Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club Notes:

The eagerly awaited clash of east champions South Liberties and back-to-back west champions and holders Granagh/Ballingarry in the County Junior B Hurling League Final is on Friday 19th July in Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock at 7.45pm with extra time and penalties if the game ends in a draw.

This is the climax of the 2024 County Junior B Hurling League and the trophy on offer is the County Bord B Cup. Both sides are in the final on merit after playing a lot of good hurling on the way. South Liberties will be contesting their first final and seeking their first title. Granagh/Ballingarry, seeking their third and back-to-back titles are contesting their fifth final after going under to Dromin/Athlacca 4-13 to 2-8 in the 2020 decider at Paddy Carroll Park, Ballyagran on Thursday 1st July and Munster and All Ireland champions Doon by five points, 2-12 to 0-13 in the 2015 final at Hospital on Thursday 25th June, were back to contest their third decider in 2016 at Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock having lost five county championship finals to Monaleen in 2002, Newcastlewest in 2003, St. Kieran’s in 2004, Bruree in 2008 and Monaleen again in 2015 and two county league finals (to Dromin/Athlacca in 2010 and Doon in 2015) Granagh/Ballingarry Junior B hurlers finally came in from the cold whey defeated Blackrock in the 2016 league final on Thursday 16th June at Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock.

Granagh/Ballingarry: Jimmy Shiels, Patrick Shelton, Eoin Cahill captain, Kieran Condron, Kieran O’Donovan, John O’Grady, 0-1, Stephen Hickey, Brandan Lynch, Mark snow 0-2, Brian Noonan 1-1, Brian Fitzgerald 0-1, Eoin Kennedy 0-3 (2 frees), Eoin Casey, Damien O’Donovan 0-1, Kevin O’Kelly7 0-1. Subs used Neil Dunworth, Cathal O’Keeffe 1-0, Conor Mulqueen 1-0, other members of the panel were Thomas O’Donovan, Mickie O’Keeffe, Marcus Moore, Michael Walsh, Niall Carroll, Richie O’Keeffe, Edward Sheehy, Kevin Mulcahy, Niall McCarthy and Conor Horgan.

The Granagh/Ballingarry boys were back in the final again seven years later on Thursday 22nd June at Staker Wallace GAA Club grounds in Kilbreedy where they gave a strong all-round team performance coupled with 2-3 frees from open play by the youthful Eoin Horgan in the opening 23 minutes and five top class saves by keeper Keith O’Kelly, two in the first and the third in the second half, paved the way for an impressive 14-point 3-21 to 1-13 victory for the boys from Knockfierna over a gallant Caherline to take their second County Junior B Hurling League title a first since defeating Blackrock 3-10 to 1-9 in the 2016 decider at Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock.

Grangh/Ballingarry: Keith O’Kelly, Brendan Lynch, Eoin Enright, Ger Ryan 0-1, Marcus Moore, John Carroll captain, Ronan Mullane 0-1, Pat Carroll 0-2, Owen Lynch 0-5 (1 free), Eoin Lynch 0-2, Colm Noonan 0-5 (3 frees), Jim O’Keeffe 0-2, Eoin Horgan 2-3, Mick Carroll 1-0, John O’Grady. Subs used: Mark O’Shea, Richie O’Keeffe, Padraig McKenna, Brian Mulqueen, Mickey O’Keeffe. Other players used in the course of the competition were Brian Sheehy, Eoin Herlihy, Niall Carroll, Kieran Condron, Edward Sheehy, Dean Clancy, Jack Hartnett, Thomas O’Donovan, Gearóid Lynch.

Granagh/Ballingarry who have won 20 drew one and lost one of their 21 games played since they defeated Monagea 4-20 to 1-8 in the opening round of Group 1 in the West Junior B Hurling League on Sunday April 2023, finished top of Group 1 in the West Junior B Hurling League on nine points to qualify for a final meeting with neighbours Bruree who they defeated to claim back-to-back West Junior B Hurling League titles to qualify for this Thursday’s County Junior B Hurling League final against South Liberties in Adare at 7.45pm with results as follows:

West Junior B Hurling League Group 1

Round 1: Granagh/Ballingarry w/o, Dromcollogher/Broadford scr.

