GAA Notes
GRANAGH BALLINGARRY G.A.A.
LAST POINT LANDS FIRST TITLE
SINCE 2003
West Junior B Hurling Championship final
Granagh-Ballingarry…0-12
Feohanagh-Castlemahon…1-8
A point from a 30 metre placed ball near the sideline after a foul on Padraig Lynch in the final minute of normal time by John O'Grady paved the way for a hard fought victory for Granagh-Ballingarry over unlucky Feohanagh-Castlemahon and their first West Junior B Hurling Championship title since 2003 and a historic West League/Championship double in ideal conditions at Dromcollogher on Saturday.
The Dromcollogher-Broadford officials had their pitch in top class condition for this final played in front of a good crowd with Donie Neville of Croagh-Kilfinny in charge. It was a hard-fought low-scoring contest with both defences well on top with Feohanagh-Castlemahon most unlucky not to have earned a replay as they created a number of scoring chances in added time which they failed to convert.
Feohanagh-Castlemahon, playing in their fourth final in a row and seeking their first title since defeating Granagh-Ballingarry in 2012, with the wind at their backs made all the early running with points by Daniel Flynn from a placed ball and Mark Liston in the first four minutes. A couple of wides were exchanged before John O'Grady opened Granagh-Ballingarry’s account with a point from a placed ball on 7 min, and he followed this two minutes later with a fine point from out near the sideline for 0-2 each on 9 minutes.
Then points were exchanged from placed balls by Michael Hayes on 10 minutes and John O'Grady on 12. Five minutes later after inaccurate shooting by both sides a crucial score arrived when a good forward surge by Feohanagh-Castlemahon was finished with a cracking John McEnery goal on 17 ins to put Feohanagh-Castlemahon three ahead, 1-3 to 0-3. The next 12 minutes were close and exciting with both teams missing chances before Eoin Casey of Granagh-Ballingarry found the range with a point after a good solo run on 30 minutes, cancelled out a minute later by a placed ball by Daniel Flynn to leave three again between the sides, Feohanagh-Castlemahon 1-4 to Granagh-Ballingarry 0-4 on 31 minutes.
Granagh-Ballingarry far from being overawed scored a couple of points in added time through Padraig Lynch on 32 minutes and Mark Snow on 33 to reduce the gap to the minimum at the interval, Feohanagh-Castlemahon 1-4 Granagh-Ballingarry 0-6.
Granagh-Ballingarry with the wind at their backs made a good start to the second half with points by sub Kevin O'Kelly within a minute and John O'Grady on 33 minutes to push ahead for the first time 0-8 to 1-4. Michael Hayes and Daniel Flynn had wides for Feohanagh-Castlemahon before points were exchanged from placed balls by Daniel Flynn on 35 minutes and John O'Grady on 37 to leave Granagh-Ballingarry still one up 0-9 to 1-5 on 37 minutes.
Feohanagh-Castlemahon now began to up their game with points by Michael Hayes from a 65 on 41 minutes and John McEnery on 44 to go one ahead, 1-7 to 0-9 on 43 minutes. The next five minutes’ hurling was mediocre with wides for both sides. Then John O'Grady had the sides level for the fourth time in this hard fought contest with a point from a long-range placed ball, Granagh-Ballingarry 0-10 Feohanagh-Castlemahon 1-7 on 48 minutes. Points were exchanged by sub Brendan Lynch on 53 minutes and Jack O'Donoghue on 57 to level for the fifth time, Feohanagh-Castlemahon 1-8 Granagh-Ballingarry 0-11 on 57 minutes.
A couple of wides were exchanged before a foul on Padraig Lynch of Granagh-Ballingarry allowed John O'Grady to point from the placed ball and put Granagh-Ballingarry ahead on 30 minutes. Feohanagh-Castlemahon created a couple of scoring chances in added time which they failed to convert and at the final whistle Granagh-Ballingarry were celebrating their first West Junior A Hurling Championship title since 2003, if only just, 0-12 to 1-9.
