GRANAGH/BALLINGARRY GAA CLUB NOTES
ONLINE AGM ON FRIDAY 18TH DECEMBER
Due to current Covid 19 restrictions the AGM of Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club will be online through Microsoft Teams commencing at 8.30pm sharp on Friday 18th December. All paid-up members who wish to receive a link to join the meeting must send a text to An Runaí or email secretary.granaghballingarry@gaa.ie with your email address by tomorrow Thursday 10th December.
John Lynch, secretary, in his 29th successive annual report states that the year under review due to the impact of Covid 19 has had, and continues to have, a massive effect as we know on all aspects of life and specifically led to a pause on all our club games and activities on two occasions from Thursday 12th March to Monday 19th June and Monday 5th October until further notice. Adrian Farragher will give the treasurer’s report and Andrew Holmes the chairman’s address. The AGM is the place for members and players to air their views on club affairs over the past year. The aim and ambitions for 2021 will be high on the agenda and it will take people with time, vision and energy to maintain the club’s place among the top dual clubs in the county. All club members are asked to join the meeting online, particularly players as the debate and discussion as always should be lively.
Granagh/Ballingarry Great in Robust Decider
West Minor Hurling Championship Final 1980
Forty years ago, on Sunday 14th December, a well-balanced side coupled with the immaculate free-taking of county minor Tadgh Costelloe had the 1980 West Minor Hurling Championship title booked for Granagh/Ballingarry long before the final whistle at wet and windy Knockaderry.
Killeedy, long in the wilderness at minor level, tried vainly to emulate their senior brothers crowned county senior champions early in the year, and in the final analysis it must be their dependence far too much that saw them take home tired and aching limbs rather than a west minor title. Grit and determination they had aplenty and should their forwards merit some criticism it is worth bearing in mind that some of them had scarcely attained a look of adolescence. It was a splendid game and must compare favourably with any of the great minor finals of the past as Granagh/Ballingarry struck top form and held the lead from start to finish. While Granagh/Ballingarry were the superior side they never quite managed to shake off the Killeedy threat and particularly in the early stages of the second half the winners’ confidence was somewhat shaken. Nevertheless, this was a game that Granagh/Ballingarry never looked like losing with Mike Quaid at centre field. Tadgh Costello at centre forward and Jim (twin) Lynch on the wing were always able to provide that little extra whenever needed while county senior medal winners, Liam Shine and Gerard Magner, continually re-introduced the element of hope for Killeedy. The winners’ defence all worked their passage with John (twin) Lynch, Joe Power and Kevin Clifford tested and not found wanting while John Hogan in goals had saves that could lay just claim to brilliance. Few could deny Granagh/Ballingarry their just win as they moved with a fluency to the west minor title to add to the U14 won in ’96 and U6 in ’98 and while giving top marks to the Killeedy boys’ tenacity and grit, it is perhaps fair to suggest that they backed the coolness of the Granagh/Ballingarry boys as essentially all their efforts carried a sense of desperation. All in all, it was a splendid minor final never short of pulsating movement with the emphasis centred to close hard pulling and tight marking in the traditional style and perhaps it is fair to say that the only losers were those who didn’t see this outstanding last game in the west division for 1980. After the game West Board chairman, Eddie Corbett, presented the West Minor Hurling Championship Cup to the winners’ captain John F(twin) Lynch to the delight of the Granagh/Ballingarry supporters.
Scorers: Granagh/Ballingarry: Tadgh Costelloe 0-7, Tom Enright 1-0, Joe Noonan 1-0. Killeedy: Gerard Magner 0-5, Kevin Kelly 0-1, Liam Shine 0-1.
Granagh/Ballingarry: John Hogan, Sean Mullane, John Lynch, Tom O’Regan, Joe Power, Kevin Clifford, Mick Quaid, Noel O’Connor, Mick Lee, Paddy Tierney, Tadgh Costelloe, Jim Lynch, John Doody, Tom Enright and Joe Noonan.
Killeedy: T. Murphy, J. Kelly, M. Browne, J. Forde, G. Long, J Cunningham, B. Shine, L. Shine, P. Hennessy O’Browne, G. Maghner, K. Kelly, D. Callaghan, J. O’Connor, Ml Forde.
Referee: Michael O’Sullivan, St. Kieran’s.
11-year-old Diarmuid wins Mercedes CLA 180 Car
Massive congratulations to 11-year-old Diarmuid Kiely, Granagh, winner of the Mercedes CLA 180 car in the Limerick GAA draw on Saturday 5th December, live on Limerick GAA Facebook. The winning promoter was Seamus Twomey of the Rock Bar, Granagh. Thank you to everyone who supported this very successful Limerick County GAA fundraiser.
