St. Kierans GAA Club Notes:
West Junior ‘B’ Football Championship Final:
St. Kierans 1.8 Knockaderry 1.2
The junior footballers took on neighbours Knockaderry for the third season in succession in the West Junior B football championship final on Wednesday evening in the excellent facilities at Mountcollins GAA club. Following the torrential wind and rain that fell throughout the day conditions throughout the hour we extremely challenging for both sides and undoubtedly impacted on the flow of the game. We came into the game full of confidence following a comprehensive semi-final victory over Drom / Broadford in what was one of our best performances of the season in all competitions but knew we would face a major challenge from a Knockaderry side who would be highly motivated to recapture the title they relinquished last season. We managed the ball the better of the two sides in the opening half despite the challenging playing conditions with Johnny McCarthy and Anthony Molyneaux in particular showing their vast experience throughout the opening thirty minutes and we led 0.3 to 0.0 at the interval. Playing with the assistance of the elements we increased our half time tally immediately as the second half progressed as Cathal McEnery found the back of the net and we now led 1.6 to 0.0. Much to Knockaderry’ s credit they showed no sign of throwing in the towel despite a nine-point deficit. Their hard work was rewarded late on as they were awarded a late penalty to reduce our lead back to six points with five minutes remaining. Despite Knockaderry’ s late charge we showed great composure in the closing moments to see out the game and retain the West Championship. congratulations to the players and management team on an excellent victory. West Championship titles at any grade are hard earned and must be cherished. The management team of Noel Broderick, Patrick Windle, James Windle and Nicky Kelly deserve great credit for the manner in which they have assembled this panel of players over the last two seasons which has seen the team win two West Championships as well as a County League title. They have introduced several younger players into the team, providing them with their first taste of adult football and they will undoubtedly gain huge confidence from adding another title to the clubs rich history. For our more experienced campaigners such as Johnny McCarthy, John Doyle and Anthony Molyneaux they can now add a West Junior Football Championship title to their West Senior Football titles. At the final team captain James O’ Connor collected the West Championship trophy from West Board official Johnny Walsh and thanked the referee Joe Mulcahy and his officials for refereeing the game on the night in challenging conditions and thanked Mountcollins for the use of their facilities. Both teams now progress into the knockout stages of the county championship in the coming weeks against Knockane and Oola respectively.
Team vs Knockane:
Con Enright, Michael Murphy, John Doyle, Ian Mackessy, Mike Upton, Johnny McCarthy, James O’ Connor, Jack O’ Sullivan, Donie Nolan, Cathal McEnery, Jack Harnett, Seamus Mangan, Luke Corrigan, Oisin Ryan, Anthony Molyneaux, Tom McMahon, Fionn Gleeson, Shane Lynch, Jack Mulqueen, Conor Woulfe, Dan Duggan, Shane Fitzgerald, Ben Cussen, Eamon Ambrose, Ray Cahill, Oisin Commane, Bryan Sheahan, Eamon Ambrose, Brian O’ Neill.
County Junior ‘B’ Football Championship Quarter Final:
St. Kieran’s 1.7 Knockane 0.4
Following the highs of the West Championship victory on Wednesday night the junior footballers were back in action on Sunday afternoon in the quarter final of the County Championship. East Championship runners up Knockane were our opponents in Old Christians GAA grounds in Rathbane. The east Limerick side were interested spectators in Mountcollins the previous Wednesday and undoubtedly had their homework done in preparation for Sunday’s game as they looked to gain revenge following our earlier County League semi-final victory over them. Fielding a much-changed side since our earlier encounter with several players stepping up to senior level while others returned to the fold following injury we managed the opening half very well despite the challenging playing conditions once again. We led 0.5 to 0.2 at the break with opening half scores coming from Jack Harnett, Cathal McEnery, Anthony Molyneaux, Oisin Ryan and Jack O’ Sullivan. The opening exchanges of the second half were hard hitting as Knockane worked hard to reduce their half time deficit despite some hard hits our lads stood firm ensuring that the east Limerick side didn’t break our defence. Up front scoring opportunities were hard come by given the conditions and a goal was always going to have a major impact on the game. on the fifty-minute mark we were rewarded for our hard work in maintaining possession as we were awarded a penalty. Once again Anthony Molyneaux stood up and slotted the ball past the Knockane keeper to double our lead and from here we were in a commanding position to see out the game. Despite their best efforts the east Limerick men couldn’t force two decisive scores to level the game and at the final whistle we emerged with a second successive hard earned six-point victory within the week. With Sunday’s victory we advance to the County Championship semi-final for the second year in succession. Elsewhere in the championship City Champions Mungret / St. Pauls had a five-point victory over Galtee Gaels while the two remaining quarter finals between East Champions Oola and Knockaderry and South Champions Bruree and Ballinacurra Gaels will take place on Tuesday October 15th.
