GRANAGH/BALLINGARRY
COUNTY INTERMEDIATE HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
There should be a feast of hurling at GAA venues all over the county for the six first round matches listed in the Limerick County Intermediate Hurling Championship (Michael O’Leary Memorial Cup). The South v East clash of Croom and Caherline in group 1 in Fedamore will signal the start of the matches in this year’s championship tomorrow Thursday 28th July at 7pm.
The 2022 County Intermediate Hurling Championship is played on a league system in two groups of six, which include Croom, Caherline, Murroe/Boher, Bruree, Na Piarsaigh and Na Piarsaigh in group; Granagh/Ballingarry, Croagh/Kilfinny, Knockaderry, Palasgreen, Kilmallock and Hospital/Herbertstown in group 2. Each team plays every other once with the top team in each group to qualify for the semi-finals and the second placed team in each group play a county quarter-final against the third placed team in the other group. The fourth and fifth placed teams in each group will contest the County cup semi-finals and the two bottom teams play a relegation final with the losers relegated to Junior A in 2023.
The mouth-watering clash of Granagh/Ballingarry and 2021 defeated finalists neighbours Croagh/Kilfinny is going ahead at Sean Finns Park, Rathkeale on Sunday 31st July at 2pm. This game has generated a buzz in both clubs over the last few weeks and will be the first ever meeting of these in the County Intermediate Hurling championship but have clashed on numerous occasions down through the years it he West Junior A hurling championship with the most memorable game the 1994 West Junior A hurling championship final when 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 at Newcastle West, captain by Conor Madigan.
The last meeting of the sides was in the opening round of this year’s 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 Croagh/Kilfinny 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, Josh O’Connor 0-1, Seamus Hickey 0-1 free, James Lanigan 01-, Gearoid Lenihan, Brian Hannon 1-4, Nessan Meade 0-2. Subs Cian O’Carroll 0-3 (1 free),Padraig O’Gorman 0-1, Conor Lenihan, Seamie Lenihan, Jamie Burke, Jim Lenihan, Tomas O’Brien, Pat Lenihan.
Granagh/Ballingarry: John O’Grady, Edwad Sheehy, John Kealy, Eoin Herlihy, 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. Sub John Quille Mulcaire 0-1,Keith O’Kelly, Paudie Murphy, Gearóid Lynch, Brian Sheehy, Eoin Lynch, Colm Noonan and Brendan Lynch.
Referee John Sexton, Bruree.
2022 Form
Croagh/Kilfinny in their second 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 also reached the County Intermediate Championship final, where they went under to a strong Effin side. They have continued to show good form from this season finishing top of the West Senior Hurling league/championship table on 10 points with five straight wins over Granagh/Ballingarry, Adare, Knockaderry, Newcastle West and Feohanagh/Castlemahon to reach the semi-final, where they suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of Newcastle West and will be all out to make a winning start to this championship campaign after a good showing in last year’s final.
Granagh/Ballingarry in their sixth season in the second tier intermediate grade after relegation from premier in 2016 reached the semi-final last season, where they lost to eventual winners Effin. They showed poor form in this season’s West Senior Hurling league/championship finishing bottom of the table on 1 point but have shown a return to form in recent games against Feohanagh/Castlemahon, Croom, Dromin/Athlacca, Clarecastle and Newcastle west minus a number of key players. Now joint mangers Eoin Kennedy and Michael Clancy will be looking at some younger players along with Denis O’Connor, David Condron, Cathal O’Keeffe, John Carroll and Niall Kennedy for a first step back to premier intermediate grade for 2023.
Support
A mouth-watering clash awaits us with neither side fearing the other and both confident of victory so on Sunday 31st July Sean Finns Park in Rathkeale at 2pm is the place to be to cheer the boys in black and green as they bid to make a winning start to the County Intermediate Hurling championship campaign.
Granagh/Ballingarry Intermediate Hurling Panel: John O’Grady, Eoin Herlihy, Niall Cahill, Eoin Casey, John Kealy, David Condron, captain, Colm Noonan, Jack Cagney, Darragh Casey, Luke Flynn, Damian O’Donovan, Cathal O’Keeffe, Michael Russell, Denis O’Connor, Pat Carroll, Keith O’Kelly, Josh Quille Mulcaire, Sean Murphy, Paudie Murphy, John Carroll, Brian Sheehy, Brendan Lynch, Owen Lynch, Jack Hartnett, Eoin Lynch, Cian McGoey, Niall Kennedy, Mark O’Shea, Ronan Mullane, Ger Ryan, Eoin Enright, Padraig McKenna, Gearoid Lynch, Edward Sheehy.
Team Management:
Joint managers: Micheal Clancy/Eoin Kennedy.
Coach: Ger Kelleher, Dromin/Athlacca.
Selectors Bobby Houlihan/Donal Walsh.
Stats James Flynn.
Backroom support Graham Russell, Donagh McCarthy, Andrew Holmes, Darragh O’Grady and Niall Carroll.
First aid Teresa Noonan and Ann Marie O’Keeffe.
