ST. KIERAN’S GAA CLUB NOTES
County Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship Quarter final:
St. Kieran’s 1.11 Doon 0.11
The junior hurlers booked their place in the County Semi-final on Sunday afternoon with a hard-fought and deserved victory over Doon in a sun-drenched Kilmallock. Following four excellent victories during the group phase of the championship confidence was high that we could avenge our opening round defeat to the east Limerick side in the 2020 championship despite the absence of a number of prominent first team players due to injury. With underfoot conditions soft to yielding in places it was never going to be a game of flowing open hurling but a dogfight in which the team who wanted it more and was willing to graft hard would emerge with the spoils. We trailed by the slightest of margins at the first water break 0.5-0.4 with our opening period scores coming from Johnny McCarthy, Eoin McEnery, and Ian Mackessy from placed balls. There was a noticeable change in attitude in the second quarter as we took the ascendency thanks to three further points from Ian Mackessy to increase our tally while we tightened up around the middle eight where Doon had caused us some issues in the first quarter. Despite the glorious sunshine, heavy underfoot conditions ensured that Sunday’s game was never going to be a high scoring affair and the team that got the first goal was going to be difficult to beat. That goal came in the third quarter when Anthony Molyneaux showed all his experience to turn his man and make way towards the Doon goals. The Doon defence did well to their credit to close down the initial goal threat before Molyneaux showed a predator’s instinct to find the back of the net and increase our tally. We were now beginning to find our feet with Cormac Mann in particular really starting to play a telling part in the game with his pace causing the Doon outfit a variety of problems. We increased our lead to five at the end of the third quarter. As expected, the east Limerick side looking to salvage their campaign upped the ante during this period which saw them introduce x-Limerick senior Niall Maher to the fray at full forward. Doon, with the physically superior forwards persisted with an aerial bombardment in the final quarter as they searched for the decisive goal. Alas our backs stood firm against the constant threat with goalkeeper John Greaney pulling off an outstanding save inside the last ten minutes to keep the Doon attack at bay. the decisive moment in the game came inside the closing moments. Doon worked the ball nicely up along the main stand. It looked as if their corner forward who had got into an excellent position was about to reduce their deficit to two points but corner back Aaron Heffernan dived in to get an excellent block down and possession was salvaged, and we made our way up the field. This block down epitomized the performance and showed that the players were willing to put their bodies on the line for the cause. At the final whistle there was scene of jubilation and relief. With Sunday’s victory we are back in our first county semi-final since our County Championship winning season of 2012. We now have two weeks to prepare for our semi final encounter where Ballybricken-Bohermore will be our opponents following their two-point victory over Kileedy last Saturday. Congratulations to the players and management for Sunday’s victory. Hopefully they can maintain this momentum now and take another major step towards championship success on Saturday October 30.
Team vs Doon:
John Greaney, Anthony Mullins, Paudie McCarthy, Aaron Heffernan, Diarmuid Mulcahy, Brendan McCarthy, Cathal McEnery, Eoin McEnery, Ian Mackessy, Mike Flynn, Sean Ryan,
Cormac Mann, Michael Murphy, Johnny McCarthy, Anthony Molyneaux, Donie Nolan, James O’ Connor, Eoin Burke, Conor Woulfe, Mikie Breen, Billy Breen, Tom McMahon, Patrick Liston, Kieran Copse, Edward Fitzgerald, Padraig Balfe
County U19 ‘B’ Hurling Championship Quarter Final:
St. Kieran’s 1.14 Glenroe 1.13
The u19 hurlers put in an excellent second half performance on Tuesday night last under the bright lights in Kilbreedy to see off the challenge of south Limerick side Glenroe to book their place in the County Semi-final. Trailing by a point at the interval the lads made the most of their second half numerical advantage following the dismissal of a Glenroe player to take control of the game. It was a tale of two free takers with James Normoyle showing precise accuracy throughout the game to keep us intact while the Glenroe marksman was wayward throughout which proved decisive in the closing moments. With Tuesday victory the lads have set up a county semi final encounter with Caherline on Monday 25 October at 2pm in Kilbreedy once again. Well done to the players and management on an excellent team performance. Hopefully they can go a step further on Monday and advance to the county final against the winners of the second semi final between Kildimo/Pallaskenry and Dromin/Athlacca.
Team vs Glenroe
Tom McMahon, Conor Kelly, Jack Kiely, William Steele, Cathal McEnery, Aaron Heffernan, Shay Greaney, Jamie Baynham, Cormac Mann, James Normoyle, Sean Ryan, Michael Long, Conor Woulfe, Jamie Keane, Conor Shanahan, Nathan Cahill, Killian Heffernan, Darragh McMahon, Robert Cremin, Fionn Gleeson, Daniel Geraghty.
Bereavement:
All within St. Kieran’s GAA club wish to express our condolences to the Liston Family Glenastar, Ardagh on the untimely passing of Geraldine this past week. May she rest in peace.
St. Kieran’s GAA Annual Clothes Collection:
Ardagh Development Association & St Kierans GAA Club Lottery Draw
Results for Monday 18th October 2021 as follows.
Jackpot €4900.00
Numbers Drawn 9, 19, 22, 28
NO WINNER
Lucky Dips
€40 AJ O Sullivan c/o Dawn’s Launderette
€40 Kate Ambrose (Online)
€40 Tom Mackessy Coolnornan
€40 Margaret Carroll (Online)
€40 Ann Holyhead c/o Dinny Greaney
Next Draw Monday 25th October with a jackpot of €5000.00
Thank you for playing and for supporting our lotto. Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.