Granagh-Ballingarry GAA

West Minor A and B Football Championship round 1

St Kieran's 3-12

Granagh.Ballingarry /Banogue 1·13

Goals at vital stages in the first half courtesy of Noel Callinan on 6 minutes, Stephen Copse on 9 and Darragh O'Brien on 27 were crucial to St Kieran's five-point win over gallant Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue in the first round of the West Minor Football Championship in cold and windy conditions at Coolcappa on Friday evening.

A small crowd turned out to watch this repeat of last year's West Mirior B Football Championship final played on a well laid out pitch with Billy Phillips of Mountcollins in charge. The home side, St Kieran's, with wind advantage dominated the first nine minutes with points by Kaylon O'Connor on 3 minutes and Stephen Hennessey on 5 minutes followed by goals by Noel Callinan on 6 minutes and Stephen Hennessey on 9 to leave it 2-2 to 0-0 to the Saints. Then Adam Costelloe finally opened Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue's account with a well taken point from play after a good solo run on 10 minutes and followed this with points from placed balls on 12 and 14 minutes to close the gap to five, St Kieran's 2-2 Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue 0-3. A couple of wides were exchanged before St Kieran's upped their game with points by Noel Callinan on 17 and 19 minutes, Darragh O'Brien on 20 and Darragh O'Connor from a 45 on 22 minutes to increase the home side's advantage to nine, 2-6 to 0-3. Aidan Meade won a point back for Granagh/Ballingarry/Banogue on 25 minutes before Darragh Breen cut through the visitors' defence for the home side's third goal to leave it St Kieran's 3-6 Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue 0-4 on 27 minutes.

A couple of wides were exchanged before points were traded by Noe1 Callinan on 28 minutes and Adam Costelloe from a placed ball on 30, leaving it St Kieran's 3-7 Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue 0-5 at the interval. The football in the first six minutes of the second half was poor with both sides missing chances. Granagh~allingarry/Banogue now began to up their game with four points courtesy of Aaron Smith from a placed ball on 37 minutes and from play on 38, Aidan Meade on 40 and Mark O'Kelly on 41 to close the gap to seven, St Kieran's 3-7 GranaghBallingarry/Banogue 0-9. Then Colm Copse finally opened the St Kieran s second half account with a fine point on 42 minutes cancelled out from a placed ball by Aaron Smith on 45 to leave St Kieran's still seven ahead 3-8 to 0-10 at !he end o(the third quarter.

The next five minutes were close and exciting with both teams missing chances before Adam Costelloe of Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue found the range with a point after a good solo run on 51 minutes to close the gap to six, before points by Noel Callinan on 53 minutes and Darragh Breen on 54 and 56 minutes increased the Saints' lead to nine, 3-11 to 0-11. Then a foul on Aidan Meade of Granagh-Ballingarry/Banugue led to a penalty which Auam Costelloe sent past St Kieran's keeper CiIlian Ambrose on 58 minutes, and Aaron Smith followed

this a minute later with a point from a placed ball to close the gap to five, 3-11 to 1-12, on 59 minutes. Then Darragh O'Connor from a placed ball on 61 minutes and Adam Costelloe on 62 exchanged points to leave St Kieran's five points up, 3-12 to 1-13 winners at the final whistle after a most exciting contest played in a sporting manner. St Kieran's scored 3-10 from play, 0-1 from a free and 0-1 from a 45; Granagh-Ballingarry/Banogue scored 0-7 from play, 0-6 from frees and 0-1 from a penalty.

Sf Kieran's: Ciillan Ambrose, Tomas Mullins, Donie Power, JJ Cronin, Brian McCarthy, Diarmuid Mulcahy, John Buckley, Darragli O'Connor 0-2, Kaylan O'Connor 0-1, Noel Callinan 1-4, Patrick O'Connor, Darragh Breen 1-3, Stephen Hennessey 0-1, Colm Copse 0-1, Stephen Copse l-U. Granagh.Ballingarry/Banogue: Richie 0 'Keeffe, Killian Gavin, Ryan Brady, Mickey Molone)" Conor O'Donoghue, Brian Sexton, Mark Storan, James Dore, David O'Connell, Aidan Meade 0-2, Aaron Smith 0-4, Adam Costelloe 1-6, Eoin O'Carroll, Mark O'Kelly 0-1, Cormac Snow. Subs: Cathal Barrington, Gerry Ouaid, Keith O'Kelly, Mark Shelton.

Referee: Billy Phillips, Mountcollins.

