Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club Notes:
O’Grady Seals Semi Final Spot:
Limerick County Junior B Hurling Championship Quarter Final
Granagh/Ballingarry 0-15 South Liberties 0-11
A strong all round team performance coupled with a faultless display of striking by 2013 Limerick Munster Senior Hurling Championship winning captain Donal O’Grady who finished with a personal tally of 0-7 from open play, paved the way for west champions Granagh/Ballingarry progressing to the Limerick County Junior B Hurling Championship Semi Final for the first time since 2016 against Kildimo/Pallaskenry on this Saturday 26th October in Adare at 2pm, following a hard fought 4 point 0-15 to 0-11 victory over gallant South Liberties to reverse the recent 2 point 1-12 to 0-13 County League Final defeat in dry windy conditions at Fedamore on Saturday afternoon.
A big crowd attended this West v East County Junior B Hurling Championship Quarter Final who gave great support to their sides played on an excellent pitch with Michael Mann of Ballybrown in charge. Matthew Gaule from a lineball and Donal O’Grady from open play traded white flags in the opening 2 minutes for 0-1 each. Wides were exchanged before locals were traded by Seán Enright (free) on 4 minutes and Pat Carroll (free) on 6 minutes, Barry Walsh (free) 8 minutes and Donal O’Grady (play) 2 minutes later to level for the third time at 0-3 each on 10 minutes. Both sides were guilty of inaccuracy before points were traded from placed balls by Seán Enright on 13 minutes and Pat Carroll on 15 minutes and from open play by Donal O’Grady on 17 minutes and Jack Fitzpatrick 3 minutes later to leave the sides level for the fifth time at 0-5 each on 20 minutes. Both sides were guilty of inaccurate shooting in the next 5 minutes before white flags were traded from placed balls by Pat Carroll on 26 minutes and Barry Walsh on 29 minutes to send the sides in level for the 6th time at 0-6 each at the interval.
Granagh/Ballingarry with the wind at their backs dominated the opening 7 minutes after the interval with a trio of white flags from open play through Donal O’Grady, Jack Hartnett and Gearóid Lynch to go 3 ahead 0-9 to 0-6 on 37 minutes.
The South Liberties boys failed to be overawed with a trio of white flags in as many minutes from open play through Brendan Aherne and Conor McSweeney (2) to leave the sides level for the 7th time at 0-9 each on 40 minutes.
The Granagh/Ballingarry boys now began to up their game with a trio of white flags from open play through Jack Hartnett on 42 minutes. Substitute Jack O’Donoghue on 46 minutes and Donal O’Grady a few minutes later to leave the champions of the West Granagh/Ballingarry 3 ahead for the second time, 0-12 to 0-9 on 50 minutes. Then white flags were traded by Barry Walsh from a placed ball on ball on 52 minutes and substitute Jack O’Donoghue a second from open play 2 minutes later to leave the Granagh/Ballingarry boys once more three ahead 0-13 to 0-10 on 54 minutes. A couple of wides were exchanged before points were traded by Donal O’Grady from open play on 57 minutes and Barry Walsh from a placed ball on 60 minutes before the in-form Donal O’Grady split the uprights from open play for the 7th time 3 minutes into added time to seal a hard fought 4 point 0-15 to 0-11 victory for Granagh/Ballingarry to reverse the recent 2 point 1-12 to 0-13 County League final defeat and a place in the Limerick County Junior B Hurling Championship Semi Final for the first time since 2016. While it was a strong all round team performance for Granagh/Ballingarry the displays of keeper and team captain Keith O’Kelly, Ger Ryan, Eoin Enright, Michael Carroll, Ian Sheehy, John Carroll and Mark O’Shea in defence were tested and not found wanting and the centre field pairing of Pat Carroll and Edward Sheehy deserve special mention.
Well done to both sides on a well contested hard fought quarter final to the Fedamore Club officials for having the pitch in top class condition and the referee Michael Mann. The South Liberties boys were gutted to have lost but were very sporting in defeat.
In the County Semi Final Granagh/Ballingarry play Kildimo/Pallaskenry on this Saturday 26th October in Adare at 2pm. Granagh/Ballingarry scored 0-12 from play and 0-3 from frees, South Liberties scored 0-4 from play 0-6 from frees and 0-1 from a lineball.
