Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club Notes:
Granagh-Ballingarry bid to bridge 18 year gap on Sunday:
Granagh-Ballingarry intermediate hurlers will bid to bridge an 18 year gap since they beat Glenroe 4-10 to 3-10 in the 2005 decider at Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock on Sunday 9th October, when they clash with 2021 and 2022 defeated finalists neighbours and great rivals Croagh-Kilfinny in their eagerly-awaited Limerick County Intermediate Hurling Championship Final at Paddy Carroll Park, Ballyagran this Sunday 29th October at 3pm.
Tremendous support is anticipated for both clubs in this old West County Intermediate Hurling Championship Final as Granagh-Ballingarry try to rejoin the premier intermediate ranks for the first time since 2016. Croagh-Kilfinny whose great work at underage in this traditional hurling parish is being rewarded by their presence in the final for the third year in a row in this the 45th in this competition since Ballingarry defeated Ardpatrick 8-0 to 1-2 in the first one after a replay in 1910. The Cup they are playing for is the Michael O’Leary Memorial Cup presented to the County Board by the O’Leary family, Athlacca, which was first won by Dromin-Athlacca, when they defeated South Liberties 0-19 to 0-8 in the 2007 decider at Pairc na nGael. Sunday’s game has generated a great buzz in both clubs over the last couple of weeks and will be the first ever meeting of those in the Limerick County Intermediate Hurling Championship Final but did clash in a memorable West Junior A Hurling Championship Final in 1994 on Sunday 25th September at Newcastle West, where the Croagh-Kilfinny boys were crowned champions for the first time with a 0-6 to 0-4 victory over the boys in black and green captained by Conor Madigan.
Croagh-Kilfinny: Pat Doab, Noel Hannon, Pat Lenihan, Seamus Roche, Paul Noonan, Conor Madigan, captain, Eamonn Roche, Barry, Derek Frawley, Kevin Lenihan, John Roche, Tomas O’Connor, Paudie O’Connor, Joe Hannon, Mike Looney. Subs Dermot Lenihan, Seamus Lenihan, Mike Prenderville, Ger Noonan, John Stokes, John Giltenane, Sean Donnelly, Niall Quille, Michael Whelan, Paul Prenderville, Ger O’Brien.
Granagh-Ballingarry: Shane Mulqueen, Gary O’Donovan, captain, John English, Cormac McCarthy, Steven Stapleton, Seamus Stapleton, Aidan Mulqueen, Thos O’Donovan, Padraig Forde, Eddie O’Brien, Padraig Fitzgerald, Davy Fitzgerald, Peter Stapleton, Conor O’Keeffe, Billy O’Connor. Sus Shane Hartnett, Noel Forde, Tom O’Shea, Timmy O’Connell, Kieran Stapleton and Pat O’Connor.
The first meeting of the sides in the Intermediate championship was on Sunday 31st July 2022 in the opening game of group 2 at Sean Finns Park, Rathkeale, went the way of Croagh-Kilfinny by a point, 0-17 to 0-16 after a thrilling 33 score contest.
Croagh-Kilfinny: David Lynch, Ciaran Tagney, Mark Mullane, Ryan McCarthy, Seamie Lenihan, Tom McMahon, Denis Lenihan, Josh O’Connor 0-2, James Lanigan 0-2, Eoin Barry, Brian Hannon, Seamus Hickey 0-1, Cian O’Carroll (0-8, 7 frees), Andrew Meade, Padraig O’Gorman. Sub used Nessan Leahy.
Granagh-Ballingarry: John O’Grady, Josh Quille Mulcaire, John Kealy, Niall Cahill, Eoin Casey, David Condron, captain, Colm Noonan, Jack Cagney, Darragh Casey, Denis O’Connor 0-1 (65), Cathal O’Keeffe 0-5, Michael Russell 0-1, Damien O’Donovan 0-6 (3 frees), Luke Flynn 0-2, Pat Carroll. Sub used Paudie Murphy 0-1, Sean Murphy, John Caroll, Eoin Herlihy.
When the sides clashed in the opening round of the 2022 West Senior League/Championship on Thursday 31st March in Ballingarry where the 2021 County Intermediate Hurling Championship defeated finalists and West and County Intermediate League winners got their West Senior Hurling League/Championship campaign off to a winning start with an impressive 10 point, 2-18 to 1-11 victory over neighbours and great rivals Granagh-Ballingarry.
