St. Kierans GAA Club Notes:
Fixtures:
Wednesday August 7: County Minor B Hurling Championship v ABK Desmond’s in Coolcappagh at 7.15
Friday Augst 9: County Intermediate Hurling Championship Round 2 v Croagh/Kilfinny in Dromcollogher at 7pm
County Intermediate Hurling Championship Round 1
St. Kierans 0.17 Pallasgreen 1.15
Our intermediate hurlers got their County Championship campaign underway on Saturday afternoon as they made the short journey to Adare for their opening round tie with Pallasgreen. We took to the field with a youthful side consisting of four championship debutants against a Pallasgreen side who qualified for the quarterfinals in 2023. We began the brighter of the two sides playing with great energy in the opening quarter and racing into a two point lead on the fifteen minute mark, 0.6 to 0.4. We were working extremely hard around the middle third while at the back it was evident that our backs were well in control of each of their individual battles. The game took a major turn on the twenty-minute mark when former Limerick senior and All Ireland winner Colin Ryan got on the end of a Pallasgreen attack and cut through the heart of our defence with his shot leaving goalkeeper Cillian Ambrose no chance. Despite having played much of the hurling in the opening half we went in at the interval trailing following three late Pallasgreen points to reduce their early deficit and lead 1.8 to 0.10 at the break. First half scores came from Cathal McEnery, Conor Woulfe, Ian Mackessy, Brendan McCarthy, Cillian Ambrose and Jack O’ Sullivan. We got off to an excellent start to the second half with Cormac Mann opening his tally with an excellently struck point before the momentum once again shifted in the favour of the east Limerick side following three unanswered scores before Mann added his second point of the game. We were now finding it extremely difficult to win primary possession up front and the east Limerick side began to punish our indiscretions with their free taker proving to be extremely potent from the placed ball. A long range free from Cillian Ambrose settled us once more and as the final five minutes approached five points separated the two sides. We worked tirelessly in the closing stages of the game as we trailed by five points. A point from full forward Eoin McEnery reduced the lead to four points and three frees from Jack O’ Sullivan reduced the margin between the two sides to a solitary point. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts we couldn’t find the decisive score to take at minimum a point from the game and at the final whistle the men in blue and amber emerged with the win and the all important two points. While we are disappointed not to come away with the win in a game, we performed extremely well in we can take great encouragement from the performance. We worked ferociously hard throughout the field against a very experienced Pallasgreen side. If we can put in a similar type of performance this Friday evening in round two then we will hopefully be competitive once again. In round two this Friday night we face another stern test against county finalists for the past two seasons, fellow West Limerick side Croagh/Kilfinny. Like ourselves Croagh tasted defeat in the opening rounds at the hands of Murroe/Boher and will undoubtedly be extremely determined to get their championship campaign back on track with a win on Friday evening. In the weekends other game from our group there was no separating Bruree and 2023 County Premier Junior Champions Mungret / St. Pauls ‘B’ with both sides taking a point from the game. this Friday nights game against Croagh / Kilfinny takes place in Dromcollogher with a 7pm throw in time.
