GRANAGH-BALLINGARRY GAA CLUB NOTES

Eoin Kennedy Elected Intermediate Hurling Manager

Former dual county minor and 2006 County Intermediate Hurling Championship Final Man of the Match with a personal tally of 3-3 was confirmed as the new Granagh/Ballingarry intermediate hurling manager instead of Mossie O’Connor who did not seek re-election. There were two changes in the management committee with John O’Keeffe replacing Eoin Kennedy as assistant treasurer and Niall McCarthy’s twin brother Donagh as coaching officer at a very successful and workmanlike club’s historic AGM held virtually via the Microsoft teams on Friday night where outgoing chairman Andrew Holmes presided and welcomed everyone.

Present were Anthony Quaid, James Flynn, Michael Clancy, Seamus Twomey, Andrew Holmes, John Lynch, Stephen Stapleton, John O’Keeffe, Seamus Murphy, Adrian Farragher, Donagh McCarthy, Graham Russell, David Clancy, Darragh O’Grady, Niall McCarthy and Eoin Kennedy.

Minutes

The minutes of the previous AGM held on December 13th 2019 shown on power point, John O’Keeffe and Stephen Stapleton proposed their adoption. Secretary’s report again shown on power point, was taken as read, proposed by Adrian Farragher and seconded by Seamus Murphy.

Treasurer’s Report

Outgoing treasurer Adrian Farragher gave a detailed account of the club’s finances which showed a healthy surplus of €13,686 on the year’s operation. Adrian thanked his follow officers and all the members who helped finance the club for the year through the many fundraisers held and all our sponsors for their generosity to both the senior and Bord na nÓg clubs. He thanked Limerick City County Council for their kind development grant of €3,000. After a number of questions the adoptions of the treasurer’s report and the adoption of the treasurer’s report was proposed by Seamus Murphy and David Clancy.

Chairman’s Address

Outgoing chairman Andrew Homes thanked all those who helped him during the year and those who gave of their time voluntarily to the club especially the Covid officers and made a contribution to both the senior and Bord na nÓg clubs. He joined the secretary in congratulating all the people who made 2020 such a great year for Gaelic Games in Granagh/Ballingarry, both on and off the playing field, despite the Covid 19 pandemic restrictions. He wished us a happy Christmas and successful 2021.

Election of Officers for 2021

The following officers were elected to guide Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club for 2021

Chairman Andrew Holmes. Vice Chairman David Clancy. Treasurer Adrian Farragher. Assistant Treasurer John O’Keeffe. Registrar John Carroll. Children’s Officer Jimmy Chawke. Irish Officer John O’Riordan. IT Officer James Flynn. Health and Wellbeing Officer Aine Healy. Bord na nÓg committee; to be confirmed. Insurance Officer Niall Carroll – proposed and seconded by Stephen Stapleton.

Tributes

Many paid tribute to outgoing coaching officer Donagh McCarthy and Bord na nÓg secretary Graham Russell who have decided to step down for their contributions made to the club over many years in very demanding positions.

Executive Committee 2021

Chairman Andrew Holmes, Secretary John Lynch, Treasurer Adrian Farragher, Assistant Treasurer John O’Keeffe. Registrar John Carroll. Vice Chairman David Clancy. Children’s Officer Jimmy Clarke. Players Representative, intermediate hurling Captain Bord na nÓg chairman, Bord na nÓg Secretary Coaching Officer Niall McCarthy, Mick Healy, James Flynn, Kevin Carroll, Pat Herlihy, Seamus Twomey and Conor Snow proposed by John O’Keeffe and Niall McCarthy.

Membership Fees 2021

The fees were agreed at €40 for adult players (€120 with club draw), €20 for students and non players, €15 for Bord na nÓg (€120 per family), non players who pay €100 club draw fee in full will automatically be members for 2021. Fees should be paid on or before March 31st to club registrar John Carroll proposed by Seamus Twomey and seconded by Seamus Murphy.

