GAA Notes
CILLIAN SEALS THE ISSUE
West Minor B Football Championship final
St Kieran's…3-3
Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue…1-5
A pair of opportunist goals by Cillian Enright, the first from a 30 metre placed ball, in the last five minutes paved the way for a four point victory over gallant holders Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue to claim their first ever West Minor B Football Championship title at rain-soaked Seán Finns Park, Rathkeale on Friday evening.
The Rathkeale officials had their pitch in top class condition for this final played in front of a good crowd with Billy Phillips of Tournafulla in charge. The football in the first five minutes was poor, with chances hard to create in the wet conditions, before Edward Sheehy of Granagh-Ballingarry found the range with points on 6 and 8 minutes. then St Kieran's from their first real attack were rewarded with a Colm Copse goal on 10 minutes, followed two minutes later by a fine point by Darragh Breen to leave it St Kieran's 1-1 Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue 0-2 on 12 minutes.
Bradley Daly of Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue after a good solo run pointed to reduce the gap to one, St Kieran's 1-1 Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue 0-3 on 20 minutes. A couple of wides were exchanged before Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue captain Jack O'Donoghue cut through from defence to land a fine point on 25 minutes, and Aaron Smith followed this two minutes later with a well taken goal to leave Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue three ahead at half-time, 1-4 to 1-1.
The football in the first ten minutes after the interval was poor, both sides finding the wet conditions difficult. Then Aaron Smith finally found the rage with a point on 41 minutes, cancelled out by Noel Callanan on 43 minutes to leave three between the sides, Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue 1-5 St Kieran's 1-2. After the teams struggled for 11 minutes with the difficultconditions, Cillian Enright of St Kieran's found the range when his 30 metre placed ball ended in the back of the Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue net to level the score for the second time, Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue 1-5 St Kieran's 2-2 on 55 minutes. a couple of wides were exchanged before a long ball kicked in by Daniel Power was collected by Cillian Enright who finished past Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue keeper Darragh Brady for the second time, on 58 minutes, and keeper Robert Bradley, who brought off three top class saves in the course of the game, pointed from a 40 metre placed ball on 59 minutes to give the Saints a four point win and their first ever West Minor B Championship title.
Well done to both teams and referee Billy Phillips and his officials for their part in a most enjoyable contest in such difficult wet conditions. The Granagh-Ballingarry and Banogue boys were gutted at the final whistle but were sporting in defeat and stayed on the field as West Board secretary Michael O'Sullivan presented the Cup to St Kieran's captain Kaylan O'Connor. St Kieran's scored 3-2 from play and 0-1 from a free; Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue scored all 1-5 from play.
Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue: Darragh Brady, Rian Brady, Cathal O'Keeffe, Conor O'Donoghue, James Dore, Jack O'Donoghue 0-1, Jerry Quaid, Brendan Lynch, Edward Sheehy 0-2, Seán O'Connor, Aaron Smith 1-1, Seán O'Leary, Owen O'Connell, Bradley Daly 0-1, Aidan Meade. Subs: Gearóid O'Dwyer, Cillian Gavan.
The St Kieran's scorers were Cillian Enright 2-0, Colm Copse 1-0, Darragh Breen 0-1, Robert Bradley 0-1 and Noel Callanan 0-q.
Referee: Billy Phillips, Tournafulla.
Thank you to manager Liam Lynch, selectors Richie O'Keeffe, Michael Meade and Jim Dore, the Banogue club and the panel of players for giving creditable performances in this year’s West Minor B Football Championship, winning all their group games to reach their second successive final.
JUNIOR B HURLING
Bridging a 12-year gap
Granagh-Ballingarry Junior B hurlers will seek to bridge a 12-year gap when they flex their muscles against Feohanagh-Castlemahon in the eagerly awaited West Junior B Hurling Championship final this Saturday 19th September in Dromcollogher at 3pm. Tremendous support is anticipated for both clubs as Granagh-Ballingarry will be all out to avenge their 1-13 to 0-3 defeat by Feohanagh-Castlemahon in the 2012 decider. (That Granagh-Ballingarry side was Jimmy Shiels, Neil Dunworth, Peter O'Donovan, Michael O'Rourke, Eoin Casey, Paul Kennedy, Martin Treacy 0-1, Seán Lenihan, Kieran O'Donovan, Kevin Trainor, Gordon Cagney 0-2, Michael Clancy, Kieran O'Keeffe, Brian Fitzgerald and Padraig Lynch; subs Kieran Condron, Mark snow and Pa Healy. The Feohanagh-Castlemahon scorers were Seán Kirwan 0-5, Mike Hayes 0-4, Ross Egan 1-1, Shane Brouder 0-1, Niall Kennedy 0-1 and Seán Flanagan 0-1.)
