GRANAGH BALLINGARRY GAA CLUB NOTES
GREAT DOUBLE FOR PATRICKSWELL NA FIANNA DOON AND ST. MARY’S IN 1977
The following is a record of the 1977 Limerick County Hurling and Football Championship Finals with Patrickswell winning a great double in Senior, U21 Hurling Na Fianna (Knockainey/Hospital/Herbertstown), Intermediate, U21 Football Doon U14, U16 Hurling and St. Mary’s City U16 Football.
County Senior Hurling Championship Final 1977
Patrickswell 3-7
Killeedy 0-7
Killeedy, unlucky to go under to South Liberties by three points 2-9 to 2-6 in the 1976 County Senior Hurling Championship Final at Pairc na nGael were back again in the decider the following year but providing the opposition was a very experienced Patrickswell fifteen. The scene was once more Pairc na nGael on 13th November 1977 and an attendance of 4,563 paid £2.967 to see the final. Patrickswell who had displayed great power and purpose when disposing of holders South Liberties who had aboard their three all stars Pat Hartigan, Eamon Grimes and Joe McKenna a fortnight earlier, were not to be denied their fifth Daly Cup title, a first since 1977 and they ran out impressive nine point 3-7 to 0-7 winners.
Patrickswell: Joe Murphy (goal), Tony O’Brien, John O’Brien, Eamonn Kelleher, Philip Foley, Phil Bennis, Dominic Punch, Seán Foley, Terence Murray, Liam Foley, Richie Bennis, David Punch (captain), Joe Lynch, Peter Bennis, Frankie Nolan. Sub Thomas Bennis.
Killeedy: Pat Meehan (goal), John McGrath, Ben O’Sullivan, Ben Mullane, James Mulcahy, Denis O’connor, P.J. Cronin, Con Herbert, Willie Fitzmaurice, Tom Mulcahy, Paudie Fitzmaurice (captain), Michael Fitzmaurice, Gerry Forde, Donie Flynn, Michael Shields.
Referee: Neilly Duggan, St. Mary’s, Rathkeale.
County Senior Football Championship Final 1977
Thomond College 1-12
Croom 0-4
Thomond College started their trip into the pages of Munster and All Ireland Club Football history at Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock, on Sunday 4th December 1977 when they collected their first Limerick County Senior Football Championship title defeating holders Croom 1-12 to 0-4 with a team on which ten Irish counties were represented.
Thomond College: D. Smyth (Limerick), M. Heuston (Donegal), S. O’Shea (Longford), E. Mahon (Meath), M. Connolly (Mayo), B. McSweeney (Cork)l D. O’Doyle (Mayo), T. Harkin (Donegal), M. Spillane (Kerry), D. Smith (Galway) R. Bell (captain Mayo), G. Dillon (Kerry), M. Kilcoyne (Westmeath), B. Kelly (Galway), J. O’Connell (Kerry). Sub A. Green (Clare).
Croom: A. Lowlor, J. Carroll, M. Reidy, T. Kiely, D. Murray, S. Breen, P. Culhane, G. Murray, M. Quilty, G. Howard, G. Collins, P. Kiely, W. Dunne, P. O’Connell, L. Breen. Sub L. Fahy.
Referee: Seán O’Connor, Claughaun.
County Intermediate Hurling Championship Final 1977
Dromin/Athlacce 1-11
Glenroe 1-6
Dromin/Athlacca won their first Limerick County Intermediate Hurling Championship title with a four point 1-11 to 1-6 victory over gallant Glenroe losing their third final in a row at
Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock on Sunday 30th October 1977. The winning players were selected from Johnny Neenan (captain), Tony Kenny (goal), Patsy Murphy, Mike Leary, Billy Neenan, Brian Neenan, Mike Moynihan, Ger Moynihan, Stevie Kelleher, Gerry Murphy, Jimmie Donoghue, John Callaghan, Roger Herlihy, Mike Hanley, Brendan Carroll, Eddie Hayes, John Reidy, Noel Neenan, Gerard Callaghan, David Lynch, Ger Mulcahy, Donie Kelleher, Bill Guiney.
