ST KIERAN’S GAA
County Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship Final:
CHAMPIONS AGAIN
St. Kieran’s 0.14 Drom/Broadford 1.6
1985, 2012, 2022. Once again St. Kieran’s are County Junior ‘A’ Hurling Champions. Saturday November 5 will go down as a historic day for our proud GAA club as our Junior ‘A’ Hurlers captured the County Championship seeing off the challenge from a determined Drom/Broadford side. Newcastlewest was the venue for the much-anticipated game between the two last remaining sides in this year’s championship. Drom went into the game on the back of disappointment the previous weekend missing out on County Intermediate football honours at the hands of Na Piarsaigh and were determined to atone for their loss and capture the county hurling title. Drom started the game with a ferocious intensity which we found very difficult to live with throughout the opening half and it is fair to say the men from the Cork border were full value for their four-point lead at the interval. Drom were dominant throughout the opening half and were it not for some wayward long-distance shooting may well have enjoyed a superior advantage at half time such was their dominance in the possession stakes as we struggled to win primary possession throughout the field. Disaster struck midway through the opening half when Drom found the back of our net as goalkeeper Cillian Ambrose couldn’t prevent the ball going in despite his best efforts. Up front we found the going tough with two points from Johnny McCarthy and an Ian Mackessy free all we registered in the first half, McCarthy to his credit put in yet another herculean performance for this club. Trailing by four points at half time we had the assistance of the wind and would be playing into what is traditionally regarded as the scoring goals in the second half. The vastly experienced Anthony Molyneaux was introduced at half time for Cormac Mann who worked tirelessly in the engine room throughout the first half and is quickly emerging as a vitally important player within the group despite his young age. Molyneaux immediately made an impact and carved an opening for himself to register the opening score of the second half and from here the comeback was on as Molyneaux’s arrival and subsequent impact had a calming influence on the team. Darragh Treacy quickly doubled our second half tally with his first point and could have added a goal soon after with his shot narrowly going outside the post. While Drom enjoyed the better of the physical exchanges in the first half we took ascendency in the second. The loss of the experienced Garreth Noonan to injury for Drom had a big impact on their chances and we soon began to take control. Donie Nolan, introduced midway through the second period for James Muckell and immediately got his name on the scoresheet. James has had a huge impact on the team since his return following his ten-year spell down under in Australia. Eoin McEnery and Ian Mackessy kept the scoreboard ticking over from frees as we scored nine points without reply. At the back we steadied the ship with Brendan McCarthy in particular standing tall fetching at least four balls from the sky which lifted the crowd. Mossie Shine too was performing admirably at midfield once again winning a huge number of turnovers and acting as the glue linking defence to attack. Cillian Ambrose in goals responded well from the first half goal, to put in a man of the match performance scoring two second half point from inside our half from free’s and catching two balls from over the crossbar despite the attention from the invading Drom attack. As the final whistle approached Drom launched an aerial assault on our goal in the
hope of getting that all elusive second goal and salvaging their hopes of championship success. Once again, our full back line of Diarmuid Mulcahy, Aaron Heffernan which was led admirably by Paudie McCarthy stood resolutely against the Drom attack and resisted all pressure. At the final whistle there were scenes of jubilation once again as we won our first county championship at adult level since 2012. Saturday’s performance was one of heroism as the team came back from adversity. When the chips were down following a disappointing opening half when we failed to get going battle hardened leaders such as McCarthy’s Jack Harnett and Anthony Molyneaux came to the fore, most encouragingly younger leaders emerged such as Sean