Physio Carolan Scott. Club sponsor Denny A’s Bar.
Pre-purchase of Club County 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.
History of the County Intermediate Hurling Championship
The Limerick County 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 championships, but three separate hurling championships in the county proved hard to sustain due to a 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 reorganised again in 1975 and again it only survived for three seasons. By 1988 the gap between the 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 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.
County Intermediate Hurling Championship Roll of Honour
Dromin/Athlacca (5) 1977, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2018.
Pallasgreen (3) 1995, 2002, 2014.
Garryspillane (2) 1990, 1996.
Bruff (2) 1988, 2009.
Hospital/Herbertstown (2) 2000, 2010.
Mungret/St. Pauls (2) 1975, 2016.
Effin (2) 2001, 2021.
Glenroe 2019. Newcastle West 2020. Cappamore 2015. Ballybrown 2012. South Liberties 2009. Claughaun 2006. Granagh/Ballingarry 2005. Tournafulla 2003. Knockainey 2001. Murroe/Boher 1999. Croom 1998. Monaleen 1997. Na Piarsaigh 1997. Blackrock 1993. Old Christians 1991. Feohanagh/Castlemahon 1988. Fedamore 1994. Hospital 1929. Kilmeedy 1928. Murroe 1914. Ballybricken 1911. Ballingarry 1910.
County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Roll of Honour
Bruff 2014. Bruree 2015. Monaleen 2016. Murroe/Boher 2017. Garryspillane 2018. Blackrock 2019. Kildimo/Pallaskenry 2020. Mungret/St. Paul’s 2021.
RESULTS
All Ireland Senior Football Championship Final: Kerry 0-20, Galway 0-16.
All Ireland Senior Camogie Championship semi-final: Kilkenny 1-13, Galway 0-12. Cork 0-15, Waterford 0-10.
All Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship semi-final: Galway 3-9, Meath 2-8. Cork 0-14, Derry 1-10.
All Ireland Premier Junior Camogie Championship semi-final: Antrim 1-16, Clare 0-18. Armagh 1-13, Cavan 2-3.
County Intermediate Football Championship Group 1 Round 1: St. Patrick’s 3-7, Crecora Manister 3-7.
County Intermediate Football Championship Group 1 Round 2: St. Senans 1-13, St. Patrick’s 0-6.
West Junior B Hurling Championship
Group 1 Round 1
Wednesday 3rd August, Raheenagh at 7.30pm sees the eagerly awaited clash of Granagh/Ballingarry and St. Kieran’s in the opening game of Group 1 in the West Junior B Hurling Championship. The 2022 West Junior B Hurling Championship is played on a league system in three groups, one group of five and two groups of five.
Group 1: Granagh/Ballingarry, Adare, Killeedy, St. Kieran’s and Newcastlewest.
Group 2: Knockaderry, Feohanagh/Castlemahon, Monagea and Croagh/Kilfinny.
Group 3: Feenagh/Kilmeedy, Askeaton, Tournafulla and Dromcollogher/Broadford.
Each team play the other once with the top team in Group 1 and Group 2 qualify for semi finals, 2nd team in Group 1 and Group 2 along with the top two teams in Group 3 qualify for quarter finals.
Quarter Final Draw
2nd team in Grouop 1 v 2nd team in Group 3, 2nd team in Grou8p 2 v top team in Group 3. A tight match is expected on Wednesday 3rd August in Raheenagh at 7.30pm and your support would be appreciated for the boys in black and green and their new manager Conor O’Keeffe and selectors David Clancy, Andrew Holmes and Shane Mulqueen to cheer them on in their bid to make a winning start for their West Junior B Hurling Championship Group 1 campaign.
July County Club Draw
The next Limerick County GAA clubs draw is on Saturday 30th July with a top prize of €10,000. There are a host of other prizes to be one, 2nd €3,000, 3rd €2,000, 4th €1,000, 5th exclusive prize of a two-night stay at Ashford Castle. Entry to the draw is just €10 per month with the option to join our own ten monthly draw and county club draw for €150 Granagh-Ballingarry had 117 members in the June draw and two winners to date John and Joan O’Grady in May and Dan and Norina Sheehan winning 100 each. If you would like to still renew your membership, please follow the link limerick.gaa.ie/club/limerickdraw-signup and select Granagh-Ballingarry GAA Club and the number of drawn you wish to sign up for. You may also contact the Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club draw c0-ordinator Stephen Stapleton on 086 1960301.Note: all new members to be included in the July draw must be in by Wednesday 27th July at 12 noon.
All Ireland Football Championship Final Tickets
Marie Noonan, Kevin O’Connor and Mark O’Sullivan received the Granagh/Ballingarry All Ireland Football Final tickets.
Memorial Cup Final
The final of the third annual Granagh/Ballingarry Jim (twin) Lynch Memorial Cup Hurling Tournament Final, cancelled on Friday 15th July for good reason, will be rescheduled for a date to be confirmed in the second week in August after the two open rounds of the County Intermediate and Junior A Hurling Championship.