County Intermediate Football Championship Final 1977
Na Fianna 0-10
Garryspillane 1-4
Bruff was the venue for the 1977 County Intermediate Football Championship Final on Sunday 23rd October where ibn an all south division confrontation Na Fianna (Hospital/Herbertstown and Knockkainey) beat the 1976 county junior champions Garryspillane by three points 0-10 to 1-4 in a hard fought contest. The winning Na Fianna players were Norman Hartigan (goal), Michael Real, Garry Whelan, Tom O’Toole, John O’Grady, John Hayes, Jimmy Real, John O’Toole, Jimmy Carroll, Denis O’Leary, Michael Ryan, Billy Higgins, Martin Cleary, Garrett Barry, Seán McAuliffe (captain). Subs: Gerry O’Sullivan, Billy Cotter, Aiden Quinn.
Note: At a county board meeting held on 27th February 1978 it was decided to discontinue both the intermediate hurling and football championships due to lack of club support. Then years later in 1988 the gap between senior and junior in both hurling and football was too great and the intermediate grade was introduced once more with Feohanagh/Castlemahon winning the hurling title and Adare crowned intermediate football champions.
This time the intermediate championship in both codes remained staple competitions on the club calendar in Limerick, the competition was expanded to feature a group league stage in both hurling and football so as to get more games for clubs.
County Junior Hurling Championship Final 1977
Stakers 4-10
Murroe 1-1
Stakers who lost to Granagh after a replay in the 1976 County Junior Hurling Championship Final were back in the final the following year and they crowned a great season despite going under to Effin in the South Final when they beat Murroe 4-10 to 1-1 to win their first ever County Junior Hurling Championship title and the Irish Press Cup at Bruff on Sunday 18th December 1977.
Stakers: G. Moloney, P. Carroll, T. Sheehy, T.J. Healy, J. Hayes, P. Ryan, J. Maguire, B. Ryan, G. Hanly, D. Ryan, J. Houlihan (captain), J. O’Brien, G. Carroll, J. Maguire, J. Lyons.
Murroe: E. Rainsford, J. Rainsford, M. Kett, B. Rainsford, J. Lynch, D. Holmes, G. Landers, J. Holmes, P. Ryan, M. Holmes, T. Ryan, J. Kirby,. G. Boyle, P. Shinnors, M. Moore. Sub: T. Nealon.
Referee: Seán O’Connor, Claughaun.
County Junior Football Championship Final 1977
Bruree 2-7
Fedamore 0-7
Bruree took their first ever County Junior Football Championship title and the County Board Cup when they overcame the Fedamore challenge by six points 23-7 to 0-23 in the decider at Pairc na nGael on Sunday 4th December.
Bruree: M. O’Brien, H. Hogan, J. O’Brien, J. Morrissey, J. Moloney, J. Potter, E. O’Dea, G. Moloney, G. Mullane, K. Murphy, P. O’Brien, M. Barron, P.J. Boyce, M. Moloney, P. Potter.
Fedamore: K. Carmody, P. Burton, P. Cox, R. McNamara, E. Prendiville, N. Noonan, P. Callaghan, J. Condon, T. McNamara, D. O’Donnell, S. Fitzgibbon, S. Shanahan, T. Clohessy, N. Burton, A. McNamara. Subs: D. Conway, M. Hedderman, M. Morrissey.
County U21 Hurling Championship Final 1977
Patrickswell 2-9
Dromcollogher 1-0
Inf 1977 Patrickswell made it a hat-trick of County U21 Hurling Championship titles with an impressive 12 point 2-9 to 1-0 victory over West Champions Dromcollogher in the decider at Bruff.
Patrickswell: Joe Murphy, Philip Foley, John O’Brien (captain), Eamonn Kelleher, Lar Considine, Dom Punch, Kieran Darcy, David Punch, Pa Foley, Jimmy Fenton, Ger Hayes, Tom O’Brien, Gerard Burke, Mike Walsh, Frank Leahy, Ger Tuohy, Johnny Leahy, Don Gillane, John O’Neill, Pa Buston, Seanie Kirby.