Round 2: Granagh/Ballingarry w/o Knockaderry scr.

Round 3: Granagh/Ballingarry 2-11, Croagh/Kilfinny 2-10

Round 4: Granagh/Ballingarry 1-21, Adare 0-12

Round 5: Granagh/Ballingarry 1-12, St. Kieran’s 0-15

Granagh/Ballingarry 3-17, Bruree 0-15.

Granagh/Ballingarry: John O’Grady, Ger Ryan, Eoin Enright, Mike Carroll, Niall Cahill, Mark O’Shea, John Carroll, Pat Carroll, Ronan Mullane 0-3, Eoin Herlihy 0-3, Eoin Lynch 0-8 (5 play, 2 frees, 1 65), Brian Sheehy 0-1, Jack Hartnett 2-0, Jim O’Keeffe -12, Padraig McKenna. Subs used: Owen Lynch, Rory Condon, Conor O’Donoghue, Thomas O’Donovan. Other players used in the course of the competition were Keith O’Kelly, Eoin Horgan, Ian Sheehy, Richie O’Keeffe, Brian Mulqueen, Edward Sheehy, Mikey O’Keeffe, Niall Carroll, Darren Clifford and Gearóid Lynch.

South Liberties have won six and lost one of their seven games played to date this season. They defeated Kilteely/Dromkeen to reach the East Brian Butler Cup Final where they were most unlucky to go under to Down at the quarter final stage, finished top of Group 1 in the East Junior B Hurling League on 10 points to qualify for a final meeting with Ahane who they defeated and Staker Wallace in the County Junior B Semi Final to set up Thursday evening’s County Final meeting with holders Granagh/Ballingarry in Adare at 7.45pm.

Results as follows:

East Brian Butler Cup

Round 1: South Liberties 2-16, Kilteely/Dromkeen 1-16, quarter final Doon 2-17, South Liberties 1-17.

East Junior B Hurling League Group 1

Round 1: South Liberties 4-20, Murroe Boher 2-15

Round 2: South Liberties 1-17, Na Piarsaigh 0-10

Round 3: South Liberties 5-25, Mungret St Pauls 1-12

Round 4: South Liberties w/o Caherline scr.

Eouns 5: South Liberties w/o Caherline scr

Final: South Liberties 3-18, Ahane 0-13

County Juniro B Hurling League Final

South Liberties 4-18, Staker Wallace 2-13.

South Liberties: Paul Butler, Kieran O’Brien, Stephen Noonan, Tony Carroll, Brendan Ahern (0-11), Mike Keane, Eoin Dunne, Patrick O’Donnell, Matthew Gaule, David O’Neill (1-8), (Shane O’Neill (0-1), Joe Hegarty (0-2), Barry Walsh (0-1), Brian Garry 2-2, Ben Compton (0-3), Seán Keane (0-1), Conor McNamara, Ryan Godfrey, Arthur O’Donnell, Bill Hannon, Cathal O’Neill.

Hopefully all the Gaels in both Granagh and Ballingarr will travel to Kilmallock tomorrow Thursday 11th July to support the boys in black and green and their management team of Niall Carroll, Mike Chawke, Benjie Kelly and Andrew Holmes and cheer them on in their bid to bring the County Junior B Hurling League Cup back to the parish and club for the third time and the second year-in-a-row.

