GRANAGH BALLINGARRY GAA CLUB NOTES

Danny Hourigan, Ballingarry, Truly A Great Gael

Very few special people become legends in their own time. Danny Horrigan was, and his legend has grown with each passing year since his sudden death in 1978. He is held in the warmest of memories by all who knew him and he surely was one of the greatest Gaels the Association has known.

From Doonbeirne, Ballin-garry, Danny was a nephew of Maurice Hourigan, notable as a member of the Jer Leary’s team and a great runner. In his youth Danny was a renowned athlete as both a sprinter and a cyclist of much talent. His greatest talent however was as an administrator and motivator. He was the father figure of the Ballingarry club for well over twenty years until his death. As Ballingarry GAA club secretary his duties knew no bounds and his efforts were ceaseless in pursuit of the cause of the little village. His devotion to his club and its players and members will not be forgotten for many a day. He was a folk hero to us all and the players lived and would have died for him. He was a county minor hurling selector in 1973 when Davy O’Keeffe, Paddy Dunworth and John Chawke were on the Limerick side that lost out to Tipperary in the Munster final and vice chairman of the West Limerick GAA Board from 1971 to 1978.

He together with other mentors was generous in discretely helping players financially with travelling expenses etc. He was an old-time GAA person who disapproved of the advent of the influence of foreign games, most notably soccer and his affection for hurling was unbounded. He also trained greyhounds and was a member of Rathkeale Coursing Club. His enthusiasm for the club and the game had a most positive affect on those that followed and is reflected in the success since then on the playing fields and in the building of the great facilities we have today. The Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club owes Danny Horrigan a great thanks and wouldn’t he be proud if he were here today. To him we say thank you for the memory, you will never be forgotten. Danny Horrigan is laid to rest with his ancestors in Ballingarry cemetery. We may never see the likes of him again.

Johnny Fitzgibbon, Granagh/ Ballingarry, Feenagh/Kilmeedy, Dromcollogher/ Castletown

Johnny Fitzgibbon was born in Ballinruane, Kil-meedy in February 1924. He began his hurling car-eer with Feenagh in the early 40s as a labourer, he worked in different parishes and played for those parishes. In the 1940s he played with Castletown losing to Dromcollogher in the West Junior A Hurling Championship Final and opposing his brother Will-iam who played with his native Dromcolologher. Between 1950-53 he played inter county hurling with Limerick but without success.

In 1954 Feenagh and Kilmeedy united as St. Ita’s and Johnny played with them in 1955, he captained the team that won the West Junior A Hurling Championship. In 1957-58 he played with Granagh/Ballingarry winning the West Junior A Hurling Championship two years in a row losing the county final narrowly to Pallasgreen. He also trained the Granagh/Ballingarry minor team to win the West Championship in ’58. By 1960 he was back with Feenagh/Kilmeedy to win his fourth West Junior A Hurling Championship medal. In the final Feenagh/Kilmeedy defeated Knock-aderry where he came up against his old comrades Paddy Browne and Paddy O’Grady. They lost to Patrickswell in the county semi final. In 1962 Johnny won his fifth West Junior A Hurling Championship medal when Feenagh/Kilmeedy defeated New-castle West in the final and went on to win the county championship de-feating Doon 5-11 to 1-6 in the final. In June 1966 Johnny came on as a sub for Feenagh/Kilmeedy in the West Junior B Hurl-ing Championship Final against Ardagh with seconds remaining scored the winning goal. Johnny Fitzgibbon must have had the longest playing record of any hurler of his time in the west of the county. He wielded the camán for over 25 years and accumulated a fine collection of medals. In his later years he served Feenagh/Kilmeedy as an official serving as chairman in 1967-68. In 1968 he trained Feenagh/Kilmeedy to win the West Minor Hurling Championship. Johnny gave over 25 years of dedicated service to the GAA helping three clubs achieve success on the hurling fields. He was a fine hurler and a most pleasant and generous man. He died in July 1981 and is buried in Kilmeedy cemetery.