2015 form
Granagh-Ballingarry, winners of one West Junior B Hurling Championship final when they beat Newcastle West 2-9 to 2-8 in the final, have won ten of their 12 competitive games so far this year, winning the West League title and reaching the county final where they lost to All-Ireland champions Doon. This is their sixth final and fifth since 2012, and they hope for a hat-trick of wins over Feohanagh-Castlemahon this season after beating them in the West League semi-final and in the first round of the Championship.
West Junior B Hurling League group 2
Round 1 Granagh-Ballingarry 1-10 Croagh-Kilfinny 1-8
Round 2 Granagh-Ballingarry 2-9 St Kieran's 1-9
Round 3 Knockaderry 2-16 Granagh-Ballingarry 1-16
Semi-final Granagh-Ballingarry 1-16 Feohanagh-Castlemahon 2-10
Final Granagh-Ballingarry 1-17 Tournafulla 2-13
County semi-final Granagh-Ballingarry 1=14 Blackrock 2-16
County final Doon 2-12 Granagh-Ballingarry 0-13
West Junior B Hurling Championship group 2
Round 1 Granagh-Ballingarry 2-11 Feohanagh-Castlemahon 0-8
Round 2 Granagh-Ballingarry 0-31 Feenagh-Kilmeedy 0-3
Round 3 Granagh-Ballingarry 3-18 Tournafulla 0-12
Round 4 Granagh-Ballingarry w/o Newcastle West scr
Semi-final Granagh-Ballingarry 0-21 Tournafulla 2-10
Panel: Conor Mulqueen, Mickie O'Keeffe, Eoin Cahill, Stephen Hickey, Mark Tierney (capt.), Michael Walsh, Edward Sheehy, Brian Fitzgerald, Eoin Casey, Mark Snow, Kieran Condron, John O'Grady, Padraig Lynch 0-2, Kevin O'Kelly 0-1, Jack O'Donoghue 0-4, Niall Dunworth, Richie O'Keeffe, Alan Chawke, Patrick Skelton, Kevin Forde, Marcus Moore, Dean Clancy, Gordon Cagney, Michael O'Rourke, Patrick Potter.. Manager Conor O'Keeffe, selectors Liam Carroll, Andrew Holmes , Stephen Stapleton and Niall McCarthy, first aid Breda and Laura O'Keeffe.
Feohanagh-Castlemahon, winners of one West Junior B Hurling Championship title in 2012 when they beat Granagh-Ballingarry in the final, are in their fourth final in a row having won six of their nine games so far this year and will be all out to avenge the league semi-final and Championship first-round defeats by the boys in black and green this year.
West Junior B Hurling League group 1
Round 1 Tournafulla beat Feohanagh-Castlemahon
Round 2 Feohanagh-Castlemahon 1-16 Newcastle West 1-10
Round 3 Feohanagh-Castlemahon 4-23 Duagh 0-4
Semi-final Granagh-Ballingarry 1-16 Feohanagh-Castlemahon 2-10
West Junior B Hurling Championship group 2
Round 1 Granagh-Ballingarry 2-11 Feohanagh-Castlemahon 0-8
Round 2 Feohanagh-Castlemahon 1-15 Tournafulla 0-17
Round 3 Feohanagh-Castlemahon 1-20 Feenagh-Kilmeedy 1-2
Round 4 Feohanagh-Castlemahon 1-12 Newcastle West 1-9
Quarter-final Feohanagh-Castlemahon w/o Croagh-Kilfinny scr
Panel: Donnacha O'Callaghan, Jack Fitzgibbon, Andrew Lenihan, Mike O'Mahony, Michael Flynn, Vinny Barry, Pat Hayes, Donal Mullane, Mark Liston, Gregory Browne, Daniel Flynn, Shane Brouder, Noel Kirwin, Davie Kirwin, John McEnery, Padraig O'Donnell, Cian O'Riordan, Brendan Lynch.
Support
A tough encounter is expected and your support would be welcome in Dromcollogher on Saturday at 3pm to cheer them on in their bid to bring home the trophy and make it a West League and Championship double.