Feohanagh-Castlemahon were gutted to have lost their third final in a row but were very sporting in defeat. Granagh-Ballingarry scored 0-7 from play and 0-5 from frees; Feohanagh-Castlemahon scored 1-3 from play, 0-4 from frees and 0-1 from a 65.
Granagh-Ballingarry: Conor Mulqueen, Michael O'Keeffe, Eoin Cahill, Stephen Hickey, Mark Tierney, Michael Walsh, Edward Sheehy, Eoghan Casey 0-1, Brian Fitzgerald, Mark Snow 0-1, Kieran Condron, Michael O'Riordan, Padraig Lynch 0-1, John O'Grady 0-7, Jack O'Donoghue 0-1. Subs: Kevin O'Kelly 0-1, Richard O'Keeffe.
Other panel members used in the course of the championship: Neil Dunworth, Alan Chawke, Niall Carroll, Patrick Potter, Kevin Forde, Patrick Shelton, Aaron Smith, Brian Healy, Kevin Mulcahy, Gordon Cagney, James Hayes, Marcus Moore, Dean Clancy, Aaron O'Kelly, Brian Noonan, Niall Cahill and Brendan Lynch.
Feohanagh-Castlemahon: Donnacha O'Callaghan, Michael Flynn, Michael O'Mahony, Andrew Lenihan, Donal Mullane,Michael Hayes 0-2, Gregory Browne, Vinny Barry, Mark Liston 0-1, Daniel Flynn 0-3, Shane Brouder, Noel Kirwan, John McEnery 1-1. Jack Fitzgibbon. Subs: Darren Fitzgibbon,Brendan Lynch 0-1.
Referee: Donie Neville, Croagh-Kilfinny.
After the match, West Board assistant treasurer Johnny Brosnahan congratulated Granagh-Ballingarry on winning their second West Junior B Hurling Championship; he praised Feohanagh-Castlemahon for the part they played in a hard fought contest, and wished both sides the best of luck in the county quarter-finals. He complimented Donie Neville and his officials and the Dromcollogher-Broadford club for having everything in top class order. He then presented the cup to winning captain Mark Tierney to the joy of the large Granagh-Ballingarry support.
Mark thanked team manager Conor O'Keeffe and selectors Liam Carroll, Stephen Stapleton, Andrew Holmes and Niall McCarthy, first-aiders Breda and Laura O'Keeffe and the supporters before calling for three rousing cheers for sporting Feohanagh-Castlemahon. at a social gaterhing in Skullers bar, Dromcollogher, Edward Sheehy was presented with the Man of the Match award.
Path to the title
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 c/o Newcastle West scr
Semi-final Granagh-Ballingarry 0-21 Tournafulla 2-10
Final Granagh-Ballingarry 0-12 Feohanagh-Castlemahon 1-8
Final snippets
Brian Fitzgerald, who lined out wearing the no. 9 jersey for Granagh-Ballingarry on Saturday, played at centre back and was team captain, Conor Mulqueen wore the no. 10 jersey and team captain Mark Tierney was a sub when Granagh-Ballingarry won their first West B title in 203 defeating Newcastle West 3-9 to 208 at Croagh.
The 2003 winning Granagh-Ballingarry side was Jimmy Shiels, Liam Carroll, Ollie O'Brien, Aidan Barrett, Shane Clifford, Brian Fitzgerald (capt.), Neil Dunworth, John Carroll 0-1, Kieran Mulqueen, Conor Mulqueen, John O'Sullivan 0-1, Brian Kennedy 0-1, Jim O'Keeffe 0-1, Billy O'Connor 2-1, John Paul Morrison 1-4.
Other panel members were Edmond Culhane, Neville O'Donnell, Kevin Carroll, Mick Houlihan, Shane O'Grady, Mark Tierney, Michael Lenihan, Andrew Holmes and Paul McCarthy, and the mentors were Philip lane manager, Danny Ahern, Jimmy Stapleton and Eoin Barrett selectors and Conor O'Keeffe trainer.
Granagh-Ballingarry play the South runners-up Camogue Rovers and Feohanagh-Castlemahon play South champions Bruree in the county quarter-finals.
