Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club Notes:
Knockainey and Athea are First Round Opponents:
The draws for the 2023 Limerick County Intermediate Hurling and Premier Junior A Football championship which took place on Friday night in the Gaelic Ground office has generated a buzz of excitement in Granagh Ballingarry. The prospect of playing relogated from premier Knockainey in the first round of group 2 in the County Intermediate Hurling championship and thoughts of facing last years defeated quarter finalists Athea in the opening game of group 2 in the county premier junior A football championship.
County Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 1
Sunday 6th August Round 1: Pallasgreen v Croagh Kilfinny, Hospital Herbertstown v Bruree, Kilmallock v Knockaderry. Sunday 13th August Round 2: Hospital Herbertstown v Pallasgreen, Knockaderry v Croagh Kilfinny, Bruree v Kilmallock. Sunday 3rd September Round 3: Hospital Herbertstown v Croagh Kilfinny, Bruree v Knockaderry, Kilmallock v Pallasgreen. Sunday 10th September Round 4: Croagh Kilfinny v Bruree, Pallasgreen v Knockaderry, Hospital Herbertstown v Kilmallock. Sunday 24th September Round 5: Kilmallock v Croagh Kilfinny, Bruree v Kilmallock, Knockaderry v Hospital Herbertstown.
County Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 2
Sunday 6th August Round 1: Granagh Ballingarry v Knockainey, Croom v St. Kieran’s, Murroe Boher v Feohanagh Castlemahon. Sunday 13th August Round 2: Croom v Knockainey, Granagh Ballingarry v Feohanagh Castlemahon, St. Kieran’s v Murroe Boher. Sunday 3rd September: Granagh Ballingarry v Croom, St. Kieran’s v Feohanagh Castlemahon, Murroe Boher v Knockainey. Sunday 10th September Round 4: Granagh Ballingarry v St. Kieran’s, Croom v Murroe Boher, Knockainey v Feohanagh Castlemahon. Sunday 24th September Round 5: St. Kieran’s v Knockainey, Murroe Boher v Granagh Ballingarry, Feohanagh Castlemahon v Croom. Note 1- The above dates are Sunday’s but games maybe played on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Note 2- The top team in each group qualify for County Intermediate Hurling Championship semi finals second and third place teams qualify for County Quarter finals. The bottom two teams in each group will play two relegation semi-finals, the losers will compete for Intermediate status in 2024.
County Premier Junior A Football Championship Group 1
Suday 2nd July Round 1: Kilteely Dromkeen v Ballybrown, Croom v Bruff, Kilteely Dromkeen v Ballybrown, Monegea v Mountcollins. Sunday 9th July Round 2: Ballybrown v Bruff, Croom v Monegea or Mountcollins, Kilteely dromkeen v Mountcollins or Monegea. Sunday 20th August Round 3: Monagea or Mountcollins v Ballybrown, Kilteely Dromkeen v Croom, Mountcollins or Monagea v Bruff. Sunday 27th August Round 4: Monegae or Mountcollins v Kilteely Dromkeen, Croom v Ballybrown, Bruff v Mountcollins or Monegea. Sunday 17th September Round 5: Kilteely Dromkeen v Bruff, Monegea or Mountcollins v Croom, Ballybrown v Mountcollins or Monegea.
County Premier Junior A Football Championship Group 2
Sunday 2nd July Round 1: Newcastle West v Cappagh, Athea v Granagh Ballingarry, Cappagh v Feenagh Kilmeedy. Sunday 9th July Round 2: Athea v Cappamore, Cappagh v Feenagh Kilmeedy, Granagh Ballingarry, v Newcastle West. Sunday 20th August Round 3: Feenagh Kilmeedy v Athea, Newcastle West v Cappamore, Granagh Baliingarry v Cappagh. Sunday 27th August Round 4: Feenagh Kilmeedy v Granagh Ballingarry, Athea v Newcastle West, Cappamore v Cappagh. Sunday 17th September Round 5: Cappagh v Athea, Feenagh Kilmeedy v Newcastle West, Granagh Ballingarry v Cappamore. Note 1- The above dates are Sunday’s but games maybe played on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Note 2- The top team in each group qualify for County Intermediate Hurling Championship semi finals second and third place teams qualify for County Quarter finals. The bottom two teams in each group will play two relegation semi-finals, the losers will compete for Intermediate status in 2024.
Dinner Dance:
Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club will hold a combined Dinner Dance on Saturday 25th March in the Longcourt Hotel, Newcastle West for the presentation of 2022 West and County Junior A football championship medals and the silver jubilee of Granagh Ballingarry winning the West and County Junior A Hurling championship defeating Newcastle West in both finals. Doors open at 6.30pm, dinner at 7pm. Music by Overdrive and DJ following and special guest speakers. Tickets cost €50 which will go on sale in the coming weeks. Your support for this event is greatly appreciated.