Croagh-Kilfinny: David Lynch, Ciaran Tagney, Mark Mullane, Ryan McCarthy, Paudie O’Carroll, Tom McMahon 0-1 free, John O’Connor 0-1, Seamus Hickey 0-1 free, James Lanigan 0-1, Gerard Lenihan, Brian Hannan 1-4, Nessan Meade 0-2. Subs Cian O’Carroll 0-3 (1 free), Padraig O’Gorman 0-1, Conor Lenihan, Seamus Lenihan, James Burke, Jim Lenihan, Tomas O’Brien, Pat Lenihan.
Granagh-Ballingarry: John O’Grady, Edward Sheehy, John Kealy, Eoin Casey 0-1 free, Darragh Casey, Thomas O’Donovan, Pat Carroll, Sean O’Connor, David Condron 0-1, Cathal O’Keeffe 0-1, Luke Flynn, Michael Russell 0-1, Denis O’Connor 1-5, 0-5 frees, Damien O’Donovan. Subs John Quille Mulcaire 0-1, Keith O’Kelly, Paudie Murphy, Gearoid Lynch, Brian Sheehy, Eoin Lynch, Colm Noonan and Brendan Lynch.
The last meeting of the sides was in the opening round of this year’s West Senior League Championship on Monday 1st April in Ballingarry, where a well-taken point from an 80 metre placed ball by keeper Denis O’Connor two minutes into added time earned Granagh-Ballingarry a thrilling one point, 0-17 to 0-16 victory over unlucky Croagh-Kilfinny.
Granagh-Ballingarry: Denis O’Connor 0-1, Eoin Casey, Niall Cahill, Eoin Herlihy, Ronan Mullane, Jack Cagney, Sean O’Connor, Josh Quill-Mulcaire, Darragh Casey 0-1, Michael Russell 0-4, Cathal O’Keeffe 0-4, Luke Flynn, Paudie Murphy 0-1, Damien O’Donovan 0-6 (2 frees), Owen Lynch. Subs used Brendan Lynch, Edward Sheehy.
Croagh-Kilfinny: Cian Sheehy, Seamie Lenihan, Conor Lenihan, Barry Lenihan 0-1, Tom McMahon, Mark Storan, Josh O’Connor 0-1, James Lanigan, Andrew Meade, Cian O’Carroll 0-6 (4 frees, 1 65), Jack Lenihan 0-3, Brian Hannon 0-4, Nessan Leahy, Gearoid Lenihan 0-1.Subs Robert Lynch, Mark Mullane, Kevin Dee, Jamie Burke, Jack Shiels, Pat Lenihan, James O’Brien, Colin Barry, Richard Lenihan, Maurice Lenihan, Gerard Madigan,
2023 Form
Croagh/Kilfinny in their third season in the intermediate grade after defeating Patrickswell in the 2020 County Junior A Hurling Championship Final, enjoyed a very successful first season in the intermediate grade winning the West Intermediate League/Championship County Intermediate League and reached the County Intermediate Championship Final where they went under to Effin.
They reached the County Intermediate Final again in 2022 where they went under to a strong Na Piarsaigh side and have continued to show good form this season to finish top of the West Senior Hurling League/Championship on 10 points to qualify for the semi final where they defeated Premier Intermediate side Newcastlewest before suffering a narrow defeat to Adare in the final. In Group 1 of the County Intermediate Hurling Championship they recorded five straight wins Pallasgreen, Knockaderry, Hospital/Herbertstown and Bruree before going under to Kilmallock in the final round to finish level on top of the group on eight points with Bruree to qualify on scoring difference for a semi final meeting with Hospital/Herbertstown who they defeated to qualify for their third successive County Intermediate Hurling Championship Final on Sunday against neighbours Granagh/Ballingarry.
Results as follows
West Senior Hurling League/Championship
Round 1: Granagh/Ballingarry 0-17, Croagh/Kilfinny 0-16
Round 2: Croagh/Kilfinny 1-20, Knockaderry 0-12
Round 3 Croagh/Kilfinny 0-24, Feohanagh/Castlemahon 0-9
Round 4: Croagh/Kilfinny 3-11, Newcastlewest 0-16
Round 5 Croagh/Kilfinny w/o Adare scr.