Dromcollogher: Denis Kelly, Seamus Collins, Michael O’Connor, Seán Madigan, Pat Fitzgibbon, John O’Connor, Gerard Noonan, Seamus Quaid, John Cahill, Pat Twomey, John Hogan, John McCarthy, Gerry Quaid, Timmy Bourke, Con Barry, Joe Barry, Seamus Madigan, Tony Noonan (captain), Dominic Twomey, Michael Barrett, John Harold, Denis Carroll, Peter Madigan.
Referee: Brendan Cross, St. Patrick’s.
County U21 Football Championship Final 1977
Na Fianna v Treaty Sarsfields
Na Fianna (Hospital/Herbertstown and Knockainey) made it back to back County U21 Football Championship titles with a four point victory over city champions Treaty Sarsfields at Caherconlish on Sunday 30th October 1977.
Team: Timmy Hartigan (goal), Joe Quinlan, John Byrnes, Mike Ryan, Jimmy Carroll, Norman Hartigan, John Hayes (captain), Martin Cleary, Michael Walsh, Billy Higgins, Tom O’Donnell, Gerard Barron, Billy Cotter, Gerry Whelan, John O’Grady, Chris Conway, Timmy Davern, Donie O’Mahony,
County Minor Hurling Championship Final 1977
Ballybrown 2-7
Effin 1-8
Ballybrown took their first Limerick County Minor Hurling Championship title at Bruff on Sunday 30th October 1977 with a two point 2-7 to 1-8 victory over gallant Effin after a very exciting decider.
The teams were Ballybrown: T. Kenny, C. Keyes, E. Quinn, G. O’Reidy, P. O’Reilly, M. Dwomey, T. Hall, J. Mann, A. O’Connor, captain, O. Coughlan, E. Cliffe, M. McElligott, S. Walsh, J. Kenny, DJ Quinn.
Effin: D. Barrett, F. Lynch, P. O’Leary, J. McCarthy, C. Donovan, M. Carroll, J. Dolan, E. Farrell, N. Murphy, J. Twomey, M. Rea, N. Moloney, M. Rea, A. Murphy, E. Cagney. Sub T. O’Donnell.
County Minor Football Championship Final 1977
Monaleen 1-5
Kilmallock 0-3
Monaleen won the first of two successive Limerick County Minor Football Championship titles at Pairc nan Gael on 23rd October 1977 when they beat Kilmallock by five points, 1-5 to 0-3.
The teams were Monaleen: S. Crotty, D. McCarthy, H. Pond, G. Stokes, J. Reddington, N. Leonard, D. Hyde, B. Spillane, E. Leonard, N. McDonnell, W. Cremins, captain, J. Lenihan, M. Moloney, S. Cremin, T. Lenihan.
Kilmallock: M. Brazil, P. Moore, S. Burchill, M. Mulvihill, S. Lindon, T. Moore, S. O’Sullivan, E. Ryan, M. Leahy, S. O’Grady, T. O’Riordan, D. Hayes, B. O’Dwyer, C. Hennessy and S. Cleary.
County Under 16 Hurling Championship Final 1977
Doon 4-4
Ballybrown 1-5
Doon won their first County Under 16 Hurling Championship title in 1977 with an eight point 4-4 to 1-5 win over gallant Ballybrown in the decider.
The winning Doon team was Gerard Keogh, John Hayes, John Ryan, Michael Keogh, Tony Cummins, Liam Ryan, captain, Martin Hayes, Neil Maher, Richard Quigley, JJ Hayes, Frank Ryan, Aidan O’Donovan, Pat McGrath, Michael Ryan, J G Thompson. Subs: Richard Hewitt, Myles Tracey.
County Under 16 Football Championship Final 1977
St. Mary’s City 1-2
Kilmallock 1-0
St. Mary’s City won their first and only County Under 16 Football Championship title in 1977 with a two point 1-2 to 1-0 win over Kilmallock in the decider.