MARTIN KELLY

Martin Kelly was born in 1906 in Ahascragh, Co. Galway, the youngest of four brothers and son of a farmer. He began his football career playing for the local clubs, Ahascragh and Calra. He joined the Garda Siochána, eventually rising to the rank of sergeant. His football prowess drew him to the attention of the Galway selectors and he won All Ireland Senior Football Championship medals in 1934 and 1938. They defeated Dublin in the 1934 final by 3-5 to 1-9, Mick Ferriter the 23 year old Kerry man studying in U.C.G., hit 2 goals to give Galway a half time lead of 5 points (2-4 to 12-2) and they won the day with the third goal scored by Martin Kelly. Galway won again in 1938 defeating Kerry in a replay by 2-4 to 0-7. The drawn game by all accounts a classic, in front of a record crowd of 69,000 had finished Galway 3-3, Kerry 2-6. With 2 minutes remaining Galway led by 4 points and then Kerry got a free, when the referee blew the crowd thought the match was over and invaded the pitch. Galway players celebrated and Kerry retired to their drawing room. However, the referee insisted the pitch be cleared and the balance of time played. Some Kerry players had left for home and the new Kerry team included their subs. In any event Galway triumphed 2-4 to 2-7. Later in 1938 Martin Kelly was a member of the Galway team that toured the USA. He also captained the Garda team to win the Dublin Senior Football Championship in 1935. He trained teams in Ardagh before finishing his career as sergeant in Ballingarry 1956 – 1969. He played a prominent rule in GAA activities for many years both as administrator and trainer of the local hurling team most notably in 1958 when Granagh/Ballingarry won back to back West Junior A Hurling Championship titles and narrowly lost the county final to Pallasgreen in ’58. These are a partial list of the medals he won apart from the Connacht and All Ireland medals as above: Peile na nAosanac, Howth, Kerry v Cavan Inter Provincial Challenge Cup (year not specified). Connacht Senior Football Championship 1933/1934 and 1935 with Garda FC (police) Dublin Senior Football League 1935 with Garda Feis Cruacáin 1934. On his retirement he remained in Ballingarry where he died on May 25th 1985. He and his wife are buried in Ballingarry cemetery.

Results

All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Round 1

Clare 0-27, Laois 3-17; Cork 1-25, Dublin 0-22.

Munster Senior Football Championship Semi-Finals

Tipperary 1-15, Limerick 2-11 (aet)

Cork 1-12, Kerry 0-13 (aet)

All Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Group 2 Round 3

Kilkenny 2-16, Limerick 0-8; Waterford 2-17, West-meath 0-10.

All Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Group 3 Round 3

Clare 1-18, Dublin 1-7.

Fox’s Extra-Time Point Books Final Spot for Tipperary

Munster Senior Football Championship Semi Final

Tipperary…………..1-15

Limerick……….2-11 (aet)

Hard luck to the Limerick senior footballers who went under to Tipperary by a point in the Munster Championship Semi Final at Páirc na nGael on Saturday. A Brian Fox point in the dying stages of extra time proved the difference for the premier men as they booked their first Munster final slot since 2016 against Cork’s surprise 2-point 1-12 to 0-13 win over holders Kerry at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday also after extra time. Limerick lost nothing in defeat on Sunday and enjoyed a very successful season winning the McGrath Cup and Division 4 of the National League.

Limerick bid for 21st and back-to-back Munster titles on Sunday.

The best of luck to our own Donal O’Grady, a member of the management team, and the Limerick sen-ior hurlers who play Waterford in the Munster Championship Final on Sunday 15th November in Semple Stadium, Thur-les at 4pm. Limerick will be bidding to win a 21st title and defeat the Munster Senior Hurling Champions for the first time since 19870-81. The Shannonsiders have successfully defended a Munster Senior Hurling Championship title 6 times, 1910-11, 1934-35, 1936-37 and 1980-81. Waterford will be aiming for a 10th title and a first since 2020. Limerick were winners when the sides met in the finals of 1933-34 but the Decies toppled the Limerick boys in their last Munster final meeting in 2007 with Limerick reverting the result in the All Ireland Semi Final before going under to Kilkenny in the All Ireland Final.

Fixtures

Saturday 14th November

All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Round 2

Clare v Wexford at O’Moore Park, Portaoise at 2pm.

Cork v Tipperary in Páirc na nGael at 4pm.

All Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Quarter Finals

Clare v Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 1pm

Tipperary v Waterford in Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 1pm

Tipperary v Waterford in Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 2.45pm.

Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final

Limerick v Waterford in Semple Stadium, Thurles at 4pm.

Lottery

There was no winner of the €10,400 jackpot in the Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club lottery on Saturday 7th November in Snow’s shop. The lucky dips of €20 each went to Seán English, Geraldine Mulqueen, Willie Fitzpatrick and Maireád Chawke. The next draw is on Saturday 14th November for a jackpot of €10,500. We thank all our punters for their continue support.