Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club Notes:
Epic 3-Point win for Minors:
Limerick County Minor C Hurling Championship Final
Granagh/Ballingarry 1-20 Monagea 1-17
Granagh/Ballingarry have successfully retained their Limerick County Minor C Hurling Championship title with a three point 1-20 to 1-17 victory over unlucky Monagea in an epic 39 score contest in ideal conditions at UL North Campus pitch on Wednesday evening.
This was West’s only second ever County Minor C Hurling Championship Final played on the G4 pitch in Ul in front of a big crowd with Joe Mulcahy of Killeedy in charge in what was an end-to-end battle and must compare favourably to any of the great Premier A or B County Minor Hurling Championship finals ever with the issue in doubt right up to the final whistle. Monagea will be a little disappointed not to have taken the final to extra time as they created a couple of good chances in added time which they failed to convert against a firm Granagh/Ballingarry defence. The Granagh Ballingarry boys were dealt with a major blow when they were forced to line out minus All Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medallist with Limerick, Danny O’Grady, due to injury, while Monagea were at full strength. Monagea’s No. 12 Conor Hough and Granagh/Ballingarry’s No. 9 Eoghan Kiely traded white flags from open play in the opening two minutes before Edward Lynch of Granagh/Ballingarry split the uprights from out near the sideline following a good solo run to leave it 0-2 to 0-1 in favour of the boys in black and green on three minutes. Then Monagea won a free in front of the Granagh/Ballingarry goal which Conor Hough hi8t short to Tommy Harnett who finished past the Granagh/Ballinarry keeper Liam English, to leave the Monagea boys two ahead, 1-1 to 0-1 on four minutes. The Granagh/Ballingarry boys dominated the next five minutes with a trio of white flags courtesy of Darragh O’Donoghue (free) on 10 minutes before a pair of white flags for Monagea courtesy of Conor Hough from a place ball on 13 minutes and open play on 15 minutes, were cancelled out by Darragh O’Donoghue from a placed ball on 17 and 19 minutes before a long delivery by Granagh/Ballingarry’s No 9 Eoghan Kiely finished up in the back of the Monagea net a minute later to leave four between the sides, Granagh/Ballingarry 1-7, Monagea 1-3 on 20 minutes. In the final 10 minutes of this evenly contested opening half points were traded by Seán Lee (play) on 21 minutes and Darragh O’Donoghue (free) on 23 minutes, Declan Dunworth (play) on 24 minutes and Darragh Collins (play) on 25 minutes, Conor Hough (play) on 26 minutes, Eoghan Kiely (play) on 27 minutes, Seán Lee (play) on 29 minutes and Darragh O’Donoghue free on 30 minutes to send the Granagh/Ballingarry boys in at the interval leading by four 1-11 to 1-7, Conor Hough (play) and Edward Lynch (play), Conor Hough (play) and Declan Dunworth (free) traded white flags in the opening five minutes after the interval before a pair of white flags from open play for the boys in green and gold, courtesy of Seán Lee on 37 and 39 minutes to redfuce the deficit to two, Granagh/Ballingarry 1-13, Monagea 1-11. It was end to end for the next 15 minutes with points traded by Conor Hough (play) on 41 minutes and Darragh O’Donoghue (play) on 43 minutes, Darragh Collins (play) on 53 minutes and Adam, Mulqueen (play) on 45 minutes, Seán Lee (play) on 46 minutes, Darragh O’Donoghue (free) on 47 minutes, Conor Hough (free) on 49 minutes, Darragh O’Donoghue (free) on 50 minutes, Conor Hough (free) on 52 minutes. Then Granagh/Ballingarry lost their star midfielder Eoghan Kiely and points were traded by Conor Hough (play) on 55 minutes and Darragh O’Donoghue (free) on 56 minutes before Granagh/Ballingarry’s No9 6 Declan Dunworth split the uprights from a 60 metre placed ball two minutes later to extend the boys in black and green’s advantage to three, 1-20 to 1-17. The Monagea boys created a couple of goal scoring chances in the final two minutes plus which they failed to convert against a firm Granagh/Ballingarry defence who held out for a three point 1-20 to 1-17 if only just, victory to claim their second Limerick County Minor C Hurling Championship title in-a-row to stay in contention for a Limerick County Minor C Hurling and Football Championship double when they play Pallasgreen in the football decider on Wednesday 7th October in St. Patrick’s GAA Club grounds in Rhebogue at 7pm after an epic 39 score contest between two fine sporting sides which must compare favourably to any of the great Premier A or B County Minor Hurling Championship final in the past.
The game was well handled by referee Joe Mulcahy, Killeedy. The Monagea players and management were gutted to have lost by three points but were very sporting in defeat and stayed on the field to congratulate Granagh/Ballingarry on their back-to-back titles and cup presentation.
