Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club Notes:

Granagh Ballingarry Claim County U16 Hurling Title with 9 Point Win County U16 Hurling Div 3 Championship Final:
Granagh/Ballingarry 0-23 South Liberties/Crecora/Manister 1-11
Granagh Ballingarry, with a strong all round team performance, recorded an impressive nine point 0-23 to 1-11 victory over gallant South Liberties Crecora Manister to claim the County U16 Hurling Div 3 Championship title in ideal conditions at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale on Saturday to make it a hat trick of County Minor C U17 Div 4 and U16 Div 3 Hurling Championship title for the boys from Knockfierna this season. The final was played on an excellent pitch in front of a big crowd who gave great support to their sides, with Michael Lyons in charge.
Credit to the Granagh Ballingarry management and players who flew out of the blocks and playing their best hurling of the year in the opening 20 minutes, flew into a six point 0-9 to 0-3 lead, a lead they were able to protect up to the interval, scoring 13 of their 14 first half points from opening play. Granagh Ballingarry again started the second half strong and quickly extended their advantage, and every time the South Liberties Crecora Manister rallied with scores to reduce the deficit (1-5 in a 5 minute spell), to their credit the Granagh Ballingarry boys found the scores to keep them at bay for an impressive nine point, 0-23 to 1-11 victory at the final whistle to claim the County U16 Hurling Div 3 Championship title, to add to the County Minor C and U17 Div 4 County Hurling Championship title win earlier in the season. Huge congratulations to this great bunch of lads, many who won their third County Hurling Championship medal of the season on Saturday, thoroughly deserved U16 title, after showing their class all year and professionally negotiating the knockout rounds. After the game County Bord na nÓg Chairperson Denis Carroll presented the County U16 Hurling Div 3 Championship Cup to winning captain Danny O’Grady to the delight of the Granagh Ballingarry supporters. Danny thanked the referee, the Mick Neville Park groundsmen and South Liberties Crecora Manister for a great game, as well as his team mates, supporters and Donal O’Grady, Noel Noonan for all the work put in throughout the year, along with medic Annmarie O’Keeffe.
Granagh Ballingarry: Sean English, Charlie Hanley, Alex Condron, Jamie O’Grady, William O’Grady, Eoghan Kiely, Edward Purtill, Declan Dunworth, Nathan Hartnett, Sean Stapleton, Danny O’Grady (captain), Edward Lynch, Liam O’Kelly, Adam Mulqueen, Nigel Noonan, Niall O’Shea, Michael Curtin, Conor Sexton, Ben Houlihan, Adam Lyons, Harry Ahern, Conor Davis, Cian Hanley, Rory Stapleton, Daniel Hartigan.
Referee: Michael Lyons.

Training Tops:
The Granagh Ballingarry boys were delighted to receive, along with the County U16 Div 3 Hurling Championship cup, a set of training tops for the squad sponsored by O’Grady’s Spar Shop, Ballingarry and Grasstec. Huge thanks to Donal O’Grady and Pat Carroll for their sponsorship.

Granagh Ballingarry Path to the County U16 Hurling Div 3 Championship Title:
Div 3C, Round 1: Granagh Ballingarry 4-17, Mungret St. Paul’s 1-5.
Round 2: Granagh Ballingarry 7-29, Cappamore 1-6.
Round 3: Granagh Ballingarry 1-21, South Liberties Crecora Manister 1-9.
Round 4: Granagh Ballingarry 5-19, Caherline 0-9.
County U16 Hurling Div 3 Championship Semi Final
Granagh Ballingarry 2-17, Newcastle West 2-9.
County U16 Hurling Div 3 Championship Final
Granagh Ballingarry 0-23, South Liberties Crecora Manister 1-11.

