ST KIERAN’S GAA CLUB NOTES
Limerick Senior Footballers:
This past Sunday was a historic day for football in Limerick with the Senior footballers putting in a huge performance to overcome Fermanagh and in the process securing promotion to division 2 in 2023. Given the change in championship format this year Sundays result means that Limerick have advanced to the Division 3 league final as well as guaranteeing themselves a place in the All-Ireland Championship this summer if they do not reach the Munster Senior Football Final. Sunday was a very proud day for the club with Darragh Treacy once again putting in a huge performance at midfield for Limerick. Sunday’s win is just rewards for the many years of hard work and dedication that Darragh and his Limerick teammates have put in and it is great to see the team being successful and getting the opportunity to showcase their talents on the biggest stage in the years ahead. Liam Kennedy is also a member of the Limerick panel in his first year and hopefully it won’t be long until he is joining Darragh in the thick of the action. With Sunday’s win Limerick will now play the Mickey Harte managed Louth side who like Limerick have enjoyed great success over the past three years. Louth have secured their second promotion in a row and will no doubt be buoyed with confidence having already defeated Limerick in UL earlier this season. Limerick for their part will have revenge on their mind as they look to add more silverware to the ever-increasing Limerick GAA trophy cabinet. Limerick vs Louth in the Allianz National League final takes place this Saturday at 4.45 in Croke Park and will be broadcast live on TG4. Once again, we would like to congratulate Liam, Darragh as well as the entire Limerick panel and management set up of Billy Lee, Shane Kelly, Maurice Horan, Seamus O’ Donnell and Adrian O’ Brien for their outstanding achievement and wish them the very best of luck this Saturday.
County Senior Football League Round 1:
St. Kieran’s 6.18 Kildimo/Pallaskenry 1.6
Our senior footballers travelled to Rhebogue last Friday night for the opening round of the County League where the 2021 County Intermediate Champions Kildimo/Pallaskenry were our opponents. Played in excellent underfoot conditions which allowed for a fast-flowing game we began the game the brighter of the two sides with early scores coming from Seamus Mangan, Noel Callanan and Adam Lacey giving us an early lead. With water breaks a thing of the past the opening half was played with very little interruption as referee Eamon Phelan let the game flow. At the interval we held a strong 2.9 to 1.4 lead following a mid-half revival from the Shannonsiders to bring them right back into the game. Kildimo’ s surge of form continued into the start of the second half as they scored the halves opening point. To our lad’s credit they responded excellently and soon opened our second half account with further points from John Hayes, Seamus Mangan and Eoin McEnery. Second half goals from Adam Lacey, Jack Harnett a second for Noel Callanan and Eoin McEnery wrapped up the encounter in what was an excellent opening round victory for a very youthful St. Kieran’s panel which contained three players, Shane
Fitzgerald, Michael Long and Cillian Heffernan who got their first taste of County league action. Next up we face a huge challenge against County champions and near neighbours Newcastlewest on April 12. Newcastlewest also got their campaign off to a winning start at the weekend with a seven-point victory over St. Senan’s. We will face Kildimo/Pallaskenry further down the road in the opening round of the County Senior Football championship and with the return of county panellists to bolster both squads as well as a few months hard training and competitive games there is no doubt that that game will be a massive encounter and there will be very little to separate the two sides.
West Intermediate Hurling League:
Our Junior ‘A’ Hurlers get their 2022 campaign underway on Saturday evening when they travel to Templeglantine to take on the home side in the opening round of the West Intermediate Hurling league. Following on from the extremely successful 2021 season and with a number of younger players joining the panel optimism is high among the group that we can once again have a constructive season. Saturday nights game will be an excellent opportunity to put the hard work that has gone in over the past number of weeks into practice as well as an opportunity to give some new players invaluable game time. Saturday’s game throws in at 6.30.
Minor / U21 Championships:
The draws for the 2022 Minor (u19) and U21 championships took place this past week. At u19 level we will make the step up to Premier level having won the ‘A’ Championship in 2021 and with all bar four of the starting fifteen from the 2021 county final still underage we will be optimistic of a productive county championship campaign. We have been drawn in group 2 alongside Fr. Casey’s and Monaleen. In the Minor ‘B’ Hurling championship we will be hoping to go one step further in 2022 having been defeated in the County Final in 2021. In 2022 we have been drawn alongside Pallasgreen and Caherline. At u21 level having been defeated at the penultimate stage in the 2021 Premier Football championship we will once again compete in the Premier championship in 22. We have been drawn in group 2 with Mungret/St. Pauls and Galbally who defeated us in the county semi final in 2021. In u21 hurling we will contest the B championship where we have been grouped with St. Patrick’s, Dromin/Athlacca and Caherline.
Membership 2022:
· Club Limerick Draw ONLY – €100.00
· Senior Adult Player – €55
· Senior Adult Player including Club Limerick Draw €145
· Family Membership – €75
· Family Membership including Club Limerick Draw – €165
· Adult Social Non-Playing €35
· Adult Social Non-Playing including Club Limerick Draw €125
· U21/Student Membership €35
· Single Juvenile Membership €35
Membership is due this week, and it is vital that all playing members have paid their respective membership fees before the start of the various league campaigns as no player will be allowed to play for insurance purposes until they have paid their membership.
Pitch Booking:
With the return of competitive games this coming week it is important that each management team within the club book their required facilities in advance of games and training sessions. As we have a large number of teams from u6 up to senior level space is often at a premier and to ensure that your respective team gets their required time slot we ask that you book your slot on the ADRSC website where you will be able to book either of the Astroturf facilities in Ardagh, the pitch in Ardagh and pitch in Coolcappagh. You can use the link below to make a booking. ADRSC Astro (sportskey.com)
Club Limerick Draw:
Congratulations to Mai Gallagher who was a big winner in the first edition of the Club Limerick draw winning the second prize of €3000. Once again, we would like to thank all our draw members for their continued support as the Club Limerick draw is a vital source of revenue for our club without which it would be extremely difficult to run club affairs. Is it still possible to join the 2022 draw and if your interested in joining you can do so through the Clubforce App.
Results for Monday 28th March 2022 as follows.
Jackpot €7000.00
Numbers Drawn 5, 13, 22, 24
NO WINNER
Lucky Dips
€40 The Buston Family Coolcappa c/o Nearys
€40 John Doyle Carrigkerry (Online)
€40 Michael Liston Glenastar Ardagh
€40 Loretta Hayes c/o Eileen Collins
€40 Lorraine Flavin Coolcappa (online)
Next Draw Monday 4th April 2022 with a jackpot of €7100.00
Thank you for playing and for supporting our lotto. Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.