Recommendations

Club to discuss option of transfer to corporate trustees with current trustees (carried) proposed by Niall McCarthy and seconded by David Clancy.

That the management selection committee for intermediate hurling and Junior B football manager to comprise of club chairman, coaching officer and players’ representative (carried) proposed by John O’Keeffe and Donagh McCarthy.

Team Managers 2021

Intermediate Hurling: Eoin Kennedy. Coach, Pat O’Connor Newtown, (Cork) selectors Michael Clancy and Bobby Houlihan, James Flynn.

Junior B Football: Shane O’Grady, selectors Denis O’Sullivan plus one to be confirmed.

Junior B Hurling, to be confirmed.

U21 Hurling, Graham Russell. Coach Thomas O’Donovan.

U21 Football, Edward Sheehy.

U19 Hurling, Graham Russell. Coach Mick Chawke.

U19 Football Edward Sheehy

AOB open discussion on development of our club grounds in Ballingarry and for flags in club colours to be put in place.

Knockfierna King of the Hill

The chairman informed us that the annual King of the Hill challenge on St. Stephen’s Day with registration outside the Rock Bar, Granagh, from 9am to 11am with all competing to wear a mask, wash hands and adhere to social distancing.

First Meeting

The first meeting date for 2021 was fixed for Friday 22nd January at 8pm in the clubhouse in Ballingarry or virtually through the Microsoft teams in place if current restrictions are still in place.

Minute’s Silence

The AGM ended with a minute’s silence observed for deceased members.

Thanks

Thank you to everybody involved especially our own Munster Council delegate Seamus Twomey, IT Officer James Flynn and County Development Officer Gerard Corkery, Knockaderry for their help in making the first ever Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club AGM conducted online on Friday night such a success.

12th Annual King of the Hill challenge

Have you got three people capable of striking a sliothar?

Then outside the Rock Bar, Granagh at 9am is the place to be on St. Stephen’s Day as Granagh/Ballingarry have organised their 12th annual King of the Hill challenge.

All you need is a team of 3/3 from your own household

Please bring your own hurley and sliothar

Remember to wear a mask, wash your hands and adhere to social distancing

The entry fee is €10 per person

The rules of the competition will be provided on the day

Registration will take place outside the Rock Bar, Granagh from 9am to 11am

The team that completes the course which takes about two hours with the fewest pucks will win the King of the Hill perpetual trophy. We introduced a family competition in 2013 with a team of three or two members of the same family with the fewest pucks winning a family section perpetual trophy. It is the perfect way for mothers and fathers to play with their sons and daughters and have fun along the way.