Club Gear
Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club tops, hoodies, tracksuits, shorts and socks can now be ordered online at http://www.laochrasport.ie/…/clubs/granaghballingarryclub
Club Website Check out our club website at www.granaghballingarrygaa.ie for all the latest club news. Our website is updated regularly and well worth a visit. You can also follow us on Facebook at wwww.facebook.com/granaghballingarrygaa and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/granaghballingarry gaa
Kerry Take 38th All Ireland Title
All Ireland Senior Football Championship Final
Kerry 0-20, Galway 0-16
Congratulations to our neighbours Kerry on their thrilling four-point 0-20 to 0-16 victory over gallant Galway at Croke Park on Sunday to take their 38th All Ireland Senior Football Championship title a first since 2014. This win by Kerry sees the Sam Maguire Cup reach the Kingdom and the Liam MacCarthy Cup to Limerick.
€5,700 Jackpot on Saturday
There was no winner of the €5,600 jackpot in the Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club lottery held on Saturday 23rd July in Buckley’s Bar, Ballingarry. The numbers drawn were 13, 19, 21 and 23. The lucky dips of €20 each went to Breda O’Kelly promoter online, Gordon Twomey promoter The Rock Bar, Granaghy, Davy McCarthy promoter Michael Clancy, Angela Ryan promoter Niall McCarthy. The draw is for a jackpot of €5,700 will be held on Saturday 30th July in Condron’s Bar, Ballingarry. Tickets are €2 or three for €5 and are on sale in local shops, bars and from promoters. You can now play online and the link is available on the club Facebook/Twitter which finishes at 6pm on Saturday. Thank you for your continued support.
CLUB DIARY
Thursday 28th July
County Senior Hurling Championship
Group 1 Round 1
Adare v Ahane in Claughaun at 7pm.
County Intermediate Hurling Championship
Group 1 Round 1
Croom v Caherline in Fedamore at 7pm.
Friday 29th July
County Senior Hurling Championship
Group 2 Round 1
Mungret/St. Paul’s v Kildimo/Pallaskenry in Clarina at 7pm.
County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
Round 1
Newcastlewest v Glenroe in Feenagh at 7pm.
Cappamore v Monaleen in Caherconlish at 7pm
County Junior A Hurling Championship
Group 3 Round 2
St. Kieran’s v Askeaton in Seán Finn’s Park, Rathkeale at 7pm.
Saturday 30th July
County Senior Hurling Championship
Group 1 Round 1
Na Piarsaigh v Doon, Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock at 7pm.
Kilmallock v Patrickswell in Claughaun at 7pm.
County Senior Hurling Championship
Group 2 Round 1
Garryspillane v South Liberties in Doon at 7pm.
Ballybrown v Blackrock in Ballyagran at 7pm.
County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
Round 1
Effin v Bruff in Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock at 5pm
Dromin/Athlacca v Knockainey in Knocklong at 7pm
County Intermediate Hurling Championship
Group 2 Round 1
Knockaderry v Pallasgreen in Mungret at 7pm.
County Junior A Hurling Championship
Group 1 Round 1
Staker Wallace v Crecora Manister in Caherelly at 7pm
Ballybricken/Bohermore v Dromcollogher/Broadford in Raheenagh at 7pm.
County Junior A Hurling Championship
Group 2 Round 1
St. Patrick’s v Killeedy in Ballingarry at 7pm.
Monagea v Ahane (B team) in Croagh at 7pm.
County Junior A Hurling Championship
Group 3 Round 1
Feenagh/Kilmeedy v Mungret/St. Paul’s (B Team) in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale at 7pm.
County Junior A Hurling Championship
Group 4 Round 1
Tournafulla v Rathkeale in Quaid Park, Coolyroe at 7pm.
Sunday 31st July
County Intermediate Hurling Championship
Group 1 Round 1
Na Piarsaigh (B team) v Feohanagh/Castlemahon in Croagh at 7pm.
Murroe/Boher v Bruree in Hospital at 2pm.
County Intermediate Hurling Championship
Group 2 Round 1
Granagh/Ballingarry v Croagh/Kilfinny in Seán Finns Park, Rathkeale at 2pm.
Hospital/Herbertstown v Kilmallock (B team) in Knocklong.
County Junior A Hurling Championship
Group 1 Round 1
Blackrock v Templeglantine in Dromcollogher at 2pm.
County Junior A Hurling Championship
Group 2 Round 1
Castletown/Ballyagran v Claughaun in Fedamore at 2pm.
County Junior A Hurling Championship
Group 4 Round 1
Patrick’s (B team) v Old Christians in Mungret at 7pm.
Garryspillane (B team) v Kilteely/Dromkeen in Hospital at 7pm.
All Ireland Ladies Senior Football Championship Final
Kerry v Meath in Croke Park at 4pm.
West Junior B Hurling Championship
Group 1 Round 1
Adare (holders) v Newcastlewest in Seán Finns Park, Rathkeale at 7pm.
Wednesday 3rd August
West Junior B Hurling Championship
Group 1 Round 1
Granagh/Ballingarry v St. Kieran’s in Raheenagh at 7.30pm.