BRUREE EASE INTO SEMI
County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship round 7
Bruree…2-14
Granagh-Ballingarry…0-8
Bruree qualified for a meeting with Monaleen in the semi-final of the Premier County Intermediate Hurling Championship with a comfortable victory over gallant Granagh-Ballingarry who had to field without several key players and had their no. 6 sent off with a red card in the final minute of the first half. A good crowd watched this final group game despite the early 5.30pm throw-in, played on a top class pitch with Denis Richardson of Murroe-Boher in charge. Granagh-Ballingarry had to line out without key players Denis O'Connor, Niall Kennedy and Cian Cagney and also lost davod Condron and John Carroll in the course of the game due to injury, while Bruree were at near full strength.
Granagh-Ballingarry, playing into the dressing-room goal, made all the early running with points by Cathal O'Keeffe from a placed ball and Seán Lenihan from play in the first three minutes. Wides were exchanged before Shane Mullane opened Bruree’s account from a long-range placed ball on 6 minutes, cancelled out two minutes later by Donal O'Grady to leave it 0-3 to 0-1 in favour of Granagh-Ballingarry. Shane Mullane closed the gap to one with his second long-range placed ball on 11 minutes before points were exchanged by Donal O'Grady on 16 minutes and Kieran O'Dea from a placed ball on 17 to leave Granagh-Ballingarry still one ahead 0-4 to 0-3 on 17 minutes. Bruree upped their game for the remaining 13 minutes, superior in every position, with points by James Vincent O'Brien on 21 minutes and Kieran O'Dea from placed balls on 30 and 31 minutes to leave Bruree 0-8 to 0-4 up at the interval, with Granagh-Ballingarry reduced to 14 players when their no. 6 was sent off on 30 minutes.
Bruree with the extra man had points by Brian O'Rourke and John O'Brien in the first two minutes after the interval before points were traded by Cathal O'Keeffe from a placed ball on 34 minutes and Shane Mullane from play on 36, Kieran O'Dea from a placed ball on 38 minutes and Michael Clancy from play on 40 to leave Bruree ahead 0-12 to 0-6 on 40 minutes. Both sides had wides before Cathal O'Keeffe of Granagh-Ballingarry reduced the deficit to five with a well taken point after a good solo run on 47 minutes. a crucial score arrived on 48 minutes when Kieran O'Dea finished past the Granagh-Ballingarry keeper to increase Bruree’s advantage to eight. A couple of wides were exchanged before Eoin Kennedy who had just come onto the field for Granagh-Ballingarry pointed after a good solo run to close the gap to seven, 1-12 to 0-8 on 52 minutes.
The final eight minutes were all Bruree with a cracking goal by sub Gerard O'Dea on 55 minutes followed by points courtesy of Jimmy O'Dea on 58 minutes and John O'Brien on 59. At the final whistle Bruree were comfortable 2-14 to 0-8 winners to finish second in the table on 10 points and qualify for a semi-final meeting with third-placed Monaleen. Knockainey play Garryspillane in the other semi-final. Granagh-Ballingarry were gutted not to have qualified for the county semi-final, but their playing season is not over as they still have to play Killeedy or Feenagh-Kilmeedy in the West Intermediate Championship semi-final, Adare in the West senior final and Feohanagh-Castlemahon in the Dunworth Cup final replay.
Granagh-Ballingarry: Colm Noonan, Niall Cahill, Donagh McCarthy, Michael Carroll, John Carroll, David Clancy, Bobby Houlihan, Bert Hanley, Seán Lenihan 0-1, Donal O'Grady 0-2, Kevin O'Connor, Brendan Lynch, Cathal O'Keeffe 0-3, David Condron, Michael Clancy 0-1. Subs used: Eoin Kennedy 0-1, Jack Cagney, Cian Cagney, Pat Carroll, Niall McCarthy.
The Bruree scorers were Kieran O'Dea 1-5, Shane Mullane 0-3, Gerard O'Dea 1-0, Brian O'Rourke 0-2, John O'Brien 0-2, James V O'Brien 0-1 and Jimmy O'Dea 0-1.