The winning St. Mary’s panel were Kevin Lyons, John Cusack, Gary Morgan, captain, Declan Tobin, Noel Walters, Tony Kelly, Kieran Kilbridge, Colm Kelly, Paul Kirwin, Des O’Leary, Finbarr Stapleton, Martin Lyons, Richard Mulcahy, Pat Boland, Kieran Tracey, Seán O’Reilly, Plunkett O’Doherty, Neilus Clancy, Aidan Barrett, John O’Brien, Ger Butler, Frank Flanagan, Tom Ryan, Tom Butler, Michael Walsh and Michael McInerney.
County Under 14 Hurling Championship Final 1977
Doon 4-5
St. Patrick’s 3-1
Doon made it back-to-back County Under 14 Hurling Championship titles with a seven point 4-5 to 3-1 victory over St. Patrick’s in the 1977 decider.
Doon panel: Ml. Cummins, Pat Moloney, Denis Ryan, Matty Ryan, Phil Ryan, captain, Richard Quigley, Ger Keogh, Jim McGrath, Francis Lonergan, Bill McLoughil, Stephen Tierney, Ger McGrath, Seán Maher, JJ Thompson, Dave Whelan, Michael Keogh, Tim Whelan, Michael O’Connell, Michale Beresford, JJ O’Donnell, James Cummins.
St. Patricks panel: Noel McManus, Diarmuid Sheehan, Roger Simus??, Gerard Power, Gerard Clancy, John Bailey, James Kelly, Peadar Sheehan, Anthony Malone, Brendan Hedderman, John Murphy, Colm Tierney, Pat McLoguhlin, Paul O’Doherty, Pat Madigan, Adrian Costello, Brendan Gavin, Shane Higgins, Donald Phelan, Sean O’Neill, captain, Colm Cregan, Andrew Tierney, Gerard Mullins, Neill O’Brien, Brian Power and Daimon McMahon.
County Under 14 Football Championship Final 1977
St. Mary’s City 1-4
Galbally 1-1
St. Mary’s City made it back-to-back County Under 14 Football Championshp titles with a hard fought three-point victory 1-4 to 1-1 over gallant south champions Galbally in the 1977 decider.
The winning St. Mary’s City panel was Tommy Griffin, Pat Butler, Kieran Mulcahy, Tony Stapleton, Denis Duggan, Christy Keogh, Ger McInerney, Paul Kerwin, Donal Mulcahy, Declan Tracey, Neilly Desmond, Colm Kelly, Niall McNamara, Ger Mulqueen, Christy Morgan, Kieran Blacke, Mike Hehir, Brian Flynn, Conor McDermot, Tom Ryan and Richie Flanagan.
Players’ Loss of Wage Cover
Croke Park and the County Board has advised clubs to inform players that the Player Injury Scheme for 2021 will not cover for loss of wages. Granagh-Ballingarry GAA club officials encourage all adult club players to consider getting personal injury insurance to cover loss of wages before the various competitions and championships resume, as the club will not be in a position financially to cover loss of wages for players injured while playing in an official sanctioned game or training session.
GAA Museum Virtual Book Club
While it’s not possible to visit the GAA Museum or its library and archives in person right now, you can still learn more about gaelic games and the history of the association by becoming a member of their new Virtual GAA Museum Book Club. Each month the GAA Museum team will chose a well-known GAA book to read and review. At the end of the month, the museum will host a free online interview with the author in which members can submit questions and comments. The ambition of the book club is to review some of the great GAA books and to give us all a much-needed sporting boost as we all stay at home. You can find out more and how to get involved via crokepark.ie/bookclub.
Membership Due
Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club membership fees for 2021 are now due and are €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 become members for 2021. Fees should be paid on or before 31st March to club registrar John Carroll or any club official. To train or play for the club you have to be insured. If you have not yet registered we ask you to do so. It is generally felt by club officers that any member or player should feel obliged to get their membership paid a.s.a.p. and we must reiterate that people who have not paid will not be covered by insurance or entitled to any privileges whatsoever from our club.
Club Limerick Draw 2021
The Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club are once more promoting the Limerick County Club draw for 2021. 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 €2000, 4th €1000, 5th to 9th 500, 10th to 13th €250, 14th to 30th €100. There will again be exclusive monthly prizes to be won. Entry to the draw is just 10 per month or €100 for the ten draws with the option to join our own ten monthly draw and county club draw for €150. If you would like to renew your membership for 2021 please follow the link llimerickgaa.ie/clublimerick-draw-signup/ and select Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club and the numbers 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.