Limerick County Premier Junior A Football Championship

Group 1 Round 2

Feenagh/Kilmeedy 1-10 Granagh/Ballingarry 0-7

2022 and 2023 defeated county finalists after their opening round 9-point 3-8 to 1-5 defeat to Cappagh, got the Limerick County Premier Junior A Football Championship Group 1 campaign back on track with a deserved 6-point 1-10 to 0-7 victory over gallant under strength Granagh/Ballingarry at rainy Dromcollogher on Friday evening to join Athea Kilteely/Dromkeen and Granagh/Ballingarry on two points in the Group 1 league/championship title behind Cappagh on four points. The Dromcollogher/Broadford officials had their pitch in top class condition for this fixture played in front of a small crowd with John Paul Kiely of Fedamore in charge.

The opening five minutes at Dromcollogher saw Granagh/Ballingarry kick four wides to one for Feenagh/Kilmeedy. The Feenagh/Kilmeedy boys dominated the next 12 minutes with six unanswered white flags through John O’Gorman on five minutes, Colm Ryan (free) on 10 minutes, David Boyce on 14 minutes, Ronan O’Connor on 17 minutes, Gerard O’Gorman on 20 minutes and Diarmuid Ryan on 22 minutes before Cathal O’Keeffe finally opened the Granagh/Ballingarry boys’ account a minute later when he split the uprights following a good solo run to leave six between the sides, Feenagh/Kilmeedy 0-6, Granagh/Ballingarry 0-1 on 23 minutes. A couple of wides were exchanged before white flags were traded by Aaron Smith from a placed ball on 26 minutes and David Boyce from open play on 29 minutes to leave the Feenagh/Kilmeedy boys at the interval leading by five, 0-7 to 0-2, David Boyce (play) and Aaron Smith (free), David Boyce (play) and Aaron Smith (free) traded white flags in the opening 11 minutes after the interval to leave the Feenagh/Kilmeedy boys again five ahead, 0-9 to 0-4, on 41 minutes. Both sides were guilty of inaccurate shooting in the next eight minutes before the Feenagh/Ballingarry defence No. 9 Cian O’Connor cut through the Granagh/Ballingarry defence for a cracking goal on 50 minutes before white flags were traded by Aaron Smith from a placed ball on 52 minutes and Diarmuid Ryan from open play three minutes later to leave the 2022 and 2023 defeated finalists Feenagh-Kilmeedy eight ahead 1-10 to 0-5 on 55 minutes. The Granagh-Ballingarry boys far from being overawed had a run of white flags courtesy of Jack Cagney from open play on 57 minutes and Aaron Smith from a placed ball on 60 minutes which was too little too late for the boys in black and green as the final whistle sounded shortly after to leave the Feenagh-Kilmeedy boys winning six point 1-10 to 0-7 winners of their first brace of points in this year’s County Premier Junior A football championship. This result sees Feenagh-Kilmeedy join Kilteely-Dromkeen, Athea and Granagh-Ballingarry on two points on the league championship table on two points, two behind Cappagh, while Mungret-St. Paul’s are pointless at the bottom. Granagh-Ballingarry’s next outing is against Athea and Feenagh-Kilmeedy against Kilteely-Dromkeen on the week ending Sunday 18th August. Feenagh-Kilmeedy scored 1-9 from play and 0-1 from a free. Granagh-Ballingarry scored 0-2 from play and 0-5 from frees.

Feenagh-Kilmeedy: Daniel Gayer, Patrick O’Doherty, Sean Murray, Dylan Murray O’Connor, Gerard O’Gorman 0-1, Brian Hannigan, David Boyce 0-4, Cian O’Connor 1-0, Liam O’Gorman, Diarmuid Ryan 0-2, Colm Ryan, Colm Ryan 0-1 free, Ruairi O’Connor, Ronan O’Connor 0-1, Sean O’Gorman 0-1, Bobby Donegan. Subs used Thomas Galvin, Diarmuid Coleman, Darragh Lynch, Jamie Shine and Michael Heenan.

Referee John Paul Kiely, Fedamore.

The Granagh-Ballingarry Cúl camp in the GAA grounds was enjoyed by all the 120 children who attended despite the wet weather on a couple of days.