All Ireland Hurling Final Preview
The Limerick GAA All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final, Limerick v Waterford preview, takes place this Friday 11th December virtually at 8.30pm and includes a two-hour discussion with a panel of Limerick experts: Richie McCarthy (Blackrock), Niamh Mulcahy (Ahane), Donie Ryan (Garryspillane) and Ciarán Carey (Patrickswell) with more surprise guests on the night. Exclusive announcement of the Limerick All Ireland team.
Interaction with the expert panel can be had by sending in your questions during the event. Exciting prize give-aways. To join this event visit limerickgaa.ie/kgaa-twi. Tickets cost €20 with €5 of each payment being donated going to helping Limerick children.
Double December Club Draw
The 8th and 9th Limerick County GAA Club draw will take place on this Saturday 12th December with exclusive prizes for each draw being 500 worth of vouchers from ????????????????????Timmy Macs, Elverys, Off the Bone, Costa, Limerick Greyhound Stadium, Kenneally Jewellers, Scanlan’s Menswear, Irish Country Hotel Group and Marie Keating Photography. To rejoin this double December draw please www.limerick.gaa.ie/club limerick-drawsigning/ or contact local club promoter Stephen Stapleton.
Remember if you’re not in you can’t win.
Limerick Bid for 9th All Ireland Hurling Title on Sunday
The best of luck to manager John Kiely, captain Declan Hannon, our own Donal O’Grady a member of the management team, and the Limerick senior hurlers who play Waterford in the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final on Sunday 13th December at 3.30pm in Croke Park which is a rematch of the recent Munster Final won 0-25 to 0-21 by Limerick. Limerick will be contesting their 18th final and aiming for their 9th title and their second in three season and Waterford their 8th final aiming for their third title and a first since 1959.
Flags
We urge people all over Granagh/Ballingarry and beyond to put out their green and white flags in support of Limerick for this Sunday 13th December for the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final against Waterford in Croke Park at 3.30pm.
Online County Convention
Limerick County GAA Board officials will review a very successful year at their annual convention online on Wednesday 22nd December at 8pm. It will be a quiet affair with all outgoing officers returned unopposed for 2021 and no motions on the clár. Congratulations to our own Seamus Twomey on his return as Munster council representative for 2021.
Munster U20 Hurling Championship Semi Final
The best of luck to the Limerick U20 hurlers and our own Sean O’Connor who play Cork in the Munster Championship Semi Final on Saturday 12th December in Pairc na nGael at 4.30pm.
Results
All Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi Finals
Dublin 1-24, Cavan 0-12; Mayo 5-20, Tipperary.
All Ireland Ladies Senior Football Championship Sem Final
Cork 2-17, Galway 0-13.
€10,900 Jackpot on Saturday
There was no winner of the €10,800 jackpot in the Granagh/Ballingarry GAA club lottery on Saturday 5th December. The lucky dips of €20 each went to Brid O’Gorman promoter O’Gorman’s shop, Marie Noonan promoter Adrian Farragher, Bertie and Marion Hanley promoter Eoin Kennedy and Tom Burke promoter Mossie O’Connor.
The next draw is on Saturday 12th December for a jackpot of €10,000. We thank all for your continued support.
Fixtures
Saturday 12th December
Munster Minor Hurling Championship Semi Finals
Limerick v Cork, Semple Stadium, Thurles at 1pm.
Waterford v Tipperary in Pairc Uí Rinn at 3pm.
Munster Minor Football Championship Quarter Finals
Limerick v Waterford in Pairc na nGael at 1pm.
Clare v Tipperary in Semple Stadium, Thurles at 5pm.
Munster U20 Hurling Championship Semi Final
Limerick v Cork, Pairc na nGael, 4.30pm.
Sunday 13th December
All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final
Limerick v Waterford in Croke Park at 3.30pm.
Tuesday 15th December
Munster U20 Hurling Championship Semi Final
Waterford v Tipperary in Fraher Field, Dungarven at 7pm.
Munster Minor Football Championship Semi Final
Kerry v Cork in Austin Stack Park Tralee at 7pm.
Wednesday 16th December
Munster Minor Football Championship Semi Final
Clare v Tipperary v Limerick or Waterford at 7pm. Venue tbc.
Limerick County GAA Annual Convention online at 8pm.
Friday 18th December
Granagh/Ballingarry Club AGM online through Microsoft Teams at 8.30pm.
Sunday 20th December
Munster Minor Hurling Championship Final
Waterford or Tipperary v Cork or Limerick at 1pm, venue tbc.
All Ireland Ladies Senior Football Championship Final
Dublin v Cork in Croke Park at 3.30pm.
Monday 21st December
Munster Minor Football Championship Final
Kerry or Cork v Clare/Tipperary or Limerick/Waterford at 7pm, venue tbc.
Wednesday 23rd December
Munster U20 Hurling Championship Final
Limerick or Cork v Waterford or Tipperary at 7.30pm venue tbc
Saturday 26th December
12th Annual Knockfierna King of the Hill challenge if safe to do so