INTERMEDIATE HURLING
Three semi-final spots up for grabs
The final series of games in the Limerick County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship takes place this Sunday 20th September at 5.30pm to decide which three teams join Knockainey in the semi-finals. Granagh-Ballingarry play neighbours and rivals Bruree at Fitzgerald Park Kilmallock, and this clash has generated excitement in both parishes as it is the 5th championship meeting of the sides since 2006 when they were in the County Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final, where Bruree won 2-11 to 0-11 and went on to beat Doon and Patrickswell in the final to claim their first Daly Cup since 1893. (The Granagh-Ballingarry side that September day in Feenagh was Conor Mulqueen, Bobby Houlihan, Donagh McCarthy, Niall McCarthy, Mike Carroll (capt.), David Clancy, Darren Clifford, Donal O'Grady 0-1, Paul Kennedy 0-5, Eoin Chawke, Kevin O'Connor, Michael Clancy 0-1, Eoin Kennedy 0-1, Seamus Stapleton and Denis O'Connor 0-3; subs used Stephen Stapleton and Cian Cagney; the Bruree scorers were Stephen O'Halloran 0-5, Gerard O'Brien 1-2, Vincent O'Brien 1-0, Tommy O'Brien 0-2, Michael Lane 0-1 and Declan Sexton 0-1.
2007
The best game in the first round of the 2007 Limerick county Senior Hurling Championship was at a misty Fitzgerald Park Kilmallock on 24th May when the John Lacey-trained Granagh-Ballingarry have a polished performance to beat holders Bruree 0-14 to 1-9, reach the second round and avenge the 2006 quarter-final defeat. The Granagh-Ballingarry team was Conor Mulqueen, Bobby Houlihan, Donagh McCarthy (capt.), Cian Cagney, Paul Kennedy, David Clancy, John Carroll, Michael Carroll, Donal O'Grady 0-2, Eoin Kennedy 0-3, Kevin O'Connor, Denis O'Connor 0-6, Seamus Stapleton 0-1, Michael Clancy 0-2, subs Niall McCarthy and Stephen Stapleton; the Bruree scorers were Michael Lane 1-1 , Stephen O'Halloran 0-3, Tommy O'Brien 0-2, James Vincent O'Brien, Shane Mullane and James Charles O'Brien 0-1 each.
2010
The next time they met in the senior Championship was in Kilmallock on 21st May 2010 where Granagh-Ballingarry came from four points down with a late scoring blitz to win 1-13 to 0-14. That Granagh-Ballingarry team was Jimmy Shiels, Niall Cahill, Donagh McCarthy, Michael Carroll, Bobby Houlihan, David Clancy, Darren Clifford, John Carroll, Donal O'Grady 0-2, Cian Cagney, Eoin Chawke 0-4, Michael Clancy, Eoin Kennedy, Denis O'Connor 0-5, Thomas O'Donovan 0-1, subs used Niall Kennedy 1-1, Paul Kennedy, Seamus Stapleton. The Bruree scorers were Shane Mullane 0-5, James O'Brien 0-2, Paddy Kelly 0-2, Jimmy O'Dea, Dessie Lenihan, Gerard O'Dea, Tommy O'Brien and Michael Lane 0-1 each.
2012
Last time they met, in Kilmallock on 5th August 2012 in wet conditions, Bruree won 3-10 to 1-14 with Granagh-Ballingarry reduced to 18 players on 18 minutes when a player was red carded. Bruree met Doon in the semi-final; having lost, Granagh-Ballingarry played Effin in the relegation semi-final.the Granagh-Ballingarry team was John O'Grady, Niall McCarthy, David Clancy, Mike Carroll, Bobby Houlihan, Thomas O'Donovan, John Carroll, Bert Hanley, Eoin Kennedy, Donal O'Grady 0-1, Niall Kennedy 0-1, Eoin Chawke 0-1, David Condron 1-3, Denis O'Connor 0-8, Conor Hogan, subs Kevin O'Connor and Cian Cagney. The Bruree scorers were Kieran O'Dea 1-6, Michael Lane 1-0, David Hogan 1-0, Seán Riordan 0-2, Gearóid O'Brien 0-1 and Tommy O'Brien 0-1.
The present day
Bruree, winners of two county junior A 1951 and 1966 and two county senior hurling championship titles 1893 and 2006, were relegated to premier intermediate at the end of the 2013 season, have won seven and drawn two of their 13 games this season, are joint second in the League/Championship table with Monaleen on 8 points, and a victory for them on Saturday will see them into the semi-final. Their panel is Daniel Lane, Patrick Deady, Kieran O'Rourke, J Murphy, Gerard O'Dea, Gerard O'Brien, Shane Mullane, Patrick Lane, Jimmy O'Dea, Kieran O'Dea, James V O'Brien, Brian O'Rourke, Donal Deady, John O'Brien, Michael Lane, Eamon Sexton, Patrick Carey, Shane Feane, Cian McCarthy, Declan Sexton, Tommy Cronnolly, Dessie Linehan, Aaron Fitzgerald, Ronan O'Halloran, Brendan Hogan, Darragh O'Driscoll, Conor O'Brien, Dan Cronin, Michael Shinny, managers Stephen McDonagh and Liam Rea, selectors Christopher Sexton and James C O'Brien, kit man Pa Wall, first aid Michael Lyons and Laurence Sexton.