Jimmy Hatton ACME Thunder Whistle (c 1960s)
Referees here ambitions of officiating significant matches but only a select few get the opportunity to be on the field on all-Ireland day Jimmy Hatton from Kalcoole, Co. Wicklow used the ACME thunder whistle during his time as an intercounty referee. In 1966 Hatton achieved the rare record of refereeing both hurling and football finals in the same year. This made him only the third referee to officiate both senior finals along with Jimmy Flaherty in 1939 and John Dowling in 1960 both from Tullamore, Co. Offaly. This distinct feat is likely to go unrepeated as the rules have since changed, stating that a referee can only officiate at one senior All-Ireland in the same year. However, Hatton went one step further as he also refereed the 1966 minor hurling final replay between Cork and Wexford meaning he refereed three All-Ireland finals in 1966. The ACME thunder whistle- the world’s first specially manufactured sports whistle. First developed in the same year as the founding of the GAA in 1884, this type of whistle is also known as the Titanic whistle as it was used aboard the ill-fated vessel. This is a pea whistle as the body of the whistle contains a pea that moves with the airflow to produce it’s far-reaching sound across GAA pitches. The addition of the pea makes it6 possible to vary the sound produced by the whistle making it a versatile tool of communication.
Hatton took up many roles within the GAA as player, referee, selector and treasurer. These roles after overlapped. In 1963 Hatton played at right half back for the Wicklow Hurlers in the Leinster Junior Hurling final versus Westmeath in Croke Park straight afterwards, he donned his referee gear and again took the field officiating the Kilkenny versus Dublin Leinster minor hurling semi final in 2005. Jimmy Hatton was inducted into the GAA referees Hall of Fame.
Limerick GAA Club Tickets:
Limerick County GAA Board launched their 2023 club season tickets recently. The tickets will entitle the bearer to entry to all Limerick county board games in 2023 from minor to senior levels. The cost is €150 plus postage. Order your ticket now at limerick.ie/shop/limerich-gaa-season-tickets-2023/.
All Star Jersey (1963):
The first GAA All-Star awards were organised by the Gaelic Weekly newspaper and were presented in 1963. Judging panels were made up of journalists and former players. In addition, nomination papers were sent to every county chairman allowing them to select players for each code. Fifteen players were selected on the All-star hurling team, and fifteen for the football, while one camogie player and one footballer were also honoured. The recipients gathered at a special banquet in the Gresham Hotel, Dublin on the 16th March on the eve of the railway Cup final. *Instead of a trophy the players each received a jersey with a star shaped crest embroidered on it. This jersey featuring the words star peileadoir CLCG 1963 was presented to Galways Pat Donnelan who was selected as corner-forward on the 1963 All-star football team. Affectionately known as “Pateen” among Galway supporters. Pat received a letter that he was being culted up to the Galway senior football team in 1960, on the day he finished the last exam in his leaving certificate. He went on to have a successful career and was again selected on the all-star team of 1966, this time on mid-field position. Pat shared much of his time playing for Galway with his brothers John and Michael, when Galway captured three in a row all-Ireland titles in 1966. John captained the team. The inaugural awards had one trophy – The Cu Chulainn award presented to an individual who made an outstanding contribution to the GAA which in 1963 was given to Padraig Ó Caoimh general secretary of the Association. A formalised format of the GAA All-Stars was introduced in 1971, which has sponsored by tabacco firm PJ Carroll and company and has the first high-profile commercial partnership entered into the GAA.
Cú Chulainn Awards Hurling Team 1963
Oilie Walsh (Kilkenny), Tom Neville (Wexford), Austin Flynn (Waterford), John Doyle (Tipperary), Seamus Clkeere (Kilkenny), Billy Rackered (Wexford), Larry Guinan (Waterford), Theo English (Tipperary), Des Foley (Dublin), Jimmy Doyle (Tipperary), Mick Flannelly (Waterford), Eddie Keher (Kilkenny), Liam Venoney (Tipperary), Jimmy Smith (Clare) and Phil Grimes (Waterford).
Cu Chulainn Awards Football Team 1963: Andy Phillips, Wicklow, Gabriel Kelly, Cavan Noel Tierney, Galway, Pa Connolly, Kildare, Seamus Murphy, Kerry, Paddy Holden, Dublin, Martin Newell, Galway, Mick Garrett, Galway, Des Foley, Dublin, Sean O’Neill, Down, Mickey Whelan, Dublin, Tom Browne, Laois, Jimmy Wren, Armagh, Tom Long, Kerry, Pat Donnellan, Galway.
Draw Promoters Hit the Streets:
Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club draw promoters are taking to the streets of the parish to canvass members to join the 10 month draw, March to December. By joining you automatically become a member of the club for 2023 and you will be included in the weekly club lottery if you pay your 100 membership in full by May 1st. See draw brochure for details or contact any member of the finance committee.
