GRANAGH/BALLINGARRY GAA CLUB NOTES
WILLIE GRIFFIN INSPIRES ADARE TO BACK-TO-BACK TITLES IN THRILLER!
WEST SENIOR LEAGUE/CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
ADARE………..4-21
GRANAGH/BALLINGARRY……….5-14
The two characters in The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin who keep saying “great and super” would have had a field-day if they had been in Newcastlewest last Friday evening because there was much to admire about the performance of Willie Griffin wearing the No. 14 jersey who stylishly and systematically dismantled the resistance of Granagh/Ballingarry by scoring 3-9 for Adare of which 3-5 came from open play in their thrilling victory over gallant Granagh/Ballingarry to claim their second West Senior Hurling Championship title in a row and the Liam Hough Memorial Cup.
This thrilling 44 score final which must compare with any of the 82 finals of the past was played on an excellent pitch in front of a good crowd with Donnacha O’Callaghan of Feohanagh/Castlemahon in charge. Granagh/Ballingarry hit two wides in the opening two minutes before their No. 14 Denis O’Connor finally found the range for them when he split the uprights on three minutes cancelled out from a long range place ball by Adare’s No. 6, John Fitzgibbon, two minutes later for 0-1 each on five minutes. A couple of wides were exchanged before Adare hit four unanswered white flags in as many minutes through Willie Griffin (free), Wayne McNamara (play) and Willie Griffin (2 play) to leave the boys in red and black four ahead 0-5 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter at the first water break.
The first green flag of the game arrived through Adare’s No. 15 Mark Connolly on 17 minutes cancelled out by Denis O’Connor two minutes later to leave four again between the sides, Adare 1-5, Granagh/Ballingarry 1-1 on 19 minutes. Then Denis O’Connor on 21 minutes and Damian O’Donovan on 23 minutes had white flags from open play for Granagh/Ballingarry before points were traded by Brendan O’Connor on 24 minutes and Seán O’Connor two minutes later to leave two between the sides, Adare 1-6, Granagh/Ballingarry 1-4, on 26 minutes. Granagh/Ballingarry’s second green flag arrived through Luke Flynn on 28 minutes before John Fitzgibbon of Adare landed his second white flag from a long range placed ball on 29 minutes to leave the sides level, Granagh/Ballingarry 2-4, Adare 1-7.
Then green flags were traded by Willie Griffin and Luke Flynn before Damian O’Donovan put Granagh/Ballingarry one ahead with a well taken point two minutes into added time. The final few minutes of added time in this well contested opening half belonged to Adare’s No 14 Willie Griffin with 1-1 from open play to send the boys in red and black in at the interval leading by three 3-8 to 3-5. Willie Griffin from a placed ball and John Fitzgibbon from a 65 had white flags for Adare in the opening four minutes after the interval before Granagh/Ballingarry’s No. 7 Darragh Casey split the uprights to leave four between the sides, Adare 3-10, Granagh/Ballingarry 3-6 on 35 minutes. Then Willie Griffin finished past Granagh/Ballingarry keeper John O’Grady on 36 minutes before points were traded by Thomas O’Donovan and P.J. Hall from play, Denis O’Connor and John Fitzgibbon from frees, Denis O’Connor free and James Gahan from open play to leave it 4-13 to 3-9 in favour of Adare on 49 minutes to leave six between the sides, Adare 4-13, Granagh/Ballingarry 3-10 at the second water break at the end of the third quarter. Granagh/Ballingarry got the final quarter off to a dream when a long-range Denis O’Connor free went all the way to the back of the Adare net before Charlie McCarthy of Adare pointed from play to leave four between the sides, Adare 4-14, Granagh/Ballingarry 4-10 on 49 minutes. Then the Granagh/Ballingarry boys’ fifth green flag arrived through Damian O’Donovan on 50 minutes before points were traded from placed balls by Denis O’Connor on 51 minutes and Willie Griffin two minutes later to leave one between the sides, Adare 4-15, Granagh/Ballingarry 5-11 on 53 minutes. Then Willie Griffin of Adare hit four points (2 play and 1 free) in as many minutes before a trio of white flags through Damian O’Donovan play and Denis O’Connor, 2 frees to leave two between the sides, Adare 4-19, Granagh/Ballingarry 5-14 on 60 minutes. John Fitzgibbon from open play and Brendan O’Connor from a line ball had late injury time points for Adare to seal a four-point 5-14 to 4-21 victory for Adare to take their second West Senior Hurling Championship title and the Liam Hough Memorial Cup for the second year in a row in a thrilling 44 score contest Granagh/Ballingarry lost nothing in defeat and an Friday evening display can be looked forward to with confidence to their opening game against Tournafulla or Bruree in the County Intermediate Hurling Championship in early September.
Adare scored 4-13 from play, 0-6 from frees 0-1 from a 65 and line ball, Granagh/Ballingarry scored 5-9 from play and 0-5 from frees.
Adare: Brian Curtin, David Connolly, John McSweeney, Seán O’Donoghue, P.J. Hall 0-1, John Fitzgibbon 0-5 (3 frees 1 65), Frank Costelloe, Eoin Ryan, James Gahan 0-1, Charlie McCarthy 0-1, Wayne McNamara 0-2, Jack English, Brendan O’Connor 0-2 (1 line ball), Willie Griffin 3-9 (0-4 frees), Mark Connolly 1-0. Subs used: Rory O’Connor, Liam Dunne, Seán O’Mahoney, Cian Sparling.