Granagh-Ballingarry, winners of six county Junior A hurling titles as Granagh 1914, 1916, 1942 and 1976 and as Ballingarry in 1944 and 1979, plus a county senior 1911 as Ballingarry and two county intermediates, one as Ballingarry in 1011 and one as Granagh-Ballingarry in 2005, after nine years playing senior hurling were relegated to Premier Intermediate for this season. Having won 11 and drawn 1 of their 17 competitive games they are joint fourth with Garryspillane so they need to win on Saturday and hope for Blackrock to beat Garryspillane and Knockainey to beat Monaleen to take the fourth semi-final spot.
County Division 2 Hurling League
Round 1 Granagh-Ballingarry 2-16 Garryspillane 0-12
Round 3 Granagh-Ballingarry 4-10 Blackrock 2-10
Round 4 Granagh-Ballingarry 1-16 Bruff 1-13
Round 5 South Liberties 1-15 Granagh-Ballingarry 0-11
Round 6 Granagh-Ballingarry 1-15 Croom 0-15
Round 7 Granagh-Ballingarry 2-15 Effin 2-12.
County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
Round 1 Knockainey 1-12 Granagh-Ballingarry 0-14
Round 2 Garryspillane 2-13 Granagh-Ballingarry 1-5
Round 3 Granagh-Ballingarry 0-13 Pallasgreen 0-10
Round 4 Granagh-Ballingarry 0-17 Monaleen 0-14
Round 5 Blackrock 3-16 Granagh-Ballingarry 2-17
West Intermediate Hurling Championship
Quarter-final Granagh-Ballingarry 1-23 Monagea 3-13
West Senior Hurling Championship
Quarter-final Granagh-Ballingarry 0-13 St Kieran's 0-11
Semi-final Granagh-Ballingarry 3-11 Newcastle West 1-11
Dunworth Cup final
Granagh-Ballingarry 3-19 Feohanagh-Castlemahon 4-16 (a draw)
Panel: Colm Noonan, Cian Cagney, Donagh McCarthy, Mike Carroll, Niall McCarthy, David Clancy, Micheál Clancy, Bobby Houlihan, John Carroll, Eoin Kennedy, Denis O’Connor, David Condron, Cathal O’Keeffe, Kevin O’Connor, Niall Kennedy, Jimmy Shiels, Bart Hanley, Pat Carroll, Brendan Lynch, Seán Lenihan, Darren Clifford, Jack Cagney, Mark Tierney, Padraig Lynch, Patrick Shelton, Kevin Forde, Kevin Mulcahy, Eoin Casey, Jack O’Donoghue.
Manager: Seamus Stapleton, Coach: John Touhy, Selectors: Paddy Hennessy, Willie Power, Darragh O’Grady, Kitman: Donal Mulcahy, First Aid: Breda and Laura O’Keeffe.
Support
The proverbial mouth watering clash awaits us with neither side fearing the other and both confident of victory. For Bruree, who will be forced to line out without their captain Michael Long, this will see them through to the semi final, while Granagh-Ballingarry, who will also be minus their captain Denis O’Connor along with Niall Kennedy and Cian Cagney due to injury, will need to take the two points on offer and hope that Blackrock beat Garryspillane and Monaleen beat Knockainey to make it through to the last four. So this Sunday 20th September at Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock, is the place for all Granagh Ballingarry fans to be at 5.30pm.
U21 HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Limerick ease to fifth All Ireland
Limerick...0-26
Wexford...1-7
Congratulations to the Limerick under 21 hurlers and our own David Condron who was very much part of the squad who were brilliant from start to finish as they overwhelmed Wexford by 16 points to claim their fifth All Ireland U21 Hurling Championship title, a first since 2002, in front of 18,445 spectators in Semple Stadium, Thurles, on Saturday evening.
The Shannonsiders laid a firm foundation for victory in the opening 30 minutes, going in at the interval leading by 7, 0-11 to 0-4.
