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Granagh Ballingarry in first senior final since 2012

West Senior Hurling Championship semi final

Granagh Ballingarry...3-14

Newcastle West...1-11

Granagh Ballingarry made it through to their first West Limerick Senior Hurling Championship Final against holders Adare or Feenagh Kilmeedy since 2012 when they lost to Killeedy 2-16 to 0-11 in the replay, with a deserved 9 point victory over gallant Newcastle West, in wet conditions in front of a good attendance at Seán Finn’s Park, Rathkeale, on Saturday evening.

The Rathkeale officials had their pitch in top class condition for this game and Donie Neville of the Croagh Kilfinny club was an excellent referee.

The first half saw Granagh Ballingarry play into the dressing room goal and they got off to a dream start when they were awarded a free straight from the throw-in and the placed ball awarded from the centre of the field hit in by Brendan Lynch went all the way to the Newcastle West net.

The Newcastle West boys failed to be overawed with white flags by Miko Martin and Eoin Hurley in the second and fourth minute to close the gap to one. The hurling in the next five minutes was mediocre till Niall Kennedy cut through the Newcastle West defence and laid off to Cathal O’Keeffe, who finished past keeper Conor O’Sullivan to leave Granagh Ballingarry 4 ahead, 2-0 to 0-2 on ten minutes. A couple of wides were exchanged before white flags were traded by Niall Enright on 13 minutes and Niall Kennedy on 14 minutes. Michael Clancy on 15 minutes and Mike McMahon from a placed ball two minutes later to leave Granagh Ballingarry still 4 ahead, 2-2 to 0-4 on 17 minutes.

Then Jamie Lee on 18 minutes and Mike Martin on 19 minutes had points for Newcastle West before they were awarded a penalty on 20 minutes, which Granagh Ballingarry keeper Denis Noonan saved from Miko McMahon at the expense of a 65 which McMahon sent between the uprights to close the gap to 1, Granagh Ballingarry 2-2, Newcastle West 0-7 on 21 minutes. Then after five minutes of scoreless play, Niall Kennedy finally ended eleven minutes without a Granagh Ballingarry score with his second white flag on 27 minutes and Brendan Lynch followed this up a minute later with a 30 metre pointed free to increase the black and green’s advantage to 3 on 28 minutes. The final four minutes of this hard fought opening half produced no more scores to leave Granagh Ballingarry still 3 ahead 2-4 to 0-7 at the interval.

Newcastle West dominated for five minutes after the interval with white flags by Mike McMahon from a placed ball and Jamie Lee from open play which were cancelled out by Cathal O’Keeffe from a placed ball on 36 minutes and Michael Clancy from open play a minute later to leave Granagh Ballingarry still 3 ahead, 2-6 to 0-9 on 37 minutes. Niall Kennedy and Kevin O’Connor had wides for Granagh Ballingarry before points were traded by Niall Kennedy from play on 40 minutes and Mike McMahon from a placed ball two minutes later to leave still 3 between the sides on 42 minutes. The Granagh Ballingarry boys dominated play in the next 23 minutes, striking 1-4 through Micheál Clancy 1-1 and Cathal O’Keeffe 0-3 (free, 65, and play) to lead by 10, 3-11 to 0-10 on 55 minutes. Then Newcastle West were awarded a 30 metre free in front of the Granagh Ballingarry goal which county senior footballer Cian Sheehan sent to the back of the net on 56 minutes and James Kelly followed this up a minute later with a well taken point from play to close the gap to 6, GranaghBallingarr 3-11, Newcastle West 1-11 on 57 minutes.

The boys in black and green finished strongly with a troi of unanswered white flags, courtesy of Niall Kennedy on 58 minutes, sub Padraig Lynch on 59 minutes and Cathal O’Keeffe from a placed ball on 30 minutes. At the final whistle Granagh Ballingarry were deserving 3-14 to 1-11 winners to qualify for their first West Senior Hurling Championship Final against holders Adare or Feenagh Kilmeedy since 2012, when they lost to Killeedy 2-16 to 0-11 in the replay at Askeaton. Granagh Ballingarry scored 3-9 from play, 0-4 from frees and 0-1 from a 65. Newcastle West scored 2-7 from play, 0-3 from frees and 0-1 from a 65.

Granagh Ballingarry: Colm Noonan, Edward Sheehy, Niall Cahill, Michael Carroll, John Carroll, Bart Hanley, Bobby Houlihan, Niall McCarthy, Eoin Kennedy, Seán Lenihan, Niall Kennedy 0-4, Brendan Lynch 1-1, Michael Clancy 1-3, Kevin O’Connor, Cathal O’Keeffe 1-5. Subs used: Pat Carroll, David Clancy, Donagh McCarthy, Padraig Lynch 0-1.

