Corrigan, David Condron, Kevin Trainor, Denis O'Connor 0-1, Eoin Kennedy, Darragh O'Grady 0-2, Pat Carroll 0-1, sub used Aidan Barrett. Then they met in the corresponding game last year at Pairc Caoimh O Luing on Friday 20th June where Granagh-Ballingarry reversed the 2010 and 2013 defeats with a 2-11 to 0-4 victory. The winning Granagh-Ballingarry team was Patrick Kenrick, Eoin Cahill, Kieran Condron, Niall Cahill 0-1, Mark Snow, David Clancy, Darragh O'Grady, Cian Cagney 0-1, Denis O'Connor 0-2, Marcus Moore 1-1, David Condron 0-2, Michael Clancy, John O'Grady 0-2, Eoin Kennedy 1-1, Edward Sheehy 0-1, subs used Brendan Lynch, Seamus McDonnell, Niall Donworth, Michael Lenihan, Kevin O'Kelly. The Newcastle West team that day was James Stack, Mike Mulcahy, Maurice Murphy, Seoirse Joyce 0-1, Jason Dowling, Michael Dowling, James O'Sullivan, James Corbett, Karl Lenihan, Aaron McCarthy 0-1, Declan Brouder 0-1, James O'Sullivan, Jonathan Carey, Seán Neville, Brian Hurley 0-1, subs Darragh McMahon, Tom Ryan, James Hennessy.

2015 Form

Newcastle West have won 2 of their 6 games this season. In the West Junior A Football League they lost to Cappagh-Kilcornan 1-12 to 0-9 and Gerald Griffin's 1-12 to 2-4, beat Fr. Casey's 1-11 to 1-2 and Feenagh-Kilmeedy 0-11 to 0-7 and lost to Monagea 908 to 0-7 and Gerald Griffin's 4-12 to 1-8. In their four games played to date in the West Championship they are nicely placed on the league championship table in fourth placed on 4 points.

Granagh-Ballingarry will be playing their first competitive game of the year on Saturday as they did not enter the West or County league and their first four group games were postponed for good reasons. A tough match is expected with Granagh-Ballingarry not at full strength and your support would be welcome.

West Junior B Hurling Championship round 1 re-fixture

The reschedules meeting of Granagh-Ballingarry and last year’s defeated finalists Feohanagh-Castlemahon in the first round of group 2 goes ahead on Tuesday 23rd June in Dromcollogher at 7.30pm. five trams, Tournafulla, Feohanagh-Castlemahon, Feenagh-Kilmeedy, Granagh-Ballingarry and Newcastle West, are entered in Group 2 with the top team to qualify for the semi-final and the second and third placed teams qualifying for the quarter-finals. They clashed in the corresponding game last year and Feohanagh-Castlemahon won 2-14 to 2-6. That Granagh-Ballingarry side was Conor Mulqueen, Niall Fitzgerald, Eoin Cahill, Kieran O'Donovan, Mark Tierney, John O'Grady, Eoin O'Kelly, Gordon Cagney 0-5, Seán Lenihan, Mark Snow, Brian Fitzgerald, Alan Chawke, Neil Dunworth 0-1, Shane Mulqueen 1-0, Mickie O'Keeffe, subs used Marcus Moore 1-0, Brendan Lynch, Kieran Condron, Jack O'Donoghue and Jimmy Shiels. Both sides have shown good league form this season and they met in the semi-final in Tournafulla on Wednesday 11th June when Granagh-Ballingarry won 1-15 to 2-10. So next Tuesday at 7.30 is the time for all Granagh-Ballingarry Gaels to cheer on their boys in their bid to make a inning start to their West Junior B Hurling Championship campaign.

County game postponed

The Granagh-Ballingarry v Knockainey County Hurling League round 2 tie fixed for Knockaderry on Tuesday 16th June was cancelled due to a clash of fixtures with the Granagh-Ballingarry v Tournafulla West Junior B Hurling League final and will be re-fixed on a later date.

Cúl camp

The Granagh-Ballingarry G.A.A. Cúl camp for hurling, camogie and Gaelic football will take place from Monday 13th to Friday 17th July at the Granagh-Ballingarry G.A.A. field. A great week of fun is guaranteed for your child. You can book online at the moment at www.kelloggsculcamps.ie or application forms will be available by mid-June. Attendance is open to primary school children aged 6 to 13 and the cost is €55 for first child, €45 for second and €40 for third and subsequent children. For any queries contact Donagh McCarthy, camp coordinator, on 086-31233772.

