Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club Notes:

Last year’s defeated finalists Granagh/Ballingarry open their West Senior Hurling League/Championship campaign on this Saturday 22nd March when they travel to Páirc Caoimh Uí Luing, Feenagh to play the home side 2024 County Premier Junior A Hurling champions Feenagh/Kilmeedy at 3pmwhich will be the first meeting of the sides since Sunday 5th July 2020 when Granagh/Ballingarry defeated the boys in blue and white, 0-20 to 1-12 in the inaugural Jim (Twin) Lynch Memorial Cup final in Ballingarry.

The teams that sunny July Sunday were Granagh Ballingarry: Keith O’Kelly, Niall Cahill, David Clancy, Eoin Cahill, Thomas O’Donovan, David Condron 0-1, Eoin Casey 0-1, Pt Carroll, Darragh Casey, Jack Cagney 0-6, Seán O’Connor 0-1, Denis O’Connor 0-4 (3 frees), Gearóid Lynch (captain) 0-2, Niall Kennedy, Luke Flynn 0-2. Subs used: Kieran O’Donovan, Edward Sheehy, Damien O’Donovan, Seán Murphy 0-1, Donal O’Grady 0-1, Cathal O’Keeffe 0-1, Eoin Enright.

Feenagh/Kilmeedy: Michael Bergin, Kevin Murphy, Neilus Murphy, Michael O’Connor, Seán Murray, Brian Hannigan, Timmy McCarthy, Gerard O’Gorman 0-1, James O’Regan, Diarmuid Coleman 0-5 (4 frees), William Irwin, Darragh Kiely, Luke Ryan 1-4 (2 frees), Liam O’Gorman 0-1, Jack O’Sullivan. Subs used: Seán Kelly, Colm Regan, Dylan Murray O’Connor, Ronan O’Connor and Ian Kelly.

Six teams Granagh/Ballingarry, Newcastlewest, Croagh/Kilfinny, Adare, Feenagh/Kilmeedy and Effin have entered with the top few teams to qualify for the semi finals 1st v 4th and 3rd v 2nd . An exciting game is in prospect so come out and support the boys in black and green and their new management team of John O’Connor???, Mark O’Sullivan (Monagea) and Ger Ryan, this Saturday 22nd March at 3pm as they bid to make a winning start to their West Senior Hurling League/Championship campaign.

The Con and Annie Kirby Memorial Stake returns to the Limerick greyhound stadium this March and April and with it the chance for the Granagh/Ballingarry GAA club to share in a €20,000 prize fund. The 12th annual Con and Annie Memorial Stake is once more kindly sponsored by JP and Noreen McManus starting on this Saturday 22nd March and running each Saturday nightthrough to the finals on Saturday 19th April. The event is one of the highlights of the greyhound racing year and with a total racing prize fund of €160,00. This is one of the richest races in the world plus it also offers all Limerick GAA Camogie and Ladies Football clubs to share a €20,000 nominated prize fund for clubs as follows: 1st prize €10,000 and an opportunity to host a fundraising benefit night at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, 2nd will receive €5,000, 3rd €2,000 and 4th, 5th and 6th €1,000 each.

72 greyhounds (numbers subject to filling) will run in the opening night on Saturday 22nd March (gates open at 6.30pm). Each of these greyhounds will be assigned to a Limerick GAA/Camogie and Ladies Football Club at the first round to be held on Tuesday March 18th. As the competition continue sover the five weeks to the final on Saturday 19th April and the greyhounds progress through the rounds, so too do their nominated clubs. Details of the draw will be released over the coming weeks on social media GAA Club Camogie and Ladies Football clubs. Nominations will be made available on www.limerickgreyhoundsstadium.ie and the Limerick greyhound channels on Tuesday 19th March.

Keep an eye on Tuesday 19th March to find out what greyhound has been assigned to the Granagh/Ballingarry club. The draw and nominations will be posted on the Limerick Greyhound Stadium social channels and the Limerick Stadium website. The club must have a club representative registered at the turnstiles at the stadium on Saturday 22nd March and each Saturday night up and including the semi finals on Saturday 12th April. Passes are now available from club secretary John Lynch on 087 2912356, The Rock Bar, Granagh.

Your support for this great event would be greatly appreciated.