CLASH OF NEIGHBOURS

There should be a feast of hurling in G.A.A. venues all over the county this weekend for the three second-round games listed in the Lirnenck County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship. The mouth-watering clashes include neighbOurs and rivals Granagh-Ballingarry and Croom at Croagh on Saturday 7th at 7pm. This mouth-watering clash of two sides seek.iilg their first win after Croom lost to Monaleen 1-18 to 1-12 and Granagh- Ba1lingarry played a thrilling 1-15 to 1-15 maw with Effin in their opening games at Fitzgerald Park Kilmallock on Saturday 9th April has generated a buzz in Doth clubs and is the first ever meeting of these sides in the Intermediate Championship but they have clashed" in the County Junior A Championship final in 1996, the County Junior A League final in 1998 and County .Senior Championship in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and in the Dunworth Cup finals in 2012 and 2013.

Granagh-Ballingarry V Croom, 1996·2013

The first Championship clash of Granagh-Ballingarry and Croom for a number of years took place on Sunday 27th October at Pairc na nGael where Croom beat the black and greens 2-12 to 0-6 in t he County Junior A Hurling Championship final The Granagh-Ballingarry side that wet and windy evening was Shane Mulqueen, Stephen Stapleton, Ollie O'Brien, Conor O'Keeffe, Padraig Forde, Mick Sheehy, Aidan Mulqueen, Neville O'Donnell, Peter Stapleton, Brian Culhane, Seamus Stapleton (capt.), Ciaran Stapleton, _ John English, John Paul Morrison and Padraig Fitzgerald. Subs used were Billy O'Connell, Paul Kennedy and Ed O'Brien. The winning Croom side was John Cahill, Alan Sheerin, Brian Crofton, Liam Hartnett,

Patsy Keyes,Patsy Cahill, Ger Geehan, Mike Mangan, Liam Cooney, Trevor Barry, Gerry Shanahan, Robert Cregan, James Collins, Denis Sheerin and Keith Cregan. Granagh-Ba1lingarry and Croom clashed again two years later in the County Junior A Hurling League fmal at Fitzgerald Park Kilmallock on Sunday 12th July 1998 and the sides fIrushed all square, Croom 0-11 Granagh-Ballingarry 1-8, with Croom's second string winning the replay eight days later by 1-11 to 2-3 at the same venue.

That Granagh-Ballingarry team was David Clancy, Ollie O'Brien, Conor 0 Keeffe, Stephen Stapleton, Paul Kennedy, Seamus Stapleton, Ed O'Brien, Peter Stapleton, Thomas Moloney, Aidan Mulqueen, Donal O'Grady 0-1, Neville O'Donnell, Brian Cullinane 1-0. John Paul Morrison 1-2, Shane Mulqueen, Micheal Clancy and Billy O'Connor. GranaghBallingarry went on later in 1989 to win the County Junior A Hurling ChampionShip final beating Newcastle West at Dromcollogher and gaining senior status.

When beating Glenroe in the County Intermediate Championship final at Fitzgerald Park Kilmallock in October 2005 to set up the next clash of Granaglh-Ballingarry and Croom in the first game of the 2006 County Senior Hurling Championship on Saturday 27th at Pairc na nGael where Croom had to produce a great second-half display to beat Intermediate champions Granagh-Ballingarry by 5 points 2-16 to 2-11 after they had led 2-7 to 1-5 at the interval.

That Granagh-Ba1lingarry side was Conor Mulqueen, John Carroll, Dona McCarthy Niall Mc Carthy, Mick Carroll (capt.), David Clancy, Darren Clifford, Donal O'Grady 0-4, Paul Kennedy," Eoin Chawke 0-2, Kevin O'Connor 0-1, Bert Hanley 0-1, Stephen Stapleton 1-1, Seamus Stapleton 0-1, MicheaI Clancy 1-11, sub used Cormac McCarthy. The Croom scorers were Martin Lenihan 1-2, Niall Cregan 1-2, Hugh Flavin 0-4, Niall Riordan 0-3, Peter Lawlor 0-3, Stephen Lucey 0-1 The next meeting was in round 2 of the County Senior Hurling Championship on Friday 27th July at Fitzgerald Park Kilmallock where Granagh-Ballingarry were illlpreSSlve SlX pomt 2-15 to 0-15 winners.ihat Granagh-Ba1lingarry side was Conor Mulqueen, Michael Carroll, Donagh McCarthy, Bobby Houlihan, Bert Hanley, David Clancy, Darren Clifford, Donal O'Grad)' 0-3, Niall McCarthy 0-1, Eoin Chawke 1-0, Denis O'Connor 0-6, Kevin O'Connor 0-1, Eoin Kennedy 0-3, Seamus Stapleton, MicheaI Clancy (capt.) 1-1, Paul Kennedy.