West Senior Hurling Championship Semi Final
Croagh/Kilfinny 0-20, Newcastlewest 0-11
West Senior Hurling Championship Final
Adare 1-20, Croagh/Kilfinny 1-18
County Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 1
Round 1: Croagh/Kilfinny 2-19, Pallasgreen 0-12
Round 2: Croagh/Kilfinny 1-18, Knockaderry 1-8
Round 3: Croagh/Kilfinny 2-23, Hospital/Herbertstown 0-12
Round 4: Croagh/Kilfinny 0-20, Bruree 0-12
Round 5: Kilmallock 2-12, Croagh/Kilfinny 0-14
County Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi Final
Croagh/Kilfinny 2-17, Hospital/Herbertstown 0-13
Croagh/Kilfinny: David Lynch, Conor Linehan, Barry Lenihan, Mark Storan, Denis Lenihan (joint captain), Tom McMahon, Jack Lenihan (0-2), Adam Shanagher, Josh O’Connor (joint captain), Barry Dean O’Carroll, Seamus Lenihan, Seamus Hickey (0-1), Brian Hanson (0-2), Cian O’Carroll (1-10, 0-10 frees), Bryan Flynn 1-1, Pat Lenihan 0-1, Gearóid Lenihan, James O’Brien, Declan Mullane.
Team manager Martin Kiely, selector Conor Madigan, first aid John Daly, kit Steven Cusack, Maor Foirne Myan McCarthy, hurleys Mike Hanley, James Mullane and Diarmuid Roche.
Granagh/Ballingarry defeated narrowly at the semi final of the County Intermediate Hurling Championship by eventual winners Effin in 2021 and Na Piarsaigh in 2022 have won 8, drew 1, lost 2 and received one walk-over in their 12 competitive games played this season. They drew with Croagh/Kilfinny defeated Newcastlewest and Feohanagh/Castlemahon received a walkover from Knockaderry and went under to Adare to finish third on 7 points in the West Senior Hurling League/Championship to qualify for the semi final where they went under to eventual winners Adare. They finished top of Group 2 in the County Intermediate Hurling Championship on 10 points with three straight wins over Knockainey, Feohanagh, Castlemahon, Croom, St. Kieran’s and Murroe-Boher to qualify straight for the semi final where they again defeated Murroe/Boher to set up Sunday’s County Intermediate Hurling Championship Final clash with neighbours and great rivals Croagh/Kilfinny on this Sunday 29th October in Paddy Carroll Park, Ballyagran at 3pm.
Results as follows:
West Senior Hurling League/Championship
Round 1: Granagh/Ballingarry 0-17, Croagh/Kilfinny 0-16
Round 2: Granagh/Ballingarry 0-13, Newcastlewest 0-13
Round 3: Granagh/Ballingarry w/o Knockaderry scr.
Round 4 Adare 1-23, Granagh/Ballingarry 1-15
Round 5: Granagh/Ballingarry 0-26, Feohanagh/Castlemahon 1-10
West Senior Hurling Championship Semi Final
Adare 2-26, Granagh/Ballingarry 1-10
West Senior Hurling Championship Semi Final
Adare 2-26, Granagh/Ballingarry 1-10
County Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 2
Round 1: Granagh/Ballingarry 1-26, Knockainey 1-13
Round 2: Granagh/Ballingarry 3-21, Feohanagh/Castrlemahon 0-8
Round 3: Granagh/Ballingarry 4-28, Croom 0-14
Round 4: Granagh/Ballingarry 0-20, St. Kieran’s 0-11
Round 5: Granagh/Ballingarry 2-24, Murroe Boher 0-19
County Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi Final
Granagh/Ballingarry 2-31, Murroe Boher 3-27
Granagh/Ballingarry: Denis O’Connor, Eoin Casey, John Kelly, Brian Sheehy, Colm Noonan, Jack Cagney 0-2, David Condron (captain), Josh Quille, Mulcaire, Darragh Casey, Michael Russell 0-3, Cathal O’Keeffe 0-3, Seán O’Connor (0-20 13 frees 1 65), Paudie Murphy 1-0, Luke Flynn 0-1, Damien O’Donovan. Subs used: Ronan Mullane, Thomas O’Donovan, Donal O’Grady 1-2, Pat Carroll.
Other panel members: Keith O’Kelly, Niall Cahill, Eoin Lynch, Eoin Horgan, Eoin Herlihy, Mark O’Shea, Padraig McKenna, Brendan Lynch, Ed Sheehy, Owen Lynch, Jack Hartnet, Gearóid Lynch, Ger Ryan, John O’Grady, Seán Murphy. Manager Michael Clancy, Coach Ger Kelleher, selectors Donal Walsh, Donagh McCarthy, Eoin Kennedy, Stats James Flynn, physio Caolan Scott, first aid Niamh O’Keeffe, team doctor Dr. Cian Cagney.