County Senior Football Championship Group 1 Round 2

St. Kieran’s 3-14, Monaleen 2-9; Ballylanders 1-15, Na Piarsaigh 2-9; Mungret-St. Paul’s 1-9, Adare 1-5.

County Senior Football Championship Group 2 Round 2

Galtee Gaels 3-10, Ballysteen 1-6; Fr. Casey’s 1-16, Oola 0-9; Newcastle West 0-14, Kildimo-Pallaskenry 0-14.

County Intermediate Football Championship Group 2 Round 2

Galbally 1-10, Claughaun 1-4; Glin 1-10, Pallasgreen 0-10; Rathkeale 2-10, Crecora-Manistir 0-3.

County Premier Junior A Football Championship Group 1 Round 2

Athea 0-11, Mungret-St. Paul’s 1-7; Cappagh 3-10, Kilteely-Dromkeen 1-7; Feenagh-Kilmeedy 1-10, Granagh-Ballingarry 0-7.

County Premier Junior A Football Championship Group 2 Round 2

Fr. Caseys 2-9, Monagea 1-9; Mountcollins 2-17, Cappamore 0-6.

County Junior A Football Championship Group 1 Round 2

Ballylanders 4-10, Castletown-Ballyagran 4-3; Camogue Rovers 1-17, Ahane 1-10; Bruff w.o. Banogue scr.

County Junior A Football Championship Group 2 Round 2:

Fedamore 2-11, Ballybricken-Bohermore 0-9; Hospital-Herbertstown w.o. Adare scr.

County U-14 Hurling Championship Division 2:

Granagh-Ballingarry 3-10, Garryspillane 2-11.

All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi-finals

Clare 0-24, Kilkenny 2-16; Cork 1-28, Limerick 0-29.

All Ireland Minor Football Championship Final

Derry 2-7, Armagh 0-10.

West Junior B Football Championship Round 2

St. Kevin’s 0-8, Knockaderry 0-8.

All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final

Cork 1-28 Limerick 0-29

Hard luck to the Limerick senior hurlers and management whose brave bid to reach their fifth successive All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final were dashed when going under to Cork by two points 1-28 to 0-29 after a thrilling contest played in front of a record crowd for an All Ireland Semi-final at Croke Park on Sunday. Thank you to the players, management and all involved with their great Limerick side for the many outstanding displays given and wonderful memories over the last seven years winning fourteen titles, three National League Division 1 titles, six Munster Championship titles and five All Ireland Championship titles. If this panel of players and management stay together they will be a match for the best again next season. The best of luck to Cork in their bid to bring the Liam MacCarthy Cup back to the Banks of the Lee for the first time in nineteen years, when they play Clare in the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final on Sunday 22nd Julyin Croke Park at 3.30pm in a rematch of the 2013 decider which Clare won by six points 5-16 to 3-16.

Any Granagh-Ballingarry club member who is interested in going to the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final between Cork and Clare in Croke Park on Sunday 21st at 3.30pm and wish to be included in the draw for the Granagh-Ballingarry allocation of four tickets should contact club secretary John Lynch 087-2912356, chairperson Andrew Holmes 087-9429228 or Bord na nOg secretary Seamus Twomey 087-1201572on or before Monday 10th July by 6pm.

Ballingarry is the venue tonight Wednesday 10th July at 7.30pm for the meeting of Granagh-Ballingarry and Ballybrown in the opening round of Group 1 in the 2024 Limerick County Minor B Hurling Championship. The Championship is being run on an All County basis in three groups of six teams.

Group 1: Caherlin, Ballybrown, Deville Gaels, Dromin-Athlacca, South Liberties-Crecora Manistir and Granagh-Ballingarry.

Group 2: Askeaton Ballysteen, Kilcornan, Cappamore, Killacolla Gaels, St. Kieran’s, Pallasgreen and Knockainey.

Group 3: Knockaderry, Adare, Southside Gaels, Patrickswell, Blackrock and Dromcollogher-Broadford.