The sides met again in round 3 of the county Senior Championship on Sunday 30th August 2009 at O'Carroll Park Ballyagran where a point from a 23 metre free three minutes into added time by Conor Allis after a foul on Ger Flynn earned Croom a deserved 1-15-all draw with neighbours Granagh-Ballingarry with Croom easily beating an unusually out of focus Granagh-Ballingarry six days later 3-9 to 1-4 at the same venue to advance to a quarter-final with city side na Piarsaigh. That Granagh-Ballingarry team was

Jimmy Shiels, Michael Carroll, Seamus Stapleton, Bobb)' Houlihan, Bert Hanley, David Clancy, Darren Clifford 0-1, Donal O'Grady (capt.), John Carroll, Paul Kennedy, Kevin O'Connor, Eom Chawke, Eoin Kennedy, Denis O'Connor 0-3, sUDS used Martin Treacy, Michael Corrigan, Pat Carroll, Blaine Cagney, Kieran Condron. The Croom scorers were Conor Allis 2-3, Cormac Beehan 1-1, Steven Cahill 0-3, Peter Cregan 0-1 and Mark O'Riordan 0-1.

The next meeting of the sides was in the last group 2 game on Sunday 25th July 2010 at Croagh where a hard fought 0-16-all draw secure a GranaghBallingarry a quarter-fillal with Kilmallock. And that Granagh-Ballingarry side was Jimmy Shiels, Paul Kennedy, Donagh McCarthy, Mick Carroll, Bobby Houlihan, David Clancy (Capt.), Darren Clifford, Donal O'Grady 0-3, John Carroll 0-1, Eorn Kenned)', Eoin Chawke 0-8, Niall Kennedy 0-3, Micheal Clancy, Seamus Stapleton, Niall Cahill, subs used Thomas O'Donovan, Martin Treacy.

Croom:

Michael Mangan, Richie O'Kelly, MarK O'Riordan, Niall Cregan, Shane Lawlor, Pa Reidy, Peter Lawlor 0-1, Thomas Carmody 0-7, Marcus Cregan 0-2, Patsy Cahill, Steven O'Kelly, Ger Flynn 0-3, Cormac Behan 0-1, Mark Lynch, Damien Sexton 0-2, subs used Kevin McNamara, Padraig Brennan, Jack Ryan.

On Sunday 22nd July 2012 Croom won their third Dunworth Cup hurling title, their first since 1999, with a hard fought three point 0-17 to 0-14 win over holders Granagh- Ballingarry.

The Granagh-Ballingarry side was John O'Grady, Cian Cagney, David Clancy, Niall Cahill, Bobby Houlihan, Thomas O'Donovan, John Carroll, Eoin Kennedy 0-1, David Condron 0-1, Bert Hanley 0-1, Eoin Chawke 0-2, Conor Hogan -0-3, Denis O'Connor 0-7, Kieran O'Keeffe. Scorers for Croom were Thomas Carmody 0-9, Stephen Moore 0-2, Peter Lawlor 0-2, Pa Reidy 0-1, Eoin O'Farrell, Conor Laffan and John Chawke 0-1 each.

Granagh-Ballingarry gained sweet revenge in the 2013 final on Saturday 28th April at Ballingarry where they beat holders Croom by the narrowest of margins 2-15 to 2-14 to take their sixth Dunworth Cup title; down 7 points with five minutes to go they scored 2-2 courtesy of Eoin Chawke 1-1 from placed balls, Denis O'Connor 1-0 from a ground shot and a 40 metre point by Cian Cagney to claim their sixth Dunworth Cup after a thrilling contest.

The last meeting of the sides was in round 5 of Division 2 in the County Hurling League on Saturday 4th July 2015 at Croom where both sides lined out under strength with an opportunist goal by Kevin 0 Connor on 22 minutes after good work by Padraig Lynch was crucial to Granagh-Ballingarry's three point 1-15 to 0-15 victory after which they were top of the table

2015 form

Granagh-Ballingarry have won 1, drawn 1 and lost 2 of their four games this season: County Division 2 Hurling League round 1 Garryspillane 0-17 Granagh- Ballingarry 0-12· round 2 Ballyorown 5-16 Granagh-Ballmgarry 1-12; County Premier Intennediate Hurling Championship round 1 Granagh-BalIingarry 1-15 Effin 1-15,

West Intennediate Hurling Championship guarterfinal Granagb-Ballmgarry 2-14 Templeglantine I -1l. Panel: Colm Noonan, Sean Lenihan, Niall Cahill, Donagh McCarthy, Mark Tierney, Donal O'Grady, John Carroll (capt.), Bert Hanley, Kevin O'Connor, Denis D'Connor, Niall Kennedy, David Condron, Jim O'Keeffe, David Clancy, MicheaJ. Clancy, Jimmy Shiels, Cian Cagney, pat Carroll, Brendan Lyncli, Niall McCarthy, Kevin Forde, Eoin Cahill, John O'Grady, Eoin Casey, Jack Cagney, _ Edward Sheehy, Stephen Hick~y, Mark Snow, Patrick Shelton, Kevin Mulcahy, Padraig Lynch, Kieran O'Donovan.