Opener postponed due to bereavement

The meeting of holders Granagh/Ballingarry and Dromcollogher/Broadford in the opening round of Group 1 in the West Junior B Hurling League due to be played in Ballingarry on Sunday was postponed due to a bereavement in the Dromcollogher/Broadford club and will be refixed for a date to be agreed by both clubs. The Granagh/Ballingarry boys next outing in the competition is on this Sunday 23rd March against neighbours Knockaderry in Ballingarry at 4.30pm.

Your support for the boys in black and green would be appreciated.

Munster U20 Football Championship Phase 1 Round 2

Limerick 0-15 Waterford 0-13

Congratulations to the Limerick U20 footballers and their management team on their hard fought two point 0-15 to 0-13 victory over gallant Waterford in Round 2 of Phase 1 in the Munster U20 Football Championship played in dry cold conditions in Dungarvan on Saturday to go joint second on the table with the Waterford boys on two points. The Treaty Boys’ final group game is on this Saturday 22nd March when they travel to Doonbeg to play pointless Clare at 2pm. A win for the Limerick boys on the day will see them through to Phase 2 with Cork and Kerry in Tipperary were to defeat Waterford. Your support for the Limerick boys in Doonbeg on Saturday would be appreciated.

National Hurling League Division 1A Round 4

Kilkenny 0-29 Limerick 3-15

Well done to manager Jimmy Lee, Newcastlewest and all involved with the Limerick senior footballers on their thrilling 1-21 to 3-15 draw with Wicklow in Round 6 of Division 4 in the National Football League in Echelon Park, Aughrim on Sunday. This result sees the Treaty County go second on the table on 8 points, 4 behind Wexford and 1 ahead of Wicklow. We wish the boys in green and white and their management team the best of luck this Sunday 23rd March at 1pm in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale where victory over table-toppers Waterford in their final league tie will guarantee them a place in the National Football League Final against Wexford but also promotion to Division 3 for 2026.

Please support.

Granagh-Ballingarry GAA Club draw promoters are taking to the streets of the parish to canvas members to join the club draw, which will be held quarterly with €2,000 in prizes. 1st prize €1,000 and ten prizes of €100 with the option to join the club weekly lottery/country club draw for €200. If you wish to renew your membership please contact your promoter as soon as possible as the first draw is due to take place in early April.

Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club are promoting the 2025 National Club Draw. There is no financial cost to the club to get involved as the cost of tickets and prizes are covered by the Central Council. In addition to maintaining the proceeds for all tickets sold by the club, any club who sells a minimum of 200 tickets automatically gets into a draw for €1,000, a prize won by Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club in March 2024. Prizes include 1st €50,000, 2nd €20,000, 3rd €10,000. Other prizes include All Ireland Final tickets and overnight package, €2,500 voucher plus a number of other cost prizes. Tickets are currently on sale in local shops/bars and from promoters.

Note the draw will take place on Wednesday 26th March in Croke Park.

Granagh-Ballingarry GAA club are once more promoting the Limerick County Club Draw. There will be monthly draws from March to December 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 €300; 14th to 30th €200.

Thank you to all who joined the draw through our club in 2024 with six winners Liam Carroll won €200 in April, Patsy Quinn won €300 in June, Elizabeth Cregan €3,000 in July, Margaret Kelly €500, Jack Hennessy and Noel Noonan €200 each in November. If  you wish to renew your membership for 2025 please go to the link limerickgaa.ie/club-limerick-draw-signup and select Granagh-Ballingarry GAA Club or contact club co-ordinator Stephen Stapleton on 086-1960301.

Note the first draw for 2025 is on Saturday 29th March, so please contact your promoter as soon as possible.

The Granagh-Ballingarry Cúl Camp will be held in the Granagh-Ballingarry GAA club grounds V94V264 in Ballingarry from Monday June 30th to Friday 4th July. Booking is now accepted online on www.kelloggs.gaa.ie/booking

Granagh/Ballingarry GAA club membership fees for 2025 are fixed at €100 to include membership of the club draw. Bord na nÓg players €40 (€90 maximum for two or more players). No family membership. Players to register online to pay fees through foireannatgaa.ie as per official guide before training and playing season commence to be covered by insurance.

Limerick County GAA Board launched their 2025 season tickets recently. The tickets will entitle the bearer entry to all Limerick County Board club games in 2025. For €150 it would make an ideal present for a family member or friend and can be purchased online at limerickgaa.ie Tel 061-335576.