Granagh Ballingarry Co Intermediate Hurling Championship Winning Teams
Ballingarry Crowned First Intermediate Champions in the Co Intermediate Hurling Championship Final 1910
Ballingarry…………8-0
Ardpatrick…………1-2
The first Intermediate Hurling Championship played in Limerick was in 1910. It proved quite an entertaining affair which was reasonably well contested and produced interesting finalists in Ardpatrick and Ballingarry. The decider was arranged for the Markets Field in Limerick city on 30th April 1911 with Jim O’Riordan as referee and after a stirring tussle, Ardpatrick were the winners 6-2 to 5-1. Ballingarry lodged an objection and at a County Board meeting on 24th May a replay was agreed. This took place at the Markets Field on 23rd July 1911 where Ballingarry brought the first ever County Hurling Championship medals to the parish and the successful players were Tom Keating (captain), Jim and Pat O’Grady, P. Keating, P. Condon, Maurice and Michael Quaid, C. O’Connor, Maurice Hourigan, Jack Kiely, Jack Bourke, Jack Donoghue, Jim Cattrell, Dan Dunne and Jackie Hennessy.
Tears of Joy as Granagh Ballingarry Bridge 95-Year Gap
Limerick Co Intermediate Hurling Championship 2005
Granagh
Ballingarry………….4-10
Glenroe……………..3-10
Back through the years of the GAA since Granagh and Ballingarry first came together in 1945 many great men have shone out upon the field of play for the combined club in many a triumphant battle. The boys of 2005 who became the first Granagh Ballingarry side to win the Co Intermediate Hurling Championship title when they defeated Glenroe by 3 points at Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock on Sunday 9th October 2005 can join with the legendary Ballingarry team that beat Ardpatrick 8-0 to 1-2 in the inaugural Limerick Co Intermediate Hurling Championship final in 1910 played at the Markets Field on July 23rd 1911. The successful players that brought the second Co Intermediate Hurling Championship title and medals were Shane Mulqueen, John Carroll, Donagh McCarthy, Niall McCarthy, Mick Carroll, David Clancy, Darren Clifford, Paul Kennedy (0-3), Donal O’Grady (0-2), Batt Hanley (0-1), Jim O’Keeffe, Denis O’Connor, Eoin Kennedy (3-3), Seamus Stapleton (1-1), Michael Clancy. Subs used Cormac McCarthy, Stephen Stapleton and Eoin Chawke. Other panel memers were Bobby Houlihan, Cian Cagney, Eddie O’Brien, Mark Tierney, Blaine Cagney, Neil Dunworth, Ollie O’Brien, Conor Mulqueen, Brian Kennedy and Eoin Barrett.
Manager Tom Burke, trainer/coach John Lacey (Killeedy), selectors Kevin Kennedy, Mossie O’Connor and Gerry O’Donovan, first aid Breda O’Keeffe, physio Bridget Downes.
FLAGS
We urge people all over Granagh Ballingarry parish to put out their black and green flags in support of the Granagh Ballingarry Intermediate hurling team for Sunday’s County Final.
SUPPORT
A proverbial mouth-watering clash awaits with either side fearing the other and both confident of victory. So, this Sunday 29th October at 3pm, Paddy Carroll Park, Ballyagran is the place for all Granagh Ballingarry fans to cheer on the boys in black and green and their management team of Michael Clancy, Ger Kelleher, Donal Walsh, Donagh McCarthy and Eoin Kennedy in their bid to bring back the Co Intermediate Hurling Championship title to the club and parish for the second time, a first since defeating Glenroe 4-10 to 3-10 in the 2005 decider at Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock on Sunday 9th October where current team manager Michael Clancy and selectors Donagh McCarthy and Eoin Kennedy were members of the victorious Granagh Ballingarry side and Eoin Kennedy, with 3-3, won the man of the match award.
HISTORY OF THE COUNTY INTERMEDIATE HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
The Limerick Co Intermediate Hurling Championship dates back to 1910. It was the third to be established in the county and was seen as a stepping stone between the senior and junior championship but three separate hurling championships in the county proved hard to sustain due to lack of competitive clubs and the newly formed Intermediate Championship was not staged in 1913 and was suspended in 1915. In 1928 an effort was made to revive it but after two seasons, it was suspended again in favour of a two tier Senior and Junior Championship. After a gap of nearly half a century the Intermediate Hurling Championship was re-organised again in 1975 and again it only survived for three seasons. By 1998 the gap between senior and junior squads was too great and the intermediate hurling championship was introduced once more. This time it remained a staple competition on the club hurling calendar in Limerick but it has undergone changes, originally played as a straight knockout championship the competition was expanded to feature a group league stage so as to get more games in. In 2013 the Intermediate Championship was relegated to being the third most important hurling championship in Limerick as a new Premier Intermediate grade was set up because the number of participating clubs was down from 16 to 12.
