KNOCKADERRY GAA CLUB NOTES

KNOCKADERRY GAA CLUB NOTES

Knockaderry GAA Medal Presentation

Knockaderry Junior B Football and Intermediate Hurling teams were presented with their medals at a presentation evening in Scanlon’s Bar last Saturday. Richard Wall (Chairman Knockaderry GAA) welcomed all present and introduced the Special guests on the night – Seamus McNamara (Vice Chairman of Limerick GAA) and Breda Breen (West Board Secretary). Players received medals for the West Junior B Football League and Championship as well as the County Intermediate Hurling Cup. Many thanks Scanlon’s Bar for facilitating this and to all who were present on the night.

2019 Intermediate Hurling Review

Knockaderry participated in the Intermediate Hurling Championship grade for the 15th year. On reflection, it was a year that we under achieved but still collected some silver ware all be it in the County Cup.

In the Championship, We played the first two rounds in the space of a week on the 13th and 20th April against Feohanagh and Tournafulla respectively. The Feohanagh game was a dogged affair on a wet evening in NCW. Local rivalry was at stake and our lads really performed well especially in the last quarter and we were deserved winners on the night 0:13-0:11. This set us up nicely for the Tournafulla game a week later. This was an excellent game of hurling and you could argue in hindsight that we under estimated the opposition and were beat by 2 points on the night 1.24 to 2.19. We went into the summer championship break with 2 points out of a possible 4.

The championship resumed on the 11th of August where again we were up against local opposition in Newcastlewest. This was by far our worst performance of the year and we lost out on the night 0:16 to 1:10. The pressure was now on and six days later we were up against Croom who were unbeaten. We played very well on the night but couldn’t get the scores at vital stages and disappointingly lost by a point – a game we should have won. That meant we were down to our final group game played on September 1st against Na Piarsaigh in Askeaton. We knew a win would keep us safe from a relegation playoff. Half way through the second half we were down 4 points but showed great character to score 6 unanswered points in the last 12 minutes to win on a score line of 0:16 to 0:14. It wasn’t enough to reach the quarter finals but instead advanced to county Cup competition.

We received a walkover from St Patricks in the semi-final and played Feohanagh in the final on the 28th September in NCW. Feohanagh led at half time by 3 points but we again rallied in the second half which included a crucial goal by Tommy Hannon on the 43rd minute. This was the difference and we were victorious winning on the day 1:13 to 0:13. Pa Downes was captain and accepted the cup and gave a gracious speech on behalf of the team. Glenroe went on to win the county beating Newcastlewest in the final. A huge acknowledgment and thanks needs to go to the players led by captain Pa Downes, management team of Darren Moynihan, John Power and Ger Downes and to the backroom team Katie Condon, Ger Ambrose, Mike Mortell and Muiris O Connor as well as the BnanOg personnel that helped on match day.

2019 Junior B Football Review:

On the football side of things, it was another year of “what ifs”. In the championship, we were drawn in group 2 and our opening game was played on the 7th of July in The Bog Garden. We were deserved winners on the night beating Ballysteen by a goal. We received a walkover from Rathkeale and played our final game of the group stage against Granagh B on the 8th of September. We were down a few players on the night and lost narrowly 2:08 to 1:08.

A draw was made to see who would go direct to semi and quarter finals. We were drawn against Adare in the quarter final played in Quaid Park on the 21st September. After a nervous start, we took control of the game and scored some wonderful goals on the night winning 3:10 to 0:13 in the end. Next up in the semi-final was St Kierans played in Askeaton on the 5th of October. 2 Early goals set us up for victory and we ran out 7 point winners. That set up a West Final against Ballysteen played on Thursday 10th of October eventually throwing in at 8.40pm under lights in MNP. We had a very slow start and were down 1:03 to 0:00 after just 4 minutes. We edged our way back into the game but had a mountain to climb at half time loosing 2:06 to 1:02. With the aid of a breeze in second half, we played some great football and were back level after 45 mins. For the remaining 15 mins, points were exchanged and we could not be separated at full time – score-line 2:09 apiece. We were the better team in ET but a fortunate goal in the last minute meant it finished in a draw AET – 2:13 to 3:10.

It was decided to nominate teams to progress to individual quarter finals. We were drawn against Mungret and this was played under lights in Knocklong on Tuesday 22nd of October. Again, this was a dogged affair and we could not be separated AET – so another replay was in store. This was played a week later in MNP. We took control of the game mid-way through the second half and led by 5 points but Mungret rallied and got within a point. We eventually held out to win on a score line of 0:12 to 1:07. We progressed to semi-final where we were up against Knockane on a wet and windy day in Kilbreedy on the 2nd of November. This was a game that we really underperformed but credit to Knockane who faught to the end winning by a point and in doing so knocking us out of the county championship. Banogue went on to be champions beating Knockane narrowly in the final … definitely one that got away.

We still had silverware to compete for in the re arranged West Final replay. This was played in Athea on Sunday 10th of November. Again, not for the first time we had a very slow start conceding 2 goals in the opening 3 minutes. We settled and scored 2:04 without reply in the next 17 mins and we led at half time on a score line of 2:05 to 2:03. The second half was a close fought battle but we never went behind and a last minute goal but no doubt in our victory on a score line of 4:06 to 2:07. Willie O Brien was captain but asked Ollie Dowling to accept the cup on behalf of team.

In the league, we were also successful. We kicked off in mid-May with a victory over St Kierans. This was followed up a week later on a close fought one point win over Rathkeale. This sent us through to the West Semi-final where we played St Senans in Coolcappa on the 23rd of May. A late goal ensured victory by a point. In the final we were paired against our near neighbors Granagh Ballingarry but we were much stronger on the night winning on a score-line of 4:11 to 0:06. In the county league semi-final we were beaten by an impressive Mungret team on the day – 2:12 to 2:06.

The management team comprised of Johnny Lavelle, Muiris O’Connor, Mike Downes, Ollie Dowling & Ger Corkery. A special thanks to management and all the players for the effort over the year.