Note: the first Club Limerick draw for 2021 will take place on Saturday 27th March.
Friends of Limerick Football fundraiser
The Friends of Limerick Football in association with Limerick GAA are running a Last Man Standing fundraiser to raise much needed funds to further develop football throughout the county. All proceeds go towards the running costs of the football academy for young players from the age of 14 to 17 years.
This year the Limerick Football committee are starting an emerging talent squad to cater for the players that are on the periphery of the U20 squad and players who are over 20 that are on the periphery of the senior squad.
Proceeds also go to the U20s and the senior footballers training fund to assist them to build on the huge success of 2020.
Your support and participation would be greatly appreciated. To participate please visit klubfunder.com/friendsof limerick or you can contact Wayne Fitzgerald, the Limerick Football Develop-ment secretary on secretary.football.limerickatgaa.ie or phone 098 8813594, Gerry Phillips the Football Development chairman on football chairperson.limerickgaa.ie or phone 086 8813594, Gerry Phillips the Football Development chairman on football-chairperson.limerickatgaa.ie or phone 087 2511968, Colette O’Grady the Football Development PRO on colletteogradyatgmail.com or phone 086 8476299.
Covid 19 Volunteers
The Granagh/Ballingarry Covid 19 volunteer group would like to remind parishioners that their delivery service is still up and running. Elderly, vulnerable or anybody who cannot leave their homes to get groceries or medication can ring O’Grady’s, O’Gorman’s, Snow’s and O’Riordan’s Pharmacy. You can give them your order and pay them over the phone or put it on your account. They will contact a member of the delivery team to drop them to your door. We ask you to please avail of this service as we all want to work together to keep our community safe.
Limerick GAA Referee Recruitment
Are you interested in becoming a referee? Think you can do better? Then put your whistle where your mouth is and become a GAA referee!
Why become a GAA referee?
Stay involved with the game as an alternative to playing.
It’s a great way to keep fit.
Could you referee a County Final or All Ireland?
Learn more about the game. Give something back off players at the end of their playing days the opportunity to continue in the sport.
It helps to develop personal skills that are of value in all walks of life.
What qualities 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 take decisions which are correct.
If interested please forward your details a.s.a.p. to Patsy Coffey, Cappamore 087 9160344 or Mike Sexton, Bruree 087 9188375.
New Age Groups
The age grade for underage hurling and football teams will change for 2021 in line with national policy. The age grades will move to uneven numbers (U7, U9, U13, U15, U19 and U21). The fixtures at club level will be co-ordinated by the following committees:
Coaching and Games U7, U9, U11.
County Bord na nÓg U13, U15, U17.
County Senior Board U19, U21
Junior A Intermediate and Senior.
Divisional Boards
Junior B Hurling and Football formats/dates, etc will be circulated ASAP.
2021 Competitions
The County C.C.C. has informed clubs of the following decision with regard to the running of the remaining 2020 hurling and football county championships.
U21 Premier A/B 13-1-side Football Championship abandoned.
Minor premier and A/B Football Championship Finals will be played at the next available date.
County Junior A Hurling Championship Semi Finals and Final will be played at the next available date.
County and Divisional Junior B Hurling and Football Championship will be played at the next available date (county only will go ahead if time permits). Clubs will be afforded sufficient lead time to train prior to the commencement of their respective championships.
Collective Club Training
All collective club training for all adult and underage hurling and football teams is suspended until further notice and any breach of this regulation will be dealt with as per appropriate rule.
GAA Be Ready To Play
The Gaelic Games family launched ‘Be Ready To Play’, a coaching and sport science programme in association with UPMC official healthcare partners of the GAA and GPA, that will deliver via Webinars, website programmes, Instructional videos and live online sessions. The programme is a holistic coaching and performance plan that will be of great benefit to all club coaches and players, male and female, adult and youth alike. It will help them return to training post Covid in a way that will hopefully increase enjoyment, performance and participation while simultaneously reducing the risk of injury. Further details can be found here groundbreaking Be Ready to Play coaching programme launched (gaa.ie).