Management: manager Liam Carroll, coach Aidan O'Rahilly, selectors Stephen Stapleton, Paul Kennedy, Darragh O'Grady, first aid Breda and Laura O'Keeffe.

Croom have drawn one and lost three of their four games this year: Division 2 County Hurling League round 1 South -LibertIes 3-11 Croom 0-12; round 2 Croom 0-16 Effm 1-13; South Intennediate Hurling Championship quarter-fI~ nal BlackrocK 2- TO Croom 0-12; County Premier Intennediate Hurling Championship round 1, Moilaleen 1-18 Croom 1-12. Panel: Mark O'Kelly, Richie O'Kelly, Marcus Cregan, Mickey Cahill, Kevm Laffan, Conor Allis (capt.), Padraig Brennan, Ryan O'Shea, Stephen Moore, Ger Flynn, Mark O'Riordan, James Malone, Aidan Morrissey, Darnien Sexton, Mark Reidy, Pa Reidy, Luke Storan, Seamus Vaughan. manager: Ray Twomey.

Support

A mouth-watering clash awaits with neither side fearing the other and both confIdent of victory, so this Saturday 7th May Croagh is the place for all Granagh-Ballingarry fans to be at 7pm to cheer them on as they bid for their first County Premier Intermediate Championship win.

County G.A.A. yearbook

Limenck All-Ireland winning U21 hurling manager John Kiely of Galbally was guest of honour at the launch of the 2015 Limerick County G.A.A. Yearbook at the Woodlands House Hotel, Adare, on Monday night. The book runs to 152 pages and includes a three-page profIle of our own Munster Senior Hurling Championship winning captain Donal O'Grady, and photos of the Granagh-Ballmgarry side that won the 2015 West Senior and Intermediate Hurling Championship double and the County Senior Camogie Championship 3 In a row winning Side.

A contributor has compiled a roll of honour for the County Senior Intennediate Junior A and B championships in hurling and football which makes interesting reading with Granagh-Ballingarry leading in the County Junior A Hurling Championship with 7 titles, as Granagh in 1914, 1916, 1942 and 1976, as Ballingarry in 1944 and 1979 and as Granagh-Ballingarry in 1988, and we also lead the roll of honour in the County Junior Football Championship with four titles, Ballingarry 1989 and Granagh- Ballingarry 1996, 2002 and 2010. This excellent volume costs only €10 and is now available from Granagh-Ballingarry G,A.A. club secretary John Lynch 087-2912356.

MicheaI Mulcahy R.I.P.

Granagh- Ballingarry G.A.A. club officials, players and members extend their deepest heartfelt sympathy to the Mulcahy family, Ballingarry, on the death of Michael Mulcahy. MicheaJ. played hurling and football with Granagh- Ballingarry winning a county minor Division 1 Hurling Chamflionship medal in 1993, West Junior B Footbal League and Championship medals in 1996 and County Junior Football Championship medals in 1996 and 2002.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.

CLUB DIARY

Wednesday 4th May Munster Minor Hurling Championship round 2 play-off, Clare v Tipperary

in Cusack Park Ennis 7pm Thursday 5th May

West Minor A and B Football Championship round 2 St. Senan's v St Kieran's in Foynes at 7.15pm; Dromcollogher-Broadford v Claughaun in Dromcollogher 7. I5pm Friday 6th May

West Minor A and B Football Championship round 2 Granagh-Ballingarry v Gael na Sionna in Ballingarry 7.15pm, Ballysteen v Kiiockaderry-Monagea in Ballysteen 7.15pm County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship round 2 Garryspillane v Cappamore in Bruff 7.15pm

County Intermediate Hurling Championship group 2 round 1, St Kieran's v Dromcollogher-Broadford in Newcastle West 7 .15pm. Knockaderry v Glenroe, Fitzgerald Park Kilmallock 7. 15pm Saturday 7th May National Ladies' Football League Division 2 final Donegal v Westmeath,

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