Limerick: David McCarthy, Glenroe, Michael Casey, Na Piarsaigh, Diarmaid Byrnes 0-1, Patrickswell (captain), Barry O’Connell, Kildimo Pallaskenry, Gearóid Hegarty, St. Patrick’s, Darragh O’Donovan, Doon, Pat Ryan 0-3, Doon, Ronan Lynch 0-6, Na Piarsaigh, Cian Lynch 0-3, Na Piarsaigh, David Dempsey, Na Piarsaigh, Colin Ryan, Pallasgreen, Tom Morrissey 0-4, Ahane, Barry Nash 0-5, South Liberties. Subs used: Peter Casey 0-3, Na Piarsaigh, A. La Touche Cosgrave, Monaleen, Jack Kelliher, Patrickswell, Mark O’Callaghan, Knockaderry, Jody Hannon, Adare. Other panel members: Eoghan McNamara, Doon, Seán Flanagan, Feohanagh Castlemahon, Jack Quaid, Effin, Dean Coleman, Doon, Kevin O’Brien, Patrickswell, Robbie Hanley, Kilmallock, David Condron, Granagh-Ballingarry, Liam O’Sullivan, Knockaderry, Aaron Gillane, Patrickswell, Lukas O’Brien, Adare, Evan Fitzgerald, Parteen, Brian Finn, Bruff, Darragh Kennedy, Murroe-Boher, James O’Riordan, Bruff, David Lynch,Croagh-Kilfinny, Lorcan Lyons (Monaleen), Paddy Morrissey (Ahane), Jamie Butler (Feohanagh-Castlemahon), Cian Hedderman (Ballybrown), Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon).
ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL TICKETS
The draw for the Granagh/Ballingarry allocation of All Ireland Football Final tickets will take place in the GAA Clubhouse Ballingarry tomorrow Thursday September 17th at 8.30pmsharp.
€9,500 JACKPOT ON MONDAY
The numbers drawn in the Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club lottery on Monday September 14th in Trainor’s Bar, Ballingarry were 5, 8, 10, 16. The jackpot was not won. Lucky dips of €20 each were Siobháin Sheahan, Mary Noonan, Tom Burke, Mike Dovas and Donie Crosby. The next draw is on Monday September 21st in Condron’s Bar, Ballingarry for a jackpot of €9,500. We thank all our punters for their continued support.
CLUB DIARY
Wednesday September 16th: County Senior Football Championship Group 1 Round 5, Adare v Na Piarsaigh in Clarina at 6.15pm.
St. Kieran’s v Fr. Casey’s in Newcastle West at 6.15pm.
County Senior Football Championship Group 2 round 5: Drom/Broadford v Ballylanders in Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock at 6.15pm. Rathkeale v Monaleen in Bruff at 6.15pm. St. Patrick’s v Pallasgreen in Caherconlish at 6.15pm.
Thursday September 17th: Draw for All Ireland Football Final tickets in the GAA Clubhouse, Ballingarry at 8.30pm.
Friday September 18th: County Premier Minor Football Championship Quarter Finals: Rathkeale v Monaleen in Mick Neville Park Rathkeale at 8.15pm.
Saturday September 19th: West Junior B Hurling Championship Final: Granagh/Ballingarry v Feohanagh/Castlemahon in Dromcollogher at 3pm.
County Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final: Ahane v Adare in Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock at 5.30pm.
County Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final: Ahane v Adare in Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock at 5.30pm.
County Senior Hurling Cup Semi-finals: Ballybrown v Murroe-Boher in Claughaun at 4pm.. South Liberties v Bruff in Caherconlish at 4pm.
County Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter Final: Kildimo/Pallaskenry v Cappamore in Bruff at 5.30pm.
County Intermediate Hurling Cup Semi-Final: Knockaderry v Hospital/Herbertstown in Ballyagran at 4pm.
Sunday September 20th: All Ireland Minor Football Championship Final, Tipperary v Dublin in Croke Park at 1.15pm.
All Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, Kerry v Dublin in Croke Park at 3.30pm.
County Senior Hurling
Championship Quarter Final, Kilmallock v Doon in the Gaelic Grounds at 1pm.
County Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter Final, Feenagh/Kilmeedy v Feohanagh/Castlemahon in Newcastle West at 1pm.
West Minor A Football Championship Semi-Final: Gael Na Sionna v Athea/Mountcollins in Quaid Park, Coolyrue at 12 noon.
County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Round 7: Granagh/Ballingarry v Bruree in Fitzgerald Park,
Kilmallock at 5.30pm.
Monaleen v Knockainey in Caherconlish at 5.30pm. Dromin/Athlacca v Pallasgreen in Bruff at 5.30pm. Blackrock v Garryspillane in Kilbreedy at 5.30pm.