Tickets

Tickets for the Limerick v Tipperary Munster Intermediate and Senior Hurling Championship semi-final at Páirc na nGael this Sunday June 21st will be distributed to the Granagh/Ballingarry GAA club members who have ordered them tomorrow Thursday June 18th in the clubhouse in Ballingarry at 8.30pm. or contact the secretary at 087-2912356 to arrange collection. Please note all tickets must be paid for on collection by cheque or cash.

Munster Hurling Championship Quarter Final

A large crowd from Granagh/Ballingarry is expected to go to Páirc na nGael this Sunday June 21st to support our own Donal O’Grady who captains Limerick for the third successive year against Tipperary in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship semi-final at 4pm. The Curtin raiser is the clash of Limerick and Tipperary in the Munster Intermediate Hurling championshipsemi-final at 2pm. We wish the best of luck to both Limerick sides and their management team.

Club

The next Granagh/Ballingarry GAA club monthly draw takes place in Barrett’s Bar Ballingarry this Friday June 19th at 9.30pm.Thank you to all our punters for their continued support.

County Premier Intermediate Hurling championship Round 4

The mouth watering clash of Granagh/Ballingarry and Monaleen in round 4 of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship goes ahead on Friday June 26th in Bruff at 7.30pm. Please support.

Round 4 Fixtures

Thursday June 25th: Bruree v Pallasgreen in Claughaun at 7.30pm., Blackrock v Knockainey in Kilbreedy at 7.30pm.

Friday June 26th: Granagh/Ballingarry v Monaleen in Bruff at 7.30pm., Dromin/Athlacca v Garryspillane in Kilfinane at 7.30pm.

County Intermediate Hurling Championship round 3

Friday June 26th: Glenroe v Newcastle West in Ballyagran at 7.30pm.

Saturday June 27th: Mungret/St. Paul v Knockaderry in Askeaton at 7.30pm, Feenagh/Kilmeedy v Caherline in Mungret at7.30pm.

Sunday June 28th: Hospital/Herbertstown v Claughaun in Caherconlish at 7.30pm.

Wednesday July 1st: Cappamore v St. Kieran’s in Clarina at 7.30pm.

County Senior Hurling championship round 3

Wednesday June 24th: South Liberties v Effin in Bruff at 7.30pm., Doon v Croom in Kilmallock at 7.30pm.

Friday June 25th: Kilmallock v Murroe Boher in Caherconlish at 7.30pm. Adare v Na Piarsaigh in Clarina at 7.30pm.

Saturday June 27th: Bruff v Ballybrown/Sean Finns Park Ballybrown at 7.30pm. Ahane v Patrickswell in Claughaun at 7.30pm.

€8,200 Jackpot on Monday

There was no winner of the €8,100 jackpot in the Granagh/Ballingarry GAA club lottery on Monday at Trainors Bar, Ballingarry. The numbers drawn were 6, 8, 28, 29. The lucky dips of €20 each went to Theresa Noonan, Pa O’Grady, Tom and Ann Hickey, Micheál Clifford and Jimmy Morrissey. The next draw is on Monday June 29th at Condron’s Bar, Ballingarry for a jackpot of €8,200. We thank all our punters for their continued support.

Club Diary

Wednesday June 17th: County U14 football championship division 3 round 4, Granagh/Ballingarry v Cappamore in Ballingarry at 7.15pm.

Thursday June 18th: County Junior B Hurling League semi-final, Blackrock v Granagh/Ballingarry in Ballyagran at 7.30pm. County Junior A football League semi-final, Ballylanders v Cappagh provisionally in Ballingarry at 7.30pm. Munster Hurling championship semi-final tickets for Granagh/Ballingarry club members who have ordered them are to be distributed in the clubhouse in Ballingarry at 8.30pm.

Friday June 19th: West Junior A football Championship round 5, Granagh/Ballingarry v Newcastle West in Park Caoimh O Luing Feenagh at 7.30pm.

Saturday June 20th: County Junior A football League semi-final, Ballylanders v Cappagh provisionally in Ballingarry at 7.30pm.

Sunday June 21st: Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final, Limerick v Tipperary in Páirc na nGael at 2pm.

Munster Senior Hurling Championship semi-final, Limerick v Tipperary in Páirc na nGael at 4pm.

Tuesday June 23rd: West Junior B Hurling Championship group 2 round 1, Granagh/Ballingarry v Feohanagh/Castlemahon in Dromcollogher at 7.30pm.