Your support would be welcome for the boys in black and green and their management team in Ballingarry tonight to cheer them on to make a winning start to their County Minor B Hurling Championship Group 1 campaign.

The next Limerick County GAA Clubs draw is on Saturday 28th July 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 Executive Star Prize, 6th to 9th €500, 10th to 13th €250, 14th to 30th €100. There will be again exclusive monthly prizes to be won.

Granagh-Ballingarry had 165 members in the fourth draw in June and two winners to date Liam Carroll who won €200 in April and Patsy Quinn who won €300 in June.

If you would like to still renew your membership please visit limerickgaa.ie/clublimerick-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.

All new members for the next draw must be in by 5pm Wednesday 24th July.

Tickets for all Limerick County Senior Intermediate and Junior hurling and Football championship games in 2024 must be purchased in advance, using the link limerickgaa.iebuy-clubchampionshiptickets

Note U-16s free, no tickets required.

Granagh Ballingarry players’ membership can still be renewed online at www.foireann.ie Any player not currently registered who incurs any injury will not be covered by GAA insurance and will have to cover all costs, including medical and loss of earnings. So, we ask all players to register at www.foireann.ie as soon as possible.

Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club are seeking 14 couples to compete in Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday 12th October in the Charleville Park Hotel.

Please note Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club grounds’ Eircode is V94 V264.

Granagh/Ballingarry clubs tops, hoodies, tracksuits, jackets, shorts and socks can now be ordered online at www.laochrasport.ie/product-category/clubs/granagh/ballingarry club.

Check out on website at www.granagh-ballingarrygaa.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 at www.facebook.com/granaghballingarrygaa and on twitter at www.twitter.com/granagh-ballingarry

There was no winner of the €5,600 jackpot in the Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club lottery draw on Saturday 6th July in Condron’s Bar, Ballingarry. The numbers drawn were 5, 20, 22 and 29. The lucky dips of €20 each went to Geraldine Mulqueen, promoter online; Bella O’Brien, promoter O’Gorman’s Shop, Chawkes Cross, Granagh; Mark Tierney,  promoter Niall Carroll; John O’Keeffe promoter John O’Keeffe.

The next draw for a jackpot of €5,700 will be held on Saturday 13th July in the Rock Bar, Granagh. 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 link is available on the club’s Facebook or Twitter page which finishes at 6pm every Saturday.

Thank you for your continued support.

Granagh-Ballingarry GAA Club officials, players and members extend sympathy to Seamus, Paula and Jack Hartnett and the extended Hartnett family on the death of Noel Hartnett, 8 Desmond Drive, Adare and Ballingarry. Ar dheis Dé to raibh a anam.

Wednesday 10th July

County Minor B Hurling Championship Group 1 Round 2: Granagh-Ballingarry v Ballybrown in Ballingarry at 7.30pm.

South Liberties-Crecora-Manister v Belville Gaels in Dooley Park, Knockea at 7.30pm.

Dromin-Athlacca v Caherline in Athlacca at 7.30pm.

County Intermediate Football Championship Group 1 Round 1:

St. Patrick’s v Feohanagh-Castlemahon.

Thursday 11th July:

County Junior B Hurling League Final

Granagh-Ballingarry v South Liberties in Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock at 7.30pm.

West Junior B Football Championship Round 2:

Dromcollogher-Broadford v Glin in Newcastle West at 7.30pm.

Friday 12th July

County Intermediate Football Championship Group 1 Round 1:

Gerald Griffins v Newcastle West in Sean Finns Park, Rathkeale at 6.45pm.

Saturday 13th July:

Tailteann Cup Senior Football Final:

Down v Laois in Croke Park at 3pm.

All Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi-Final:

Kerry v Armagh in Croke Park at 5.30pm.

County Intermediate Football Championship Group 1 Round 2:

Feohanagh-Castlemahon v St. Senans in Newcastle West at 7.30pm.