Referee: Denis Richardson, Murroe-Boher.
PREVIEW OF JUNIOR B QUARTER-FINAL
Adare is the venue on Saturday, 26th September, at 3pm for the meeting of West champions Granagh-Ballingarry and South runners-up Camogue Rovers in the County Junior B Hurling Championship quarter-final as Granagh-Ballingarry bid to reverse the recent 2-14 to 1-11 defeat by Camogue Rovers in the Dunworth Cup final and make it through to the county semi-final for the first time since 2008.
2015 form
Camogue Rovers have won four and drawn one of their ten competitive games so far this season:
South Junior B Hurling League group 2
Round 1 Glenroe 2-9 Camogue Rovers 0-14
Round 2 Camogue Rovers w/o Castletown-Ballyagran scr.
Round 3 Bruree 0-21 Camogue Rovers 1-18 (a draw)
Round 4 Blackrock 3-11 Camogue Rovers 1-16
South Junior B Hurling Championship group 2
Round 1 Bruree 2-11 Camogue Rovers 0-10
Round 2 Camogue Rovers 1/15 Knockainey 1-9
Round 3 Camogue Rovers 1-16 Dromin-Athlacca 2-11
Semi-final Camogue Rovers 1-12 Blackrock 2-8
Final Bruree 1-17 Camogue Rovers 0-14
Dunworth Cup final Camogue Rovers 2-14 Granagh-Ballingarry 1-11
Granagh-Ballingarry have won 11 of their 13 games so far this year, winning the West League and Championship and reaching the County League final where they lost to All-Ireland champions Doon by five points:
West Junior B Hurling League group 2
Round 1 Granagh-Ballingarry 1-11 Croagh-Kilfinny 1-8
Round 2 Granagh-Ballingarry 2-9 St Kieran's 1-9
Round 3 Knockaderry 2-16 Granagh-Ballingarry 1-16
Playoff Granagh-Ballingarry 5-13 Croagh-Kilfinny 1-8
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
Final Granagh-Ballingarry 0-12 Feohanagh-Castlemahon 1-8
Dunworth Cup final Camogue Rovers 2-14 Granagh-Ballingarry 1-11
Support
A tough encounter is expected and your support would be welcome in Adare on Sunday at 8pm to cheer on the boys in black and green to their first county Junior B Hurling Championship semi-final since 2008.
ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL TICKETS
Forty members entered the draw on Thursday night in the Ballingarry clubhouse for the Granagh/Ballingarry allocation of All Ireland Football Final tickets. The lucky winners were Rose McCarthy, val Small and Donagh McCarthy.
€9,600 JACKPOT ON MONDAY
The numbers drawn in the Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club lottery on Monday September 21st in Condron’s bar,Ballingarry, were 3, 16, 18 and 26. The jackpot was not won. Lucky dips of €20 each: David Stapleton, Miread O'Keeffe, Seán Cagney, Eddie Houlihan and Jim Ivess. The next draw is on Monday September 28th in the Rock, Granagh, for a jackpot of €9,600. We thank all our punters for their continued support.
WEST MINOR A HURLING FINAL
All roads lead to Mick Neville Park Rathkeale on Tuesday 29th September at 8pm for the awaited meeting of Granagh-Ballingarry/Rathkeale and Dáithi Broudairs the Dromcollogher-Broadford and Killeedy selection in the West Minor A Hurling Championship final. The proverbial mouth-watering clash awaits us with neither side fearing the other and both confident of victory. Hopefully, all Gaels in both Granagh-Ballingarry and Rathkeale will rally to the support of the boys and their management team on Tuesday to cheer them on towards their first ever West Minor Hurling Championship title under the Granagh-Ballingarry/Rathkeale name.
U16 HURLING SEMI-FINAL
Granagh-Ballingarry U16 hurlers go to Mick Neville Park Rathkeale this Saturday, 26th September, to play East Limerick side Kilteely Dromkeen at 11.30am in the County Division 3 U16 Hurling Championship semi-final. Please support our U16 hurlers.