Co Intermediate Hurling Championship Roll of Honour
Dromin/Athlacca (5) – 1977, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2013.
Pallasgree (3) – 1995, 2002, 2014.
Garryspillane (2) – 1990, 1996.
Na Piarsaigh (2) – 1994, 2022.
South Liberties (2) – 1911, 2009.
Bruff (2) – 1988, 2009????
Mungret/St. Paul’s (2) – 1975, 2016.
Effin (2) – 2001, 2021.
Kildimo/Pallaskenry – 2017.
Glenroe – 2019.
Newcastle West – 2020.
Cappamore – 1015.
Ballybrown – 2012.
Claughaun – 2006.
Granagh Ballingarry – 2005.
Tournafulla – 2003.
Knockaderry – 2001.
Murroe Boher – 1999.
Croom – 1998.
Monaleen – 1997.
Blackrock – 1993.
Old Christians – 1991.
Feohanagh Castlemahon – 1988.
Fedamore – 1976.
Hospital – 1929.
Kilmeedy – 1928, 1914.
Murroe – 1912.
Ballybricken – 1910
Ballingarry no date here???
County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Roll of Honour
Monaleen (2) – 2016, 2022.
Bruff – 2014.
Bruree – 2015.
Murroe Boher 2017.
Garryspillane 2018.
Blackrock 2019.
Kildimo Pallaskenry 2020.
Mungret St. Paul’s 2021.
Pre-Purchase of Club Hurling and Football Championship Tickets
All Granagh Ballingarry supporters please note that the upcoming hurling and football club championship games, under the auspices of Limerick County GAA Board, are pre-purchase. These can be purchased online via the universe system.
OCTOBER COUNTY CLUB DRAW
The next Limerick County GAA Club draw is on this Saturday 28th October 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 of €500 voucher worth of home heating oil, 6th to 9th €500, 10th to 13th €300, 14th to 30th €200. Granagh Ballingarry had 117 members in the September draw and three winners to date – Claire Herlihy €3,000 in August, Niamh O’Keeffe and Brian Burke €300 each in September. If you would like to still renew your membership please follow the links limerickgaa.ieclub-limerick-draw-signup and select Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club and the number of draws you wish to sign up for. You can also contact the Granagh Ballingarry Club co-ordinator Stephen Stapleton on (086) 1960301. Note, all members for the next draw must in by today Wednesday 25th October at 12 noon.
1973 KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE
The Story of Limerick’s Historic All Ireland Hurling Success 50 years ago
This book which costs €30 has been in production since January to commemorate and celebrate the wonderful achievement of the victorious and fondly remembered Limerick hurling team of 1973. It contains over 500 pages packed with original archive material plus a host of rare photographs, many of which have never been seen before until now. The book will be launched on Sunday 5th November at Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel, Adare at 6pm. The profits from this book will be shared between two most deserving charities, the Children’s Ark University Hospital, Limerick and the Limerick Society of St. Vincent de Paul. For more information contact James Lundon (085) 1436727, Liam O’Brien (087) 7557898 or Niall Deegan (087) 7789120.
CLUB GEAR
Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club tops, hoodies, tracksuits, jackets, shorts and socks can now be ordered online at www.larochasports.ie product-category/clubs/granagh/ballingarry
€2,000 JACKPOT ON SUNDAY
There was no winner of the €1,900 jackpot in the Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club lottery draw on Saturday 21st October in Buckley’s Bar, Ballingarry. The numbers drawn were 2, 4, 13 and 15. The lucky dip winners of €20 each were Adrian Farragher, promoter online; John O’Keeffe, promoter John O’Keeffe; Richard Chaske, promoter Jimmy Chawke; Liam Hogan, promoter O’Gorman’s Shop, Chawke’s Cross, Granagh. The next draw for a jackpot of €2,000 will take place on Saturday 28th October in Condron’s Bar, Ballingarry. Tickets are €2 each or three for €5 and are on sale in local shops, bars and from promoters. You can also play the weekly draw online and the links are available on the club’s Facebook and Twitter which finishes at 6pm every Saturday. Thank you for your continued support.