Granagh/Ballingarry scored 1-10 from play and 0-3 from frees.
Granagh/Ballingarry: Liam Lynch, Charlie Henley, Paddy O’Keeffe, William O’Grady, Seán Stapleton, Declan Dunworth 0-3 (2 frees), Edward Purtill, Nathan Hartnett, Eoghan Kiely 1-3, Edward Lynch 0-2, Darragh O’Donoghue 0-10 (8 frees), Nigel Noonan, Alex Condron, Adam Mulqueen 0-2, Liam O’Kelly. Subs used: Conor Sexton and Daniel Hartigan. Other panel members: Michael Curtin, Adam Lyons, Niall O’Shea, Jamie O’Grady, Seán Daly, Rory Stapleton.
Monagea: Pearse O’Sulivan, Seán O’Sullivan, Liam O’Connor, Luke Rowsome, Adam Broderick, Cathal Kiely, John O’Mahony, Jack Colins, Darragh O’Connor, Aaron Rowsome, Seán Lee 0-5, Conor Hough 0-10 (3 frees), Darragh Collins 0-2, Ryan Rooney, Tommy Harnett 1-0, sub used: Cian Cussen. Referee: Joe Mulcahy (Killeedy).
Presentation:
After the game our own Limerick County Bord na nÓg chairperson Seamus Twomey complimented both sides on an epi final. Seamus congratulated his own club Granagh/Ballingarry on winning back-to-back County Minor C Hurling Championship titles and praised Monagea for their part played in front of a big crowd. He complimented the referee Joe Mulcahy and his officials and the UL groundsman for having everything in top class order. He jointly presented the cup with Limerick County Board assistant treasurer Philly Phillips to winning captain Darragh O’Donovan to the joy of the Granagh/Ballingarry supporters. Darragh thanked manager Noel Noonan, selectors Donal O’Grady and Pat Carroll, he complimented the referee, UL for the pitch and Monagea for a fine sporting game.
Granagh/Ballingarry’s Path to County Minor C Hurling Championship title
Round 1: Granagh/Ballingarry 6-19, Southside Gaels 2-7
Round 2: Granagh/Ballingarry 3-20, Knockaderry 1-12
Round 3: Granagh/Ballingarry 3-23, Cappamore 1-15
Round 4: Granagh/Ballingarry w/o Monagea scr.
County Semi Final: Granagh/Ballingarry 4-23, Coshlea Gaels 2-11.
County Final: 1-20, Monagea 1-17.
Granagh/Ballingarry County Minor Hurling Championship Roll of Honour
Granagh: County Premier Minor Hurling Championship 1939
County Minor B Hurling Championship 1988 Captain Peter Stapleton
Ballingarry: County Premier Minor Hurling Championship, 1971 Captain Davy Clifford
County Minor B Hurling Championship 1989 captain Thomas O’Keeffe
Granagh/Ballingarry: County Division/Minor Hurling Championship 1993, captain Cormac McCarthy 2001, captain Eoin Kennedy
Na Fianna: (Granagh/Ballingarry/Croagh/Kilfinny) Conty Minor B Hurling Championship 2011 captain Seán Lenihan.
Blackrock finish second with a 15-point win to book semi final spot:
Limerick Conty Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
Round 7
Blackrock 5-17 Granagh/Ballingarry 0-17
At Bruff on Saturday afternoon Blackrock recorded an impressive 15 point 5-17 to 0-17 victory over gallant Granagh/Ballingarry to finish joint third on the Limerick County Premier Intermediate Hurling League/Championship table on eight points with Dromin/Athloacca one behind Bruff who they play in the semi final and table-to9ppers Murroe Boher play Dromin/Athlacca in the other semi final while the Granagh/Ballingarry boys finished second from the bottom on four points, one behind neighbours Croagh/Kilfinny and Effin, one ahead of Glenroe on three points at the bottom of the able who are relegated to second tier intermediate for 2027.
The South v West Final of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championshi0p group stage was played in front of a good crowd who gave great support to their sides on a grassy pitch with Eamonn Stapleton of Doon in charge.
Granagh/Ballingarry played with the wind at their backs in the opening half but conceded 1-2 in the opening five minutes with Fionn Heffernan finishing past keeper Keith O’Kelly after two minutes before Colm O’Keeffe from a placed ball on three minutes and Seán Flanagan from open play two minutes later, followed up with white flags. Then points were traded from open play by Luke Flynn on six minutes and Paudie Leahy on eight minutes before a trio of unanswered white flags for the Granagh/Ballingarry boys in a seven minute spell courtesy of Josh Quille Mulcaire (play) on eight minutes, Luke Flynn (free) on 11 minutes and Jack Cagney (play) on 14 minutes before p0oints were traded from open play by Seán O’Neill on 16 minutes and Jack Cagney two minutes later to leave one between the sides, Blackrock 1-4, Granagh/Ballingarry 0-6 on 18 minutes.