All Granagh/Ballingarry club members please take note that tickets for all Limerick National Hurling League Division 1A and National Football League Division 4 games are only available online through Ticketmaster and not through clubs.

All road leads to Cappamore Community Centre on Saturday 29th March 3pm for the 2025 Munster Senior Scór Finals. Close to 100 competitors from all corners of Munster will battle to be crowned Munster Senior Scór champions in the eight competitions. The rivalry will be fierce with club, parish and county pride at stake. Granagh-Ballingarry will represent Limerick in the Instrumental competition by Johnny O’Riordan and Christine Connell, Figure Dancing – Crecora Manistir, Solo Singing – Liam Brouder, Fr. Casey’s, Recitation – Rita O’Grady, Monagea, Ballad Group – Bruff, Novelty Act – Ahane.

Note in the Question Time final which commences at 1.30pm Limerick will be represented by South Liberties.

Support

All the Limerick competitors have put in a lot of practice, so come out and support them on Saturday 29th March at Cappamore Community Centre at 1.30pm as some great entertainment awaits you.

The clean-up takes place on Good Friday 18th April. Please support.

Are you interested in becoming a referee? Think you can do better? Then become a GAA referee.

Why become a GAA referee? Stay involved with the game as an alternative to playing fitness. It is a great way to keep fit.

Ambition – Could you referee a county final or All Ireland final? Learn more about the game, give something back. It offers players at the end of their playing days the opportunity to continue in the sport.

Personal development – skills that are of value in all walks of life.

What qualifies are required to become a GAA referee? Good knowledge of the playing rules. Be physically and mentally fit. Have the ability to remain calm have the moral courage to make decisions which are correct. If interested please forward your details asap to Patsy Coffey, Cappamore on 087-016-344 or John Sexton, Bruree 087-4881182.

Hearty congratulations to our own Noel Noonan on his call up to the Limerick hurling Masters hurling panel. We wish the panel of players, management and backroom team every success this season.

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

Good luck to the Limerick U20 hurlers and their management team who play Tipperary in the opening round of the Munster U20 Hurling Championship on Tuesday 25th March in Semple Stadium, Thurles at 7pm. Please support.

There was no winner of the €9,200 jackpot in the Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club lottery on Saturday 15th March in Dinny A’s Bar, Ballingarry. The numbers drawn were 7, 21, 22 and 28. The lucky dips of €20 each went to Ilona Callaghan, promoter online, James Tierney, promoter O’Grady’s Spar, Ballingarry, Aine Healy, promoter Mike Healy and Mike Linehan, promoter Laura O’Keeffe.

The next draw will be held on Saturday 22nd March in Dinny A’s Bar, Ballingarry for a jackpot of €9,400.

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 6pmevery Saturday. Thank you for your continued support.

Check out our 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/granaghballingarrygaaclub and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/granaghballingarry.

Saturday 22nd March

Munster U20 Football Championship Phase 1 Round 3: Clare v Limerick in Drombeg at 2pm.

Tipperary v Waterford in Clonmel at 2pm.

West Senior Hurling League/Championship Round 2: Granagh-Ballingarry v Feenagh-Kilmeedy in Pairc Caoimh Ui Luing, Feenagh at 3pm.

National Hurling League Division 1A Round 7:

Limerick v Wexford in Pairc na nGael at 7.30pm.

Sunday 23rd March:

National Football League Division 4 Round 7:

Limerick v Waterford in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale at 1pm.

West Junior B Hurling League Group 1 Round 2:

Granagh-Ballingarry v Knockaderry in Ballingarry at 4.30pm.

Tuesday 25th March:

Munster U20 Hurling Championship Round 1:

Limerick v Tipperary in Semple Stadium Thurles at 7pm.

Munster U20 Hurling Championship Round 1:

Clare v Cork in Sixmilebridge at 7pm.

Friday 28th March:

Munster Minor Hurling Championship Round 1:

Cork v Limerick in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale at 7pm.

Tipperary v Waterford in Semple Stadium, Thurles at 7pm.

Saturday 29th March:

Munster Senior Scór Question Time Final in Cappamore Community Centre at 1.30pm.

Munster Senior Scór Stage Competition Finals in Cappamore Community Centre at 3pm.

City-East-West Junior A Football League

Granagh-Ballingarry v Fedamore in Fedamore at 3pm.