Team vs Pallasgreen:
Cillian Ambrose (0.1), Darragh McMahon, Diarmuid Mulcahy, Aaron Heffernan, Mossie Shine, Brendan McCarthy (0.1), Cathal McEnery (0.2), Cormac Mann (0.2), Conor Woulfe (0.1), Jack O’ Sullivan (0.6), Ian Mackessy (0.2), Michael Murphy, Cillian Meade, Eoin McEnery (0.1), Anthony Mullins, Jack Harnett, Michael Long, Fionn Gleeson, Derry O’ Connor, Donie Nolan, Billy Breen, Sean Long, Bryan Sheehan, Edward Fitzgerald, James O’ Connor, Liam Scanlon, Brian O’ Neill, Anthony Molyneaux, Cathal O’ Connor
County Minor ‘A’ Football Championship
St. Kieran’s 2.7 Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan 0.13
We welcomed Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan to Coolcappagh on Sunday morning for the final round of the County Minor ‘A’ Football Championship. Such has been the competitive nature of the group three teams were in contention to join Adare in qualifying for the County Semi-finals going into the final round of games. We went into the game knowing that a three-point victory would be enough to secure our passage to the semi finals and for long periods of the game it looked as if we would take the final slot. We led by four points at the interval having played some excellent football throughout the opening half with an early goal laying the foundations for our first half lead. To our opponents credit they kept their championship aspirations alive with a much-improved second half performance and had reduced their half time deficit within the opening quarter as we began to find it increasingly difficult to create scoring opportunities and capitalise on the ones we created. As the final whistle approached both sides were deadlocked. Knowing that we had to win we pushed hard for a decisive goal but alas the visiting side held firm and at the final whistle the two sides could not be separated. Despite a very competitive performance we bow out the championship as Adare and Ballysteen advance to the County Semi-Finals next week. We played five games in what was an extremely competitive group consisting of six west Limerick sides highlighting that the standard of football within the division is extremely strong at present. Victories over Newcastle West and Drom/Broadford were the highlight of the campaign while we experienced two agonising losses to Adare and Athea/Shannon Gaels and a final round draw with Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan. Many thanks to the panel of players and management team of John Ryan, Ger Sheehan, Nicky Kelly, John O’ Connor and Owen Hayes for their hard work and commitment throughout the season. This is a very promising group of players with huge potential. Several of the panel have got their first taste of adult football in 2024 at junior and senior level and have performed extremely well while several others will have the opportunity to in 2025 and we can look forward with much optimism.
Team vs ABK, Cian Mulcahy, Ben Cussen, Conor McMahon, Cormac Murphy, David O’ Connell, Sean Long, Chris Kiely, Jack O’ Sullivan, Mikey Kelly, Jack Dowling, Oisin Ryan, Eoghan Sheehan, Bryan Sheehan, Cathal Daly, Oisin Commane, Josh Daly, Luke Corrigan, Luke Mulcahy, Conor Sheahan.
St. Kieran’s GAA Healthy Club:
Last Wednesday marked the end of our 6 week pole activator walking course which the Healthy club arm of St Kieran’s GAA ran over the last 6 weeks-a really enjoyable 6 weeks. There were great numbers (men and women) each week and absolutely everyone found the novel way of exercising very beneficial and something we hope to continue later in the year. Many thanks to all who took part, without you it wouldn’t have been possible to run the program and to Nicole O Sullivan, our tutor and to Limerick Sports Partnership for their support. We look forward to running more classes in the Autumn-there is certainly an appetite for this type of gathering. A special word of thanks from everyone who took part to our Healthy Club Officer, Paula and Deirdre for organising everything and for providing the teas, coffees and the beautiful refreshments each week at the end of the classes. It was very much appreciated by all. Thanks ladies.
Rounders:
This is the St Kierans rounders group that played Galway Raparees (Galway city) in Salthill last Sunday morning in horrifically windy and rainy conditions. This was a big step up in class for our girls, but they showed fantastic skill and commitment in a very tight contest all through. After a gallant effort from the girls, they unluckily missed out by 1 point 15-14… The match went all the way to 5 innings, and they should be very proud of their efforts. This however is not the end of the road as the girls now are coming through the back door of the championship. They will now face the northern runners up next Saturday at a time and venue to be determined. This will involve more travelling unfortunately, but this is nothing new to our fantastic group who are doing the club proud.
Best of luck to Michael and all the girls this weekend.
Ardagh Development Association & St Kieran’s GAA Club Lottery Draw:
Results for Monday 5th August 2024.
Jackpot €6300
Numbers Drawn 4, 16, 17, 21
No Winner
Lucky Dips
€40 Marian O Sullivan (Online)
€40 DTG c/o John Aherne
€40 Katie Woulfe Ardagh
€40 Hazel O Donnell Newcastle West
€40 Jim Molyneaux Ardagh
Next Draw Monday 12th August 2024 with a jackpot of €6400.00.