The Granagh/Ballingary boys with the wind at their backs dominated for the next eight minutes with four unanswered white flags through team captain Luke Flynn from placed balls on 19 and 22 minutes and open play by Flynn on 24 minutes and Michael Russell on 26 minutes before Fionn Heffernan finally ended 14 minutes without a Blackrock score when he split the uprights from open play on 30 minutes to leave two between the sides, Granagh/Ballingarry 0-10, Blackrock 1-5 at the interval.
Colm O’Keeffe from a placed ball and Paudie Leahy from open play traded white flags with Luke Flynn from placed balls in the opening five minutes after the interval before a trio of white flags from open play for Blackrock in a four minute spell courtesy of Colm O’Keeffe, Shane O’Neill and substitute Conor Gilligan to leave the sides level, Granagh Ballingarry 0-12, Blackrock 1-9 on 39 minutes. The Blackrock boys, with the wind at their backs, dominated for the next four minutes with a well taken point following a good solo run by Shane O’Neill and a trio of green flags through Jimmy Quilty, Shane O’Neill and Fionn Heffernan before white flags were traded from open play by Michael Russell and 44 minutes, and Jimmy Quilty a minute later to leave it Blackrock 4-11, Granagh Ballingarry 0-13 at the end of the third quarter. Then white flags were traded by substitute Shane Philpot from open play on 47 minutes and Luke Flynn from a placed ball lon 49 minutes before Granagh Ballinarry’s no5 Eoin Horgan split the uprights from a 65 two minutes later to leave it Blackrock 4-12, Granagh Ballingarry 0-15 on 51 minutes. Then Jimmy Quilty raised his second and Blackrock’s fifth green flag on 53 minutes, followed up with four unanswered white flags from open play through Sean Flanagan on 54 and 55 minutes, Colm O’Keeffe on 56 minutes and Fionn Heffernan on 58 minutes before Eoin Horgan split the uprights from a 65 for the Westerners a minute later to reduce the deficit to fifteen, Blackrock 5-16, Granagh Ballingarry 0-16 with 59 minutes. Then points were traded from open play by Eoin Horgan and substitute Shane Philpot in added time. At the final whistle the Blackrock boys were impressive fifteen pint 5-17 to 0-17 winners to finish joint third on the Limerick County Premier Intermediate Hurling League/Championship table on 8 points with Dromin Athlacca one behind Bruff who they play in the semi final and table toppers Murroe Boher play Dromin Athlacca in the other semi final. While the Granagh Ballingarry boys finished second from the bottom on 4 points, one behind neighbours Croagh Kilfinny and Effin one ahead of Glenroe on 3 points at the bottom of the table who are relegated to second for Intermediate for 2027.
Blackrock scored 5-15 from play and 0-2 from frees. Granagh Ballingarry scored 0-9 from play, 0-6 from frees and 0-2 from a 65.
Blackrock: Dave Moloney, Jack Moloney, Killian Aherne, Ian O’Brien, Callan Ensor, Richie McCarthy, Marty Farrell, Jimmy Quilty 2-1, Niall Ryan, Fionn Heffernan 2-2, Colm O’Keeffe 0-4 (2 frees), Sean O’Neill 2-2, Shane Lyons, Paudie Leahy 0-2, Sean Flanagan 0-3. Subs used Shane Philpot 0-2 for Shane Lyons, Conor Gilligan 0-1 for Marty Farrell, Aidan Gilligan for Niall Ryan, Nigel Hosford for Paudie Leahy.
Granagh Ballingarry: Keith O’Kelly, Eoin Casey, Ronan Mullane, Mark O’Shea, Eoin Horgan 0-3 (2x65s), Jack Cagney 0-2, Colm Noonan, Darragh Casey, Josh Quille Mulcaire 0-1, Michael Russell 0-2, Luke Flynn 0-9 (6 frees), Brian Sheehy, Damien O’Donovan, David Condron, Paudie Murphy. Subs used: Eoin Herlihy for Colm Noonan, Darragh O’Donoghue for Brian Sheehy, Jack Mulqueen for Josh Quille Mulcaire, Sean O’Gorman for Damien O’Donovan, Tom Horgan for David Clancy. Referee: Eamonn Stapleton (Doon).