Team vs Knockane:
Con Enright, Michael Murphy, John Doyle, Ian Mackessy, Mike Upton, Johnny McCarthy, James O’ Connor, Jack O’ Sullivan, Donie Nolan, Cathal McEnery, Jack Harnett, Fionn Gleeson, Luke Corrigan, Oisin Ryan, Anthony Molyneaux, Tom McMahon, , Shane Lynch, Jack Mulqueen, Dan Duggan, Shane Fitzgerald, Ben Cussen, Eamon Ambrose, Ray Cahill, Oisin Commane, Bryan Sheahan, Eamon Ambrose, Brian O’ Neill, Seamus Mangan, Conor Woulfe.
County Intermediate Hurling Championship Relegation Play-Off:
St. Kierans v Kilmallock
On Saturday afternoon the intermediate hurlers take on Kilmallock with a place in the 2025 County Intermediate Championship on the line. We find ourselves in this position following five defeats in our five championship outings to date. In the opening round we put in our strongest performance of the championship coming up short against Pallasgreen by the slightest of margins having led for much of the game but couldn’t find a decisive score as the final whistle approached. In round 2 we came up against a vastly superior Croagh / Kilfinny side whom we had no answer to on the night and experienced a heavy defeat to the county finalists for the past three seasons. Next up we faced off against Bruree, on the day we came up two points short against the south Limerick club despite another encouraging performance. In round four we faced our second championship game in four days against championship favourites Murroe / Boher. On the night we were overpowered against the impressive east Limerick side. Unable to avoid the relegation play-off following four successive defeats, in our final group game we met Mungret / St. Pauls, the County Premier Junior Champions from 2023 who could still qualify with a victory in their final group game if results elsewhere went their way. On the day we showed all the signs of fatigue with several players facing into our fifth championship in three weeks between both codes. With all to play for the city side came away with a comprehensive victory. With two weeks of recovery and preparation in advance of this Saturday’s game we face a Kilmallock side who have found the back of the net thirteen times in their five championship games to date. Despite getting their championship campaign off to a winning start with victory over Croom, four successive championship defeats resigned the south Limerick side to the relegation play-off. While Kilmallock have shown a great ability to create goal scoring chances we have found it difficult to find the back of the net this campaign. On Saturday we will have to curb the attacking threat of the Balbec if we are to come away with the victory. Over the last number of championships campaigns, we have prided ourselves on being watertight at the back and making it extremely challenging for our opponents to find the back of the net. If we can bring a high level of intensity to the field and curb the Kilmallock threat in front of goal, then we should give our great chance of survival. Saturday’s game promised to be an intense battle between two sides fighting for their lives to retain their Intermediate status and avoiding the drop to the Premier Junior Championship in 2025. Throw in is 4pm in Ballyagran. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Championship Results 2024
St. Kieran’s
Round 1: St. Kieran’s 0.15 Pallasgreen 1.15
Round 2: St. Kieran’s 0.6 Croagh / Kilfinny 5.27
Round 3: St. Kieran’s 1.10 Bruree 1.12
Round 4: St. Kieran’s 1.10 Murroe / Boher 2.26
Round 5: St. Kieran’s 0.11 Mungret / St. Pauls 1.22.
Kilmallock
Round 1: Kilmallock 2.14 Croom 3.8
Round 2: Kilmallock 3.12 Knockainey 2.21
Round 3: Kilmallock 1.14 Feohanagh 2.17
Round 4: Kilmallock 2.10 Cappamore 0.21
Round 5: Kilmallock 5.8 Hospital / Herbertstown 4.18
Tractor/Vintage Car Run:
Following on from our highly successful Tractor/Vintage car run in 2023 we are delighted to announce we will once again be holding the event on Sunday October 13. The event will
commence at the new GAA field in Ardagh and follow a route around the locality. Tractors, motorcycles, vintage and modified cars are welcome.
Ardagh Development Association & St Kierans GAA Club Lottery Draw:
Results for Monday 30th September 2024 as follows.
Jackpot €7100.00
Numbers Drawn 3, 6, 11, 15. No Winner
Lucky Dips winners
€40 Maurice Harnett Ardagh
€40 The Macks & Manns Skehanagh
€40 Mike Molyneaux Ardagh
€40 John Dillane Old Mill
€40 Therese Kelly Ardagh
Next Draw Monday 7th October 2024 with a jackpot of €7200.00
Thank you for playing and for supporting our lotto. Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.