Granagh/Ballingarry: Keith O’Kelly (captain), Ger Ryan, Eoin Enright, Michael Carroll, Ian Sheehy, John Carroll, Mark O’Shea, Edward Sheehy, Pat Carroll 0-3 (frees), Jim O’Keeffe, Donal O’Grady, Gearóid Lynch 0-1, Owen Lynch, Thomas O’Donovan, Jack Hartnett 0-2. Subs used: Jack O’Donoghue 0-2, Cian Cagney.
South Liberties: Ben Garry, Kieran O’Brien, Stephen Noonan, Arthur O’Donnell, Brendan Aherne, Cathal O’Neill, Brendan Butler, Mike Keane, Matthew Gaule 0-1 lineball, Jack Fitzpatrick 0-1, David O’Neill (captain), Seán Enright 0-1 free, Conor McSweeney 0-2, Seán Keane, Barry Walsh 0-5 frees. Sub used: Ryan Godfrey.
Referee: Michael Mann (Ballybrown).
County Junior B Hurling Championship Semi Final:
Fedamore is the venue on this Saturday 26th October for the eagerly awaited clash of back-to-back West Junior B Hurling League and Championship winners Granagh/Ballingarry and city finalists Kildimo/Pallaskenry in the County Junior B Hurling Championship Semi Final in a rematch of the 2023 West Junior B Hurling League Final won by 2 points 3-10 to 0-17 by Granagh/Ballingarry on Tuesday 13th June at Adare.
The teams that evening were Granagh/Ballingarry: Keith O’Kelly, Mickie O’Keeffe, Eoin Enright, Ger Ryan, Marcus Moore, John Carroll captain, Brendan Lynch, Pat Carroll, Ronan Mullane (0-1). Subs used: Thomas O’Donovan, Jim O’Keeffe (0-1), Owen Lynch (1-0 free), Eoin Herlihy and Richie O’Keeffe. Other players used in the course of the competition were Niall Carroll, Kieran Condron, Edward Sheehy, Brian Mulqueen, Dean Clancy, Mark O’Shea and Jack Hartnett.
Kildimo/Pallaskenry: James Manson, Marc O’Shea, Cian Hayes, Seamus Stokes, Brian Howard (0-1), Keel Moloney, Edward McLoughlin, Darragh Walsh, Ciarán Downes, Conor McMahon (0-2), Dylan Corrigan (0-1), Ciarán McMahon (0-1), Adam Butler (0-3 frees), Ruairi Maher (0-2), Seán Hartigan (0-7 2 frees). Subs used Brendan Meskell, Naoise McGarrigle, Kevin O’Connell.
Preview:
Both sides are in Saturday’s semi final on merit after playing a lot of good hurling on the way and it will be the first meeting of the sides in the County Junior B Hurling Championship since 2019 when the Kildimo/Pallaskenry boys won the quarter final by 7 points, 0-12 to 0-5 at Adare on Saturday 5th October. The teams that evening were Kildimo-Pallaskenry: James Mason, Jack Mullane, Eoin Considine, Jai Chaudri, Evan McCarthy, Mikey Dillon, James Pomeroy, Ryan Kelly, Brendan O’Shea 0-1, Chris McMahon 0-1, Brendan Meskill, Naoise McGarrigle, Jason Daly, Danny O’Sullivan 0-7, 6 frees, 1 65, Paudi Hartigan 0-2. Subs used Brian Howard, Darragh O’Brien.
Granagh Ballingarry: Conor Mulqueen, Mark Tierney, Darragh McCarthy, Michael Carroll, Brendan Lynch, Mike O’Rourke, Marcus Moore, Aaron Smith 0-1, Brian Fitzgerlad, Richie O’Keeffe, Mark Snow, Jim O’Keeffe, Cormac Snow, Jimmy Shields 0-3, 2 frees, Jack Hartnett 0-1. Subs used Kevin O’Kelly, Gearoid Lynch, Mickie O’Keeffe and Niall Carroll.
Kildimo-Pallaskenry will be aiming to reach their first ever County Junor B Hurling Championship final on Saturday and the Granagh Ballingarry boys’ their sixth in 22 years, a first since 2008, when they lost their fifth decider by one point 1-13 to 1-12 to Bruree at Pairc Caoimh Ui Luing Feenagh on Sunday.
Granagh Ballingarry’s path to the County Junior B Hurling Championship semi-final
West Junior B Hurling Championship Group 1
Round 1: Granagh Ballingarry 3-14, Feohanagh-Castlemahon 2-16.
Round 2: Granagh Ballingarry 5-19, Knockaderry 1-7.