Conclusion:
It was a most difficult year for Granagh Ballingarry Intermediate Hurlers on the playing field, helped no doubt by a couple of retirements from the squad, players going abroad, injury and championship fixture cluster due to bereavements. We won 6 and lost 11 of our seventeen competitive games played this year, winning the Dunworth Cup for the second successive year and retained our Premier Intermediate status for 2026. Thank you to the players and the management team of John O’Connor, Ger Ryan, Mark O’Sullivan, physio Caolan Scott, first aid official Niamh O’Keeffe, stats James Flynn, Graham Russell, Niall Carroll and the backroom team too for their help and co-operation over the course of the season.
Granagh Ballingarry Book Final Spot with 7 point Win:
County U16 Hurling Championship Div 2 Semi Final
Granagh/Ballingarrry 0-20 Dromin/Athlacca/Banogue 1-10
Hearty congratulations to the Granagh Ballingarry U16 hurlers and management on their seven point, 0-20 to 1-10, victory over gallant neighbours Dromin Athlacca Banogue at Staker Wallace GAA Club grounds on Saturday to qualify for a meeting with Blackrock, 2-14 to 0-12 winners over Belville Gaels in the County U16 Hurling Championship Final, on Saturday 14th October. Venue and time to be confirmed.
Granagh Ballingarry: Sean Daly, Rory Stapleton, Donie Hartigan, Michael Curtin, Ryan McDonagh, Nathan Hartnett, Diarmaid Doody, Eoghan Kiely, Declan Dunworth (captain), Cian Hanley, Liam O’Kelly, Conor Sexton, Conor Sheehan, Adam Mulqueen, Noel McCarthy, James O’Kelly, Michael O’Brien, Michael Kelly, Vlad Stonevich.
Management: John Carroll, Darragh Casey, Claire Hehir, Paul McDonagh, Ollie O’BNrien, Josh Quille Mulcaire and Stephen Stapleton.
Club Championship Tickets:
Tickets for all Limerick County Senior Intermediate and Junior Hurling and Football Championship games in 2026 must be purchased in advance. Go to www.limerickgaa.ie buy a club championship ticket. U16s free.
September County Club Draw on Saturday:
The September Limerick County GAA Club Draw is on this Saturday 3rd 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 Exclusive prize, 6th to 9th €500, 10th to 13th €300, 14th to 30th €200. Entry to the draw is just €10 per month with the option to join our own quarterly Club Draw and County Club Draw for €150. Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club had approximately 200 members in the first draw in August but unfortunately, we had no winner, but Katie Fitzgerald won the exclusive star prize in May. If you would like to still renew your membership, please go to limerickgaa.ie/club/limerickdraw.signup and select Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club and the number of draws you wish to sign up for. You may also contact the Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club Draw co-ordinator Stephen Stapleton on (086) 1960301. Thank you to the members who have already joined the Limerick County GAA Club Draw through Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club and our own club draw co-ordinators Stephen Stapleton. New members for the next draw must be in by tomorrow, Thursday 1st October, at 5pm.
Eircode:
Please note the Ei4rcode for Granagh Ballingarry GAA club is V94 V284.
Club Gear:
Granagh Ballingarry Club tops, hoodies, tracksuits, skorts and socks can be ordered online at www.laochasports.ie/productcategory.ie/productcategory/clubsgranaghballingarry
Club Website:
Check out our website 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.comgranaghballingarrygaaclub and on Twitter at twitter.com/granagh/ballingarry
Inaugural County Minor C Football Championship Final:
Granagh Ballingarry will aim for a Limerick County Minor C Hurling Football Championship double on Wednesday 7th October at 7pm in St. Patrick’s GAA Club pitch in Rhebogue, where they play Pallaskenry in the inaugural Limerick County Minor C Football Championship Final at 7pm. Please support.
€5,300 Jackpot on Saturday:
There was no winner of the €5,200 jackpot in the Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club lottery draw held in the Rock Bar, Granagh on Saturday 26th September. The numbers drawn were 15, 18, 19 and 30. The lucky dip winners of €20 each were Peter Dunworth (online), John O’Keeffe, Richard O’Donoghue and Janice Twomey. The next draw will take place on Saturday 3rd October in Buckley’s Bar, Ballingarry for a jackpot of €5,300. 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 on the club’s Facebook or Twitter page which finished at 6pm every Saturday. Thank you for your continued support.
Sympathy:
Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club officials, players and members extend sympathy to the O’Sullivan family, Clontemple, Ballingarry, on the death of Teresa O’Sullivan (nee Flynn). Ar odheis De go raibh a anam.
Club Diary:
Saturday 3rd October
County Junior B Football Championship Quarter Final: Knockaderry v Bruree in Ballingarry at 3pm.
Sunday 4th October
County Junior A Football Championship Quarter Final: St. Kieran’s v Banogue in Ballingarry at 3.30pm.
Wednesday 7th October
County Minor C Football Championship Final: Granagh Ballingarry v Pallasgreen in Rhebogue at 7pm.