Ryan, Aaron Heffernan, and Cathal McEnery. Saturday’s victory was extremely special for all the players involved, for thirteen its their second County Junior ‘A’ Championship medal following success ten years ago and for the majority its their first taste of success at adult level. As the players embraced their loved ones following the final whistle team captain Ian Mackessy joined great Kieran’s men such Jim Woulfe and Paudie McCarthy in accepting the County Junior ‘A’ Hurling championship on behalf of the players and management team. In a resounding speech he paid tribute to all of those who have gone before and are currently giving up their time to ensure that St. Kieran’s are successful on and off the field of play as well as paying tribute to the fantastic group of players who have worked tirelessly throughout the year. Successes like this do not happen overnight, a lot of hard work is required on and off the pitch and you won’t be successful without making sacrifices. There was huge disappointment within the group following defeat in the 2021 decider to Caherline. It is often said you must lose one to win one. We lost the 1983 decider before coming back in 1985 to win the County Championship in a historic Junior Hurling /Senior football double while many of the 2012 West and County Championship winning squad also experienced defeat in the 2010 decider to Effin. Much praise must go to the management team of John Fitzgerald, Chris Madigan, Conor O’ Mahony, Jason Mullins and Donal Balfe for how the regrouped the troops after the 2021 decider to come back stronger in 2022 and finally get their just rewards of championship success. In 2023 we make the step up to the Intermediate ranks for the first time since 2017 following relegation full of optimism with a very youthful squad of players eager to make the step up. Before that we now advance to represent Limerick in the Munster Club Junior Hurling Championship in ten days’ time. In our last foray in this competition in 2012 we defeated Kilsheelan/Kilcash of Tipperary and Kerry Intermediate Champions Kenmare Shamrock’s before suffering an agonising defeat to Cork Champions by two points in the Munster Final. We face Clare representatives The Banner from Ennis on Saturday November 19 at 1.15 at a Clare venue in what promises to be a mouth-watering encounter. The Banner had an excellent victory on Saturday also when they travelled to Lewis Road Killarney to take on Kerry Intermediate Champions Kilgarvan. Inspired by an excellent individual performance from Clare Senior hurler Shane Meehan who scored 2.12 for the away side they emerged victorious 2.15 to 1.15 against the south Kerry side. Congratulations to the players management and backroom team for Saturday’s victory which will be remembered as one of the great days in the history of our club. It was great to see so many of the Kieran’s faithful of all ages travel from near and far in great numbers to lend their support to the lads. We will have further information on a venue for our Munster Semi final in the coming week. We look forward with anticipation. UP KIERAN’S.
Team vs Drom/Broadford:
Cillian Ambrose, Diarmuid Mulcahy, Paudie McCarthy, Aaron Heffernan, Jack Harnett, Brendan McCarthy, Cathal McEnery, Mossie Shine, Cormac Mann, James Muckell, Johnny
McCarthy, Sean Ryan, Ian Mackessy, Eoin McEnery, Darragh Treacy, Liam Kennedy, Anthony Molyneaux, Donie Nolan, Anthony Mullins, Mike Flynn, Evan Donovan, Michael Murphy, Darragh McMahon, Michael Long, Conor Woulfe, Billy Breen, Mike Breen, Edward Fitzgerald, Shay Greaney, James O’ Connor, Danny Collum, Cathal O’ Connor, Padraig Balfe, William Steele
Condolences:
All within St. Kieran’s GAA Club would like to extend our condolences to Moloney family Ardagh on the recent passing of Christy and the Moynihan and King families Killoughteen/Carrigkerry on the untimely passing of Helen. May they rest in peace.
Ardagh Development Association & St Kierans GAA Club Lottery Draw
Results for Monday 7th November 2022 as follows.
Jackpot €10,200.00
Numbers Drawn 2, 4, 9, 16
NO WINNER
Lucky Dips
€40 Tanya Saharova Ballyhahill (Online)
€40 John Murphy c/o Nearys
€40 Michael Enright Dromahnee c/o Greaneys
€40 John “Spud” Murphy Knockaderry c/o Nearys
€40 Meadhbh Ambrose (Online)
Next Draw Monday 14th November 2022 with a jackpot of €10,300
Thank you for playing and for supporting our lotto. Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.