Round 3: Granagh Ballingarry w.o, Tournafulla scr.
Round 4: Granagh Ballingarry 5-13, Feenagh-Kilmeedy 3-19 (draw).
Semi-final Granagh Ballingarry 3-23, Croagh-Kilfinny 1-24 (AET).
Final: Granagh Ballingarry 1-16, Adare 0-11.
County Junior B Hurling Championship quarter-final:
Granagh Ballingarry 0-15, South Liberties 0-11.
Kildimo-Pallaskenry’s path to the County Junior Hurling Championship semi-final
City Junior B Hurling Championship
Semi-final: Kildimo-Pallaskenry 2-14, Na Piarsaigh 0-14.
Final: Kildimo-Pallaskenry v Ballybrown (not played).
County Junior B Hurling Championship quarter-final:
Kildimo-Pallaskenry 2-14, Camogue Rovers 1-16.
Support:
Your support for the boys in black and green and their management team would be welcome in Fedamore at 2pm this Saturday to cheer them on in their bid to reach the County Junior B Hurling Championship final for the sixth time in 22 years, and a first since 2008.
Results:
County Junior B Hurling Championship quarter-finals: Granagh-Ballingarry 0-15, Knockaderry 0-11.
Official Limerick GAA 2025 Calendar:
The official Limerick GAA 2025 calendar was launched recently by Limerick senior hurling manager John Kiely includes a photo of Limerick’s twelve All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship winning teams 1897, 1918, 1921, 1934, 1936, 1940, 1973, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023. The profits from this calendar, which costs €12.50 will go to the Limerick team’s training fund. It would make an ideal present for a family member or friend and is available in O’Grady’s Spar, Ballingarry, Brodericks Spar, Croom, Tadhg O’Connor Hardware, Newcastle West, McDermott’s Shop, Patrickswell, Ryan’s SuperValu, Kilmallock, Shannon Stores, Castleconnell and Gleeson Sport Scene Online Store, Upper William Street, Limerick.
October Country Club Draw:
The next Limerick County GAA Clubs Draw is on Saturday 26th 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 executive star prize, 6th to 9th 500. 10th to 13th €250. 14th to 30th €100. There will again be exclusive monthly prizes to be won. Granagh-Ballingarry had 165 members in the 7th draw in September and three winners to date Liam Carroll won €200 in April, Patsy Quinn won €300 in June and Elizabeth Cregan won €3,000 in July.
If you would like to 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 Stephe Stapleton on 086-1960301.
Note: All new members for the next draw must be in by 5pm today Wednesday 23rd October.
Good luck to all West Limerick sides in County Hurling Finals this weekend:
The best of luck to our neighbours Rathkeale, who play Monaleen for a first County Junior A Hurling Championship title since 1948, on Sunday in Bruff at 12.30pm.
To Feenagh-Kilmeedy who play St. Patrick’s in the inaugural County Premier Junior A Hurling Championship Final on Saturday in Sean Finns Park, Rathkeale at 3pm.
To Croagh-Kilfinny who play Bruree for a richly-deserved first ever County Intermediate Hurling Championship on Saturday in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale at 5pm.
To Newcastle West in their bid for a first ever County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship title, when they clash with Garryspillane on Sunday at 2pm in Pairc na nGael.
It would be a great boost for hurling in West Limerick if four adult County Hurling Championship titles were won by clubs from the West Division this weekend.
Players Membership:
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 earning, so we ask all players to register on foireann.ie as soon as possible.
Club Gear:
Granagh/Ballingarry clubs tops, hoodies, tracksuits, shorts and socks can now be ordered online at www.laochrasports.ie/product-category/clubs/granagh-Ballingarry.
€7,200 Jackpot on Saturday:
There was no winner of the €7,100 jackpot in the Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club lottery draw on Saturday 19th October in Buckley’s Bar, Ballingarry. The numbers drawn were 6, 26, 27 and 31. The lucky dips of €20 each went to Julie Brosnan, promoter online, Peter Morrissey, promoter O’Gorman’s Shop, Chawke’s Cross, Granagh; Seamus Enright, promoter Mike Carroll; Noel O’Grady, promoter Niall McCarthy.
The next draw will be held on Saturday 26th October in Condron’s Bar, Ballingarry for a jackpot of €7,200.
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.
Club Website:
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
Club Diary:
Saturday 26th October:
County Junior B Hurling Championship semi-final: Granagh-Ballingarry v Kildimo-Pallaskenry in Adare at 2pm.