Kilteely Dromkeen Finish Bottom Despite First 6 Point Win:
Limerick County Premier Junior A Football Championship, Group 2, Round 5
Kilteely Dromkeen 3-7 Granagh/Ballingarry 2-4
The meeting of bottom of the table Kilteely Dromkeen and Granagh Ballingarry in the final round of Group 2 stage games in the Limerick Premier Junior A Football Championship went the way of the East Limerick side Kilteely Dromkeen with a six point 3-7 to 2-4 victory over gallant Granagh Ballingarry played in ideal conditions at Camogue Rovers GAA Club grounds in Meanus on Saturday afternoon, to finish bottom on the League Championship title on two points. They now play Mungret St. Paul’s in the relegation semi final, while Granagh Ballingarry’s fifth on three points play Ballybrown in the second relegation semi final.
This East v West County Premier Junior A Football Championship final, Group 2 game was played in front of a small crowd on an excellent pitch with Eamonn Phelan of St. Patrick’s in charge. Kilteely Dromkeen’s no 11 Denis Ahern from open play on 3 minutes, and Granagh Ballingarry’s no 14 Paudie Murphy from a placed ball three minutes later, traded white flags for 0-1 each on six minutes. Both sides were guilty of inaccuracy in the next ten minutes before white flags were traded by Paudie Murphy from a placed ball on 16 minutes and Keelan O’Dea from open play three minutes later to leave the sides level for the second time at 0-2 each, on 19 minutes. Then after five minutes of scoreless play the Kilteely Dromkeen boys finished the opening half strong with a second well taken point, following a good solo run by Denis Ahern on 25 minutes, followed by a Sean O’Dea two pointer from open play on 27 minutes and a Robbie T. Holmes cracking goal on 30 minutes to send the boys in red, green and white in at the interval leading by six, 1-5 to 0-2.
The opening five minutes, after the interval, were very exciting with a penalty goal by Denis O’Dea on 31 minutes before green flags were traded by Paudie Murphy on 33 minutes and Christopher O’Dea two minutes later to leave nine between the sides, Kilteely Dromkeen 3-5, Granagh Ballingarry 1-2 on 35 minutes. A couple of wides were exchanged before Paudie Murphy of Granagh Ballingarry split the uprights from a placed ball on 40 minutes and Jack Cagney finished past Kilteely Dromkeen keeper Jack Franklin five minutes later to reduce the deficit to five, Kilteely Dromkeen 3-5, Granagh Ballingarry 2-3 at the end of the third quarter. Then points were traded from open play by Granagh Ballingarry substitute Jack O’Donoghue on 48 minutes and Sean O’Dea three minutes later to leave five again between the sides, Kilteely Dromkeen 3-6, Granagh Ballingarry 2-4 on 52 minutes. Both sides were guilty of inaccuracy before Dylan Holmes cut through from centre field to split the uprights on 58 minutes to extend the Kilteely Dromkeen boys’ advantage to six. Both sides failed to add to their total in the final two minutes to leave the East Limerick side Kilteely Dromkeen deserved six points, 3-7 to 2-4 winners of their first brace of points in Group 2 of the County Premier Junior A Football Championship to finish bottom of the League/Championship table on two points and now play Mungret St. Paul’s in the relegation semi final, while Granagh Ballingarry are fifth on three points play Ballybrown in the second relegation semi final. Kilteely Dromkeen scored 2-7 from play which included (1 and 2 pointer) and 0-1 from a penalty. Granagh Ballingarry scored 2-1 from play and 0-3 from frees.
Kilteely Dromkeen: Jack Franklin, James O’Regan, Padraig Ahern, Eoghan O’Dea, James Daly, Sean O’Dea 0-1, Keelan O’Dea 0-1, Robbie T. Holmes 1-0, Dylan Holmes 0-1, Darragh Carroll (1 and 2 pointer), Denis Ahern 0-2, Brian O’Grady, Christopher O’Dea 1-0, Denis O’Dea 1-0 (penalty), Declan Kenny. Subs used: Padraig O’Dea and Jamie Kiely.
Granagh Ballingarry: David Clancy, Paudie McKenna, Eoin Casey, Niall Cahill, Michael Russell, Brian Sheehy, Mark O’Shea, Jack Cagney 1-0, Darragh Casey, Tom Horgan, Eoin Horgan, Cian Cagney, Paul Griffin, Paudie Murphy 1-3 (0-3 frees), Jack McMahon. Subs used: David Condron and Jack O’Donoghue 0-1. Referee Eamonn Phelan (St. Patricks).

Players Membership:
Granagh Ballingarry players’ membership can still be renewed online at www.foireann.ie Any player not currently registered who incurs an 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 as soon as possible.

October County Club Draw:
The next Limerick County GAA Club Draw will be held 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 €300, 14th to 30th €200, Granagh Ballingarry had 198 members in the sixth draw in August and four winners to date. Club Chairperson Andrew Holmes and Noreen Hennessy won €200 in the first draw in March, Mary Horgan €200 in July and Richard Chawke €200 in August.
If you would like to renew your membership please visit limerickgaa.ieclublimerickdrawsignup and select Granagh Ballingarry GAA club or contact Granagh Ballingarry Club co-ordinator Stephen Stapleton at (086) 1960301.
Note: All new members for the next draw must be in by Thursday 23rd October at 5pm.

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

€12,300 Jackpot on Saturday:
There was no winner of the €12,200 jackpot in the Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club lottery draw held on Sunday 12th October in the Rock Bar, Granagh. The numbers drawn were 9, 12, 15 and 29. The lucky dips of €20 each went to Stephen Stapleton, promoter online; Shane Mulqueen, promoter Condron’s Bar, Ballingarry; Jimmy Chawke, promoter Jimmy Chawke; John Cullinane, promoter Mike Carroll. The next draw will be held on Saturday 18th October in Condron’s Bar, Ballingarry for a jackpot of €12,300. Tickets are €2 each or three for €5 and are on sale in local shops, bars and from promoters. You can also buy the weekly draw online, 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 our website at www.granaghballingarrygaa.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.club and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/granaghballingarry

Johnny O’Riordan RIP:
A great old Gaelic Games enthusiast, player, singer, musician, athlete, local paper correspondent and Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club Irish officer, Johnny O’Riordan, Kilmore, Bruree/Granagh, died peacefully in University Hospital Limerick on Sunday surrounded by his loving family. The late Johnny’s name has been synonymous with athletes running 27 Dublin City Marathons and won a number of Cross Country titles with Granagh AC in the 1960s and 1970s. He also won a number of All Ireland music and singing titles, three West Limerick solo singing titles and won his first County Senior Scor medal after 51 years competing when he teamed up with Christine Connell to win the instrumental music competition at the 2025 Limerick County Scór Final held in Askeaton Community Hall on Friday 7th March. Johnny will always be remembered as a true GAA Gael in Granagh Ballingarry. His death is sincerely regretted by all in Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club. To his brothers David and Tom, relatives, kind neighbours and friends sympathy is extended. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.

Club Diary:
Saturday 18th October
County U16 Football Div 4 Championship Semi Finals: Granagh Ballingarry v Caherconlish in Kilbreedy at 10am; Claughaun v Knockaderry in Kilbreedy at 12 noon.
County Premier Junior A Hurling Championship Final: Knockaderry v Doon in Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock at 3pm.
County Intermediate Hurling Championship Final: Bruree v Murroe Boher in Fedamore at 2pm.
County Junior A Hurling Championship Final: Castletown Ballyagran v Templeglantine in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale at 6pm.
Sunday 19th October
County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final: Effin v Garryspillane in Páirc na nGael at 1pm.
County Senior Hurling Championship Final: Doon v Na Piarsaigh in Páirc na nGael at 3.30pm.