Granagh/Ballingarry: John O’Grady, Seán Murphy, Kevin Forde, Edward Sheehy, Eoin Casey, Jack Cagney, Darragh Casey 0-1, Thomas O’Donovan 0-1, Pat Carroll, Luke Flynn 2-0, Josh Quill Mulcaire, Seán O’Connor 0-1, Eoin Lynch, Denis O’Connor 2-8 (1-5 frees), Damian O’Donovan 1-3.
Subs used: Gearóid Lynch and John Carroll.
Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan, Feohanagh/Castlemahon.
Presentation
After the game West Limerick GAA Board chairman Michael O’Sullivan presented the Liam Hough Memorial to Adare and the Man of the Match award went to Willie Griffin.
Limerick Book Semi Final Spot
Munster Minor Football Championship Semi Final
Limerick……………..2-9
Tipperary……….1-9
Hearty congratulations to the Limerick minor footballers and their management team on their hard fought three-point victory over gallant Tipperary in the Munster Minor Football Championship Quarter Final at Páirc na nGael on Wednesday evening to qualify for a semi final meeting with neighbours Clare on Friday 30th July in Cusack Park, Ennis at 7.30pm.
Munster U20 Hurling Championship Final
The best of luck to the Limerick U20 hurlers and their management team who play All Ireland champions Cork in the Munster U20 Hurling Championship Final today, Wednesday 28th July in Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 7.30pm.
26th Dunworth Cup Final
The 26th final of the Granagh/Ballingarry Intermediate Hurling Tournament for the Dunworth Cup and a set of 28 engraved medals is provisionally fixed for Sunday 8th August in Ballingarry at 7pm when Granagh/Ballingarry will be seeking their 9th Dunworth Cup title and a first since 2018 clash with Ballyhea from North Cork hoping to inscribe their home on the base of the Cup for the first time. All proceeds of a bucket collection will go to the Field and Clubhouse Development Fund.
Please support.
July County Club Draw
The next Limerick County GAA Club draw is on Saturday 31st July with a top prize of €10,000. There are a host of other prizes to be won with 2nd prize of €3,000, 3rd €2,000, 4th €1,000, 5th exclusive prize Dilusso bathroom suite, 6th to 9th €500, 10th to 13th €250, 14th to 30th €100. Entry to the draw is just €10 per month with the option to join our own ten monthly draw which commences at the end of July and county club draw for €150. Granagh/Ballingarry had 117 members in the June draw and two winners to date – Nora Farragher €100 in March and Paul McCarthy €100 in May.
If you would like to renew your membership, please follow the link limerickgaa.ie/clublimerick-draw-signup/ and select Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club draw 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. Note all new members names to be included in the July 31st draw must be in by 12 noon on Wednesday 28th July.
All Ireland Hurling Semi Final Tickets
Granagh/Ballingarry GAA club will receive a minimal allocation of tickets for the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi Final, Limerick v Quarter Final winner on Saturday August ? in Croke Park at 5pm and the draw for same will take place on Thursday August 5th at 8pm and will be streamed live on Facebook. Any club member who is going to the game and has their €100 club draw membership paid and wish to be included in the draw must contact club chairman Andrew Holmes 087 9187269 or treasurer Adrian Farragher 087 9187269 by Thursday at 6pm on Thursday 5th August. All winners of tickets will be contacted regarding collection and payment. We look forward to the co-operation of all the club members to implement the sale of tickets satisfactorily.
€14,200 Jackpot on Saturday
There was no winner of the €14,100 jackpot in the Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club lottery on Saturday July 24th. The numbers drawn were 3, 4, 25 and 26. Lucky dips of €20 each went to Julie Brosnan promoter online, Sarah Alymer promoter O’Grady’s Spar, Ballingarry, Maurice Ahern promoter Willie Power, Pat McCarthy promoter Donagh McCarthy. The next draw for a jackpot of €14,200 will be held on Saturday 31st July. Tickets are €2 each or three for €5 and are on sale in local shops and bars and from promoters.
Note: you can now play the weekly lottery online and the and the link to play is available on the club Facebook or Twitter pages which ceases at 6pm every Saturday.
Many thanks for your continued support.
Sympathy
Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club officials, players and members extend its sympathies to the McCarthy family on the death of Tadgh McCarthy, Kilmacow House, Kilfinny, Adare.
Ar dheis Dé to raibh a anam.
Club Diary
Wednesday July 28th
July Munster U20 Hurling Championship Final
Limerick v Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 7.30pm.
Friday 30th July
Munster Minor Football Championship Semi Finals
Clare v Limerick in Cusack Park, Ennis at 7pm; Cork v Kerry in Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 7pm.
Saturday 31st July
All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Finals
Tipperary v Waterford in Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 1.30pm Dublin v Cork in Semple Stadium, Thurles at 7pm.
Ulster Senior Football Championship Final
Monaghan v Tyrone in Páirc an Chrocaigh at 7pm.
Senior Hurling (Nicky Rackard Cup) Final
Mayo v Tyrone in Páirc an Chrocaigh at 1.30pm
Senior Hurling (Iory Meagher Cup) Final
Cavan v Fermanagh in Páirc an Chrocaigh at 6.30pm
All Ireland U20 Football Championship Semi Final
Cork v Offaly in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise at 5.15pm.
Sunday 1st August
Senior Hurling (Christy Ring Cup) Final
Derry v Offaly in Páirc an Chrocaigh at 1pm.
Leinster Senior Football Championship Final
Dublin v Kildare in Páirc an Chrocaigh at 4pm