Newcastle West: Conor O’Sullivan, Darragh McMahon, Maurice Murphy, Tom Kelliher, William Hurley, Paul Hannon, Steven Brosnan, Mark Lenihan, Cian Sheehan 1-0, Jamie Lee 0-2, Mike Martin 0-2, Eoin Hurley 0-1, James Kelly 0-1, Mike McMahon 0-4, Niall Enright 0-1.

Referee: Donie Neville (Croagh Kilfinny).

Galway book semi-final spot

All Ireland Minor Hurling Championship quarter-final

Galway...1-14, Limerick...0-13

A cracking goal by Jack Grealish six minutes into the second half was crucial to Galway’s 4 point victory over Limerick in the All Ireland Minor Hurling Championship semi final in difficult wet conditions at Semple Stadium, Thurles, on Sunday to set up a semi final meeting with All Ireland champions, Kilkenny, on Sunday 9th August at Croke Park. Galway led at the interval by 1, 0-9 to 0-8, but the Shannonsiders would have been reasonably happy after playing into the breeze.

Galway: D. Gilligan, S. Bannon, J. Fitzpatrick, K. O’Connor, C. Mulry, I. O’Brien, A. Greaney, J. Grealish 1-0, J. Coyne, B.Concannon 0-1, T. Monaghan 0-1, F. Burke 0-11, M. Lynch 0-1, E. Niland 0-9, S. Loftus. Subs used: C. Fahy, L. Forde and P Forde.

Limerick: E. McNamara 0-2, O. O’Reilly 0-1, C. McSweeney, J. O’Grady, C. Byrnes, C. Houlihan, S. Flanagan, T. Grimes, D. O’Carroll, M. Mackey 0-1, B. Murphy 0-1, P. Casey 0-5, K. Hayes 0-1, P. O’Loughlin, C. Magner-Flynn 0-1. Subs used: C. O’Connor, B. McPartland, C. Carroll, C. Boylan, W. O’Meara.

Referee: T. Carroll (Offaly).

We are top!

West Minor B Football Championship round 3

Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue 7-17

In the final group game of the West Minor B Football Championship at sunny Ballingarry on Tuesday 21st July holders Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue were emphatic 23 point winners over gallant St Kieran's to finish top of the group on 6 points to qualify for a semi-final meeting with fourth-placed Dáithi Broudairs. Donal Mulcahy had the pitch in top class condition for this game which was played in front of a small crowd with John McGrath of Monagea in charge.

The first half was the more competitive with Granagh-Ballingarry./Banogue making all the early running with points in the first five minutes by captain Jack O'Donoghue and Aaron Smith two (free and play) before Bradley Daly finished past St Kieran's keeper Robert Bradley on 7 minutes to leave it 1-3 to 0-0 in favour of the home side, far from being overawed, St Kieran's scored two goals courtesy of Daniel Power on 8 minutes abnd Brian McCarthy on 1- to level the score at Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue 1-3 St Kieran's 2-0 on 10 minutes., then points for Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue by Aaron Smith from a placed ball on 12 minutes and Jack O'Donoghue on 14 were cancelled out by Darragh O'Connor from ap laced ball on 15 minutes and Daniel Power from play two minutes later to leave it still level, Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue 1-5 St Kieran's 2-2 on 17 minutes.

St Kieran's keeper Robert Bradley brought off a top class save from Bradley Daly on 18 minutes, before points for the Saints from Darragh O'Connor from play on 19 minutes and a placed ball on 21 minutes were followed by a smashing Noel callanan point following a good solo run to leave St Kieran's three ahead 2-5 to 1-5 on 23 minutes. the Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue combination team now began to raise their game with a well taken point by Edward Sheehy after a good solo run on 25 minutes followed by a second goal by Bradley dalyt on 27 minutes and a second point for Edward Sheehy on 30 minutes to send the home side, Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue, in at the interval leading by 2-7 to 2-5 after an exciting first half.

Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue were majestic for 15 ins after the interval shooting 4-6 from play courtesy of Aaron Smith -0, Owen Carroll 1-3, Seán O'Leary, Bradley Daly and Aidan Meade 0-1 each to go 20 ahead 6-13 to 2-5 at the end of the third quarter, then Daniel power finally opened the Saints’ second-half account with his second point from play on 46 minutes followed three minutes later by a smashing Noel O'Callaghan goal to close the gap to 16, Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue 6-13 St Kieran's 3-6 on 49 minutes. The last 1