ST. KIERAN’S GAA CLUB NOTES
Charity Road Hurling 2021:
Our much-anticipated charity road hurling event will make its return this December 27. Following the cancellation of the event last Christmas due to covid restrictions we are delighted to once again stage the event around our traditional route in Ardagh. The day’s events get underway at 11am at the church car park with participants, young and old facing the traditional challenging 4km route which begins at the church carpark, makings its way over Skehanagh bridge towards Cahermoyle House before facing the prospect of the winding final stretch back to Ardagh. We would encourage you all to come along and attend on the day for what has always been an extremely enjoyable day out. All funds raised this year will be donated to Milford Care Centre and Templestreet Children’s Hospital. We look forward to seeing you all on the 27th.
Last Man Standing 2022:
Once again, we will be running a Premier League Last Man Standing fundraiser in January 2021. We have a variety of prizes on offer including an excellent first prize of €500 for the winner. The competition will be run over a ten-week period, contestants must choose one team from the game weeks ten Premier League games. If that team wins you progress to week two. If your chosen team is defeated or draws, then you are eliminated. You can only choose a team once. The last person standing at the end of the ten weeks will be declared the winner. If there are multiple entrants left standing at the end the winner with the best overall goal scoring record will be declared the winner. Entry is €10 and entry forms can be purchased from any club officer or adult player. The first game week begins on January 14. We will also be selling entry forms on December 27 at our charity road hurling event.
Senior Football:
The senior football team started out their 2021 campaign with a local derby against Newcastlewest in the County League. On the night an inexperienced Kieran’s side came up against a superior Newcastlewest outfit who came away with a ten-point victory. We rebounded from our opening round defeat with victories over Gerald Griffins and St. Senan’s before a final round draw with County Intermediate Champions Kildimo-Pallaskenry. In the County Champions we were drawn with fellow west Limerick side Ballysteen and Galtee Gaels. Decimated by injuries we suffered defeat by the narrowest of margins in both encounters which subsequently meant we faced the daunting prospect of a relegation play-off where Na Piarsaigh would be out opponents. With a clean bill of health for the first time all
season we came away with a four-point win after extra time in what was a titanic battle. While it was disappointing to find we in that situation this year, seven players played county championship for the first time this campaign which will no doubt stand to them in the coming years.
U21 Football:
The u21 footballers had a fruitful 2021 campaign, drawn in a group alongside Fr. Casey’s, Monaleen and Na Piarsaigh and containing a wealth of players who played senior county championship as well as the championship winning minor side optimism was high that the team could have a positive run in the championship. we began our campaign in Rhebogue against one of the pre-championship favourites, Fr. Casey’s. after sixty minutes of football there was no separating the two sides as we played out an evenly contested draw. Next up in round 2 we came up against Monaleen and despite some early jitters we put together some excellent passages of football to come away with a comprehensive eight-point victory. In our final group game, we were awarded a walkover from Na Piarsaigh who could no longer qualify for the semi finals having been defeated in their two opening round encounters. In the county semi-final we were drawn against Galbally. After an excellent first half performance which saw us lead by a goal at the interval the south Limerick side upped the ante in the third quarter and took control of the game. At the final whistle the men from the Galtees came away with a two-point win to advance to the county final.
Minor Football:
The pride of the place on the football front in 2021 goes to our minor footballers who capped off an excellent 2021 campaign by capturing the County Minor ‘A’ Championship title following an excellent victory over Croom in Mick Neville Park. The team played an excellent brand of football throughout the campaign amassing victories over Ballysteen, Ballylanders and Killacolla Gaels before peaking for the county final, on the night the team performed excellently against a Croom side that simply had no answer to the pacey Kieran’s side. This was our second Minor ‘A’ Championship in four years and with only four of the staring team overage in 2022 the team is well set to advance to the premier ranks.
Junior ‘A’ Hurling:
2021 was a very productive campaign for the Junior hurlers qualifying for both league and championship finals. Following the group campaign in the west League we advanced to the final against neighbours Rathkeale. Following a hard-fought encounter there was no separating the two sides in normal time and extra time was required. In added time it was the Rathkeale side who emerged victorious, but this did not deter the side ahead of the county championship campaign. Our county championship campaign got off to the worst possible start losing heavily to Kilteely/Dromkeen in the opening round. This merely acted as motivation for the side who rebounded from adversity and went on an excellent run of four victories in the group stages with wins over St. Patrick’s, Garryspillane, Monagea and Ahane to secure qualification to the county quarter final where Doon were our opponents. Following a tough battle in heavy underfoot conditions, without the services of a number of first team regulars were emerged victorious with a three-point win. In the semi-final we came up
against a hotly fancied Ballybricken/Bohermore side who had proven to be extremely potent in front of goal in their previous championship games. We played our best hurling of the season in the opening half blitzing the east Limerick side to book our place in the county final where Caherline would be our opponents. On the day we came up against a Caherline side who took their chances and were more potent in front of goal, albeit the six point margin of victory at the final whistle was flattering as they hit the back of the net in the final play of the game following a Kieran’s attack.
U21 Hurling:
The U21 hurlers had a productive county championship campaign and were extremely unlucky not to advance to the semi final stages following a hard-fought quarter final encounter with Templeglantine. Following an opening round victory over Caherline we held the ascendency for much of the quarter final encounter only to be tipped in the final quarter which was extremely disappointing as we had played some excellent hurling throughout the game.
Minor Hurling:
Like their footballing counterparts the minor hurlers also qualified for the County final where they came up against a very impressive Kildimo/Pallaskenry side. In what was our first minor county final since 06 injuries and the effects of a hectic schedule during the previous two months for many of the player clearly caught up with the side. Throughout the campaign the lads put in some excellent performances amassing wins over Drom/Broadford, Glenroe and Caherline but on the day they came up against a Kildimo/Pallaskenry side that were far superior and could well have operated at a higher level.
Club Officers 2022:
Following our AGM this past Friday evening the following officers were elected:
Chairman: David Woulfe
Vice Chairman: Kieran Madigan
Secretary: Ivan Neary
Assistant Secretary / PRO: Owen Hayes
Treasurer: Tom Harnett
Assistant Treasurer: Ian Mackessy
Children’s Officer: Deirdre Ambrose
Covid Officer: Aisling Hayes
Irish Officer: John Hough
Kieran Madigan replaces Patrick Windle as Vice Chairman who has stepped aside from his role which he has held for the past ten years. Both on and off the playing pitch as a player, club official and mentor Patrick has always shown great vision and leadership and we would like to thank him for his hard work and dedication during his tenure as well as wishing Kieran the best of luck in his new role.
Ardagh Development Association & St Kierans GAA Club Lottery Draw
Results for Monday 13th December 2021 as follows.
Jackpot €5700.00
Numbers Drawn 5, 8, 16, 25
NO WINNER
Lucky Dips
€40 Maria Madigan c/o Timmy Madigan
€40 Margaret Brouder (Online)
€40 Mike Magner Ardagh
€40 Caroline Daly Kilcolman
€40 Deirdre Ambrose (Online)
Next Draw Monday 20th December with a jackpot of €5800.00 with 5 extra lucky dip prizes!!
Thank you for playing and for supporting our lotto. Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.