County GAA Club Draw:
Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club are once more promoting the Limerick County Club Draw for 2023. There will be monthly draws from March to December with a top prize of €10,000. There are a host of other prizes to be won, 2nd €3,000, 3rd €2,000, 4th €1,000, 5th exclusive star prize, 6th to 9th €500, 10th to 13th €250, 14th to 30th €100. There will again be exclusive monthly prizes to be won. Entry to the draw is just €10 per monthly or €100 for the ten draws with the option to join our own ten monthly draw and County Club Draw for €150. If you would like to renew your membership for 2023 please follow the link limerickgaa.ie/clublimerick-draw-signup and select Granagh/Ballingarry GAA club and the number of draws you wish to sign up for. You may also contact the Granagh/Ballingarry GAA club draw co-ordinator Stephen Stapleton on 086-1960301. Note the first draw for 2023 is on Saturday 25th March.
Limerick GAA 2022 Yearbook:
A full review of all Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club activities both on and off the field plus photos in 2022 will be included in the Limerick County GAA Yearbook due to launched at the end of February. The book costs €20 and would make an ideal present for a family member or friend.
Cork Off to a Winning Start with late Kingston’s Point:
National Hurling League Division 1 Group A Round 2
Cork……2-17
Limerick……0-22
A well taken point by second half substitute Shane Kingston in the 10th minute of additional time paved the way for a thrilling one point, 2-17 to 0-22 victory for Cork over three-in-a-row All Ireland champions Limerick in the opening round of Group A Division 12 of the National Hurling League in front of a big crowd under lights at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday night. We wish the boys in green and white the best of luck in their bid to get their league campaign back on track when they play neighbours Clare 4-27 to 0-14 winners over Antrim at Cusack Park, Ennis, on Sunday. The game is on this Saturday 11th February in Pairc na nGael at 7pm. Your support would be welcome.
Dublin Ease to Back to Back League Wins
Dublin…….2-17
Limerick……..1-11
Dublin eased to back to back wins in Division 2 of the National Football League with a nine point 2-17 to 1-11 victory over Limerick in front of a good crowd at Pairc na nGael on Sunday. Dublin controlled the first half and goals from Brain Fenton and a Dean Rock penalty help them to a 13-point 2-12 to 0-5 half time lead. The Limerick side gave a much better performance ion the second half with substitute Hugh Burke the highlight. The Limerick boys’ next league outing is on Sunday 19th February, when they travel to Pairc Mhuire, Ardee to play Lough at 2pm.
Results:
National Hurling League Division 1 Group A Round 1: Galway 0-23, Wexford 0-15. Cork 2-17, Limerick 0-22. Clare 4-27, Westmeath 0-14.
National Hurling League Division 1 Group B Round 1: Dublin 3-16, Waterford 2-19, Kilkenny 1-18, Antrim 0-15, Tipperary 2-32, Laois 0-18.
National Football League Division 2 Round 2: Dublin 2-17, Limerick 1-11; Derry 2-11, Louth 1-11, Meath 4-8, Clare 0-16,
Cork 2-14, Kildare 0-7.
Club Gear:
Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club tops, hoodies, tracksuits, jackets, shorts and socks can now be ordered online at www.laroachasports.ieproduct-category/clubs/granagh/ballingarryclub.
Club Website:
Check out our website at www.granaghballingarry.ie for all the latest club news. Our club website is updated regularly and is well worth a visit you can also follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/granaghballingarrygaa and twitter at www.twitter.com/granaghballingarrygaa.
€8,500 Jackpot on Saturday:
There was no winner of the €8,400 jackpot in the Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club lottery on Saturday 4th February in Dinny A’s Bar, Ballingarry. The numbers drawn were 2, 22, 26 and 32. The lucky dips of €20 each went to Noel P. Noonan, promoter online, Susan Alymer, promoter Denny As; Seamus McDonnell, promoter Willie Power, Eddie Houlihan, promoter Pat Cagney.
The next draw for a jackpot of €8,500 will be held on Saturday 11th February in McAuliffe’s Bar, Ballingarry. Tickets are €2 each or three for €5 and are on sale in local shops, bars, and from promoters. You can now also play the weekly draw online and the link to play is available on the club facebook or twitter which finishes at 6pm every Saturday. Thank you for your continued support.
Sympathy:
Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club officials, players and members extend sympathy to the O’Leary and Kelleher families, Athlacca on the sad passing of Cali O’Leary. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílís.
Club Diary:
Saturday 11th February:
National Hurling League Division 1 Group 1 Round 2: Limerick v Clare in Pairc na nGael at 7pm.
National Hurling League Division 1 Group B Round 2: Laois v Waterford in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise at 5pm.
Sunday 12th February:
Munster Club Junior B Football Championship quarter-final: Diarmuid Mathunas (Cork) v Castletown/Ballyagran (Limerick) in Knockaderry at 2pm.
National Hurling League Division 1 Group A: Galway v Cork in Pearse Stadium at 2pm.
Westmeath v Wexford in Cusack Park, Mullingar at 2pm.
National Hurling League Division1 Group B: Kilkenny v Tipperary in Nowlan Park at 1.30pm.
Dublin v Antrim in Parnell Park at 1.30pm.
Tuesday 14th February:
Limerick County GAA Board meeting in the Woodlands House Hotel, Adare at 8pm.