Roll of Honour

The Kilmallock team of Eoin Ryan, Andrew O’Shaughnessy and Seoirse Bulfin won the first contest in 2009 with a creditable score of fifty-three shots. Tied for second place were the Pallasgreen team of Denis, Ciarán and second Glen Ryan and the Bllyguile team of Billy and Liam O’connor and Shane Mulcahy. Thirty-two teams completed the course in 2010 and the local team of Pat Carroll, Mick O’Rourke and Mark Tierney won with forty-five shot. Joint second with sixty-nine were the Kilmallock 2009 winning team of locals Eoin Cahill, Evan Fox and Niall Cahill and twenty-seven teams completed it in 2011. The winners were the local Craigacurra team of David Condron, Gerry O’Donovan and his son Thomas with thirty-eight pucks. Joint second on thirty-nine were the Bruff line stakers Shane Mulqueen and Billy and Liam O’Connor and the Coolruss team of Niall Carroll, Patrick Potter and James Noonan. The local power ranger’s team of cousins Willie Power and John and Conor O’Keeffe took the bronze with forty shots. Thirty teams completed the course in 2012 in difficult wet and wintry conditions and it was won again by Kilmallock fielding Andrew O’Shaughnessy, Eoin Ryan and Billy O’Loughlin with forty-nine shots. Second on fifty-one were the local team of Denis O’Connor, Damian O’Donovan and Mickie O’Keeffe. The local Spar team of Donal and Darragh O’Grady and Michael Corrigan were third with fifty-two. Thirty-nine teams completed the course in ideal conditions in 2012 won by the local Kilatal boys’ team of Stephen Hickey, Jack O’Donoghue and Edward Sheehy on forty-six second on forty-seven were the Larry Murphy team of Mick O’Keeffe, Damian O’Donovan and Denis O’Connor and joint third on forty-nine shots, Willie and Jack Banks and Darragh O’Grady and the always cut home team of Darren and Shane Clifford and Noel O’Grady. In the family section the winners were Fiona, David and Aisling Herlihy and third on fifty-nine were Bill Cagney and John and Sean English. In 2014 thirty-five teams completed the course in difficult windy conditions and it was won by the locals Seamus, Peter and Stephen Stapleton on fifty-one shots, joint second on fifty-two were the Adare Bandits Michael, Andrew and Stephen O’Connell and the local Brian Geary Ltd team of Mick O’Keeffe, Denis O’Connor and Damien O’Donovan. The bronze medals went to the always get home team of Noel O’Grady and Shane and Darren Clifford. In the family section the Liam McCarthy team of James Flynn, his son Luke and cousin Darragh Casey won with fifty-one shots, the same numbers as the adult section winners and joint second with fifty-five were the Kilcolman Rangers’ team of Richie senior, Richie junior and Lisa O’Keeffe and the Kerry hurling team o Mary and Aoife Flynn. The bronze medals went to defending champions Fiona, David and Emma Morrissey on fifty-six.

In 2015 thirty-eight teams completed the course, an increase of three teams on 2014 again in difficult wet conditions. The adult competition was won by the local Bobbie’s team of Thomas O’Donovan, David Condron and Colm Noonan with a very creditable score of forty-two shots, close second on forty-five points were the Drowned Rabbits Gerald and Kenneth Lenihan and Richard O’Dea. The bronze medals went to the Bruff Liners Billy O’Connor his son Liam and Shane Mulcahy on forty-six shots. The best team of Claire, Eoin and Siobhán Enright won the third annual family section with forty-three shots, one behind the adult section winners, second on fifty-four shots were the 2014 winners the Liam McCarthy team of John, Sean and Claire English and the Lynch Mob team of noel, Gearóid and David Lynch. In 2016 thirty-six teams completed the course, a decrease of two teams on 2015. The adult contest was won by the Mighty Morrissey team of David, Fiona and Emma Morrissey with a very creditable score of forty-two shots, close second on forty-three were the Henry Street Garda team of Denis O’Connor, Damien O’Sullivan and Mike O’Keeffe. Four teams finished level on forty-five shots. The local Sliced Pan team of David, Cathal and Kieran O’Keeffe the team of Thomas O’Donovan, David Condron and Colm Noonan, the Bruff Liners Shane Mulqueen, Billy O’Connor and his son’s team and the Snipers team of Kieran Mulqueen, Josh Mulcaire and Brian O’Shea, the Butler/Stapleton team of Kayleigh, Jessie and Beth Stapleton won the fourth annual family section with forty-eight shots. Close second on forty-nine were the Kilmichael Warriers team of James Flynn his son Luke and cousin Darragh Casey. In third place with a very creditable score of fifty-two shots were the Glengille team of Fiona Power and Laura and Ann Marie O’Keeffe. In 2017 a record forty-five teams completed the course an increase of nine on 2016. The adult competition was won by the Wilson Warriors team of Richie junior, Richie senior and Cathal O’Keeffe with a very creditable score of forty-two shots, the same as the 2016 winners. The Mighty Morrisseys tied second on forty-four with the Ballyguile Whistle Blowers team of Denis O’Connor, Damien O’Donovan and Mike O’Keeffe and the Murphy Peas team of Kieran O’Donovan, Patrick Shelton and Seán Lenihan.