€12,100 jackpot on Saturday
There was no winner of the €12,100 jackpot in the Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club lottery on Saturday 6th March. The numbers drawn were 12,14, 16 and 29. Lucky dips of €20 each went to Brid O’Gorman, O’Gorman’s Shop promoter; Eoin O’Kelly, John Carroll promoter; Siobhan O’Grady, Niall McCarthy promoter; Val Small, Donal Mulcahy promoter.
The next draw will be held this Saturday 13th March for a jackpot of €12,200. Tickets are €2 each or three for €5 and are on sale in local shops from promoters. Thanks for your continued support.
20 L Liam
The official number players ‘20 L Liam’ are now available for sale in ships in Limerick County and City. Please support fundraiser as all the proceeds go to the Limerick team training fund.
TLC6 Clean-Up
Limerick GAA have announced TLC6 Clean-Up will take place in some capacity this Good Friday, April 6th in compliance with HSE restrictions. Please visit www.teamlimerickcleanup.ie to register your interest. More information will be available in the coming weeks.
1921 Commemoration
Congratulations to all involved int he Limerick GAA who provided an excellent account live on Limerick TV Facebook of the happening on the evening of March 7th 1921, when two mayors of Limerick City George Clancy and Michael O’Callaghan along with Joseph O’Donoghue were executed. Also, in 1921 Limerick won the All-Ireland and Bob McConkey became the first Limerick Mayor to lift the Liam McCarthy cup. Limerick County GAA secretary Mick O’Riordan unveiled a special edition 1921 Commemorative jersey on the night. The jersey is a replica of the one worn by the winning Limerick team in 1921 but features all the benefits of a modern-day jersey with high performance fabric that transports moisture away from the skin. The jersey features a hooped design and an image of the Liam McCarthy Cup on the sleeve. Check out the O’Neill’s website to order this one-off jersey.
Paul and Denis Appointed To GAA Central Committees
Congratulations are extended by all in our club to two Limerick GAA officers on their appointments by new Uachtaran CLG Larry McCarthy to two Croke Park Committees. Paul Foley of Patrickswell Limerick Delegate to Central Council has been appointed to the Central Appeals Committee and Denis Holmes, Oola County Games and Coaching officer has been appointed to the Central Hearings Committee. Best of luck to both Paul and Denis in their new appointments.
Con and Annie Kirby Memorial Stake 2021
Limerick Greyhound Stadium are busy preparing for the commencement of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial Stake 2021 with a total prize of over €150,000. The event which will be hosted behind closed doors and traditionally would involve thousands of GAA racing and Limerick GAA fans, is to go ahead commencing on Saturday 27th March, with a virtual support programme of events. As per previous years each participating club will be asked to register their interest virtual and each will be assigned one of 70 plus greyhounds that are entered in the classic event. AS the greyhound progresses in the competitions. So do the nominating club.
Note: each club is in with a chance to share in a €20,000 prize fund (with an impressive €10,000 to the winning club).
Sympathy
Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club officials, players and members extend sympathy to the Kennedy family, Rylands, Ballignarry on the death of Jim Kennedy. Jim a native of Ballyinakill, Co. Galway was a great old gaelic games enthusiast player and supporter. Jim was a member of the Ballingarry panel that won the West Junior A Hurling Championship title in 1969 beating Killeedy 4-9 to 2-7 in the final. Even afterwards he maintained his interest in GAA affairs and was very much involved in fundraising and construction for the Development of the clubhouse and field in Ballingarry. Jim was a founder member and made a huge contribution to the running of the very successful Granagh-Ballingarry Community Games Club winners of many county, munster and national titles down through the years.
To the Houlihan, O’Brien family, Granagh and Sheehan, Rathkeale on the death of Eileen Houlihan.
To Peter Meehan and family, the Downes, Ballingarry and the Donovan and Houlihan family, Granagh on the death of Josie Meehan (nee Kelly).
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.
Website
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