The bronze medals went to the Lismoate Ramblers brothers Niall and Eoin Cahill and Evan Fox. The Snipers team of Kieran Mulqueen, Ryan O’Shea and Josh Quill won the fifth annual family section with forty-two shots, the same number as the adult section winners, close second on forty-three were the Kilmare team of Claire, Eoin and Siobhán Enright with a very creditable score of fifty-one shots were the Kinglands team of Seamus, Paudie and Sean Murphy. A record fifty-one teams completed the course in 2018 an increase of six on 2017. Joint first adult competition winners were the team of Denis O’Connor, Mikey O’Keeffe and Damian O’Donovan along with Eoin Herlihy and Michael Russell with forty-two shots. Clare, Eoin and Siobhán Enright won the sixth annual family section for the second time, a first since 2015 with forty-two shots the same number as in 2017 winners Kieran Mulqueen, Ryan O’Shea and Josh Quill and the adult section winners. A record fifty-two teams completed the course last St. Stephen’s Day an increase of one on 2018.

Adult Competition

First place on forty-four shots were the ILA team of Josh Quill Mulcaire, Luke Flynn and Andrew Meade. Three teams finished level on forty-five, John O’Grady, Kevin Trainor and Niamh O’Sullivan, Jim O’Keeffe and Conor O’Keeffe, Jack O’Donoghue, Liam Barrett and Cal McCarthy.

Family Section

Seamus Potter and Stephen Stapleton won the seventh annual family section with forty-eight shots, second were Beth, Jessie and Kaylee Stapleton on fifty-third, on fifty-two shots were Paudie, Seamus and Sean Murphy.

It is the perfect way on St. Stephen’s Day to shake off the turkey and ham and get some fresh air for a couple of hours by completion.

11th annual King of the Hill challenge course

After successful completion of the course when the teams have all come in,

the King of the Hill Perpetual trophies will be presented to the winning team and the winning family team outside the Rock Bar, Granagh.

Seamus Re-Elected

Congratulations to our own Seamus Twomey on his re-election to the position of Munster Council Delegate at the annual Limerick County GAA Convention held virtually via the Microsoft Teams platform on Wednesday 16th December. It was a very quiet affair with all outgoing officers returned unopposed for 2021 and only two motions on the clár.

The following officers were elected to guide the Bord for 2021: Chairman John Cregan (Drom/Broadford), Vice Chairman Seamus McNamara (Fr. Casey’s), Secretary Michael O’Riordan (Kilmallock), Assistant Secretary Eamon Phelan (St. Patrick’s), Treasurer Liam Burke (Fedamore), Assistant Treasurer Sean Burke (Crecora), Irish Officer Jim Enright (Askeaton), Development Officer Gerard Corkery (Knockaderry), PRO Hugh Murphy (Blackrock), Coaching Officer Denis Holmes (Oola), Central Council Delegate Paul Foley (Patrickswell), Munster Council Delegates Seamus Twomey (Granagh/Ballingarry) and Denis O’Carroll (South Liberties), Children’s Officer Gerry McNamara (Mungret/St. Paul’s), Bord na nÓg Chairman Pat Davoran (Ballybrown), Football Board Chairman Gerry Phillips (Monagea).

West Board Officers 2021

Congratulations to our own Jimmy Stapleton on his re-election as president of the West Limerick GAA Board. The other officers re-elected are chairman Michael O’Sullivan (St. Kieran’s), vice Chairman Pat O’shaughnessy (Glin), Secretary Breda Breen (Monagea), Assistant Secretary Majella O’Sullivan (Killeedy), Treasurer Jim Enright (Askeaton), assistant Treasurer Johnny Brosnan (Tournafulla), PRO Johnny Walsh (Mountcollins).

Website

Check regularly for all the latest club news over the Christmas and new year season.

Merry Christmas

All the officers, players and members of Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club wish you all a merry Christmas and a prosperous and successful new year, both on and off the field. We thank you for your support in 2020 and look forward to it again in 2021. We thank the Weekly Observer and Vale Star for the consistent publicity they give our club and wish the staff there the blessings of the season.