St. Kierans GAA Club Notes:

St. Kierans vs Mungret/St. Pauls

Sunday, Bog Garden, Rathkeale 12.00

The Junior footballers take on Mungret/St. Pauls this Sunday in the much-anticipated County Junior ‘B’ Football Championship final in what is a rematch between this seasons County League finalists. Both sides come into the game following impressive campaigns which has seen each side already capture two titles to date. We come into the game as County League and West Champions while Mungret have already added the West League and City Championship titles to their trophy cabinet this campaign. The two sides have met three times so far in 2024. In the group stage of the League, we enjoyed victory by the slightest of margins following a highly entertaining encounter before the Mungret side got their revenge in the West decider with a two-point victory. Both sides would resume their rivalry in the County League final in Askeaton following respective League semi-final victories over Knockane and Bruree. On the night the lads put in a solid performance to come away with a two-point win in what was an excellent game of football.

Of course, the makeup of both sides will have changed dramatically following our three previous encounters as several players on both sides have stepped up to Senior and Junior ‘A’ Level with each club while numerous players returned to each panel following injury and other commitments. The city club have been enjoying a renaissance in recent years with a large pool of playing numbers and excellent facilities fuelling their upward trajectory. 2024 was a fruitful season as Mungret would claim both the County Intermediate Football Championship and Junior ‘A’ Football championship titles to make their long-awaited return to the senior ranks and they now stand as a dual-senior club within the county alongside Monaleen, Adare and Na Piarsaigh. From a Kieran’s perspective the last two seasons have been hugely encouraging with the management team of Noel Broderick, Patrick and James Windle and Nicky Kelly have brought a huge level of professionalism and organisation to this group. Having a strong junior team is vital in helping bridge the gap between underage football and senior level and over the past two seasons several younger players have been given their opportunity to get their first taste of adult football at this level and have gone on to step up to the senior squad and play county championship. This seasons panel has an excellent blend of youth and experience with key players such as Johnny McCarthy, John Doyle, Jack Harnett, Anthony Molyneaux, Ray Cahill and Seamus Mangan possessing years of County Championship experience.

This Sunday’s game promises to be a highly competitive encounter between two sides who have developed a healthy rivalry this season. We come into the game undefeated having regained the West Championship which we won for the first time in our history in 2023. The only blemish on our championship record was a draw in round 2 against Knockaderry before we defeated the same side in the West Final for the second year in succession. Following the West Championship, we faced off against East Limerick runners up Knockane in the County Quarter Final. In challenging conditions in Old Christians GAA Grounds, Rathbane we ground out a three-point victory over the east Limerick side to advance to the County Semi-Final against Bruree. In the Semi-Final we faced a Bruree side who had captured the South title in impressive fashion and contained many of the players who had helped them advance to the County Intermediate Hurling Championship Final. Played in Dromcollogher following Storm Ashley the lads played some excellent controlled football to build up a strong first half lead which would pave the way for qualification for this Sunday’s final. Mungret have had an impressive championship campaign also easily seeing off the challenge of a Ballinacurra Gaels side in the City decider having suffered a heavy loss to the same opposition in the opening round, conceding five goals in the process. In the County Championship Mungret overcame Galtee Gaels in the Quarter Final before seeing off the stern challenge posed by Knockaderry after extra time in the County Semi-Final to advance to the County decider.

 This will be a first County Junior ‘B’ Football Championship final in our history and hopefully the lads can put in one more strong performance to maintain our unbeaten record in championship football this season. The prize on offer for Sunday’s winner is promotion to the County Junior ‘A’ Football Championship in 2025 as well as the opportunity to represent Limerick in the upcoming Munster Club Junior ‘B’ Football Championship which is held annually by Knockaderry GAA. Sunday’s game throws in at 12pm in the Bog Garden, Rathkeale.

Best wishes to the players and management team. We will have live updates on our social media platforms throughout the game. Your support is greatly appreciated by all concerned.

West Championship Round 1: St. Kieran’s 3.14 St. Senan’s 0.10

West Championship Round 2: St. Kieran’s 0.8 Knockaderry 0.8

West Championship Round 3: St. Kieran’s 4.13 Drom / Broadford 1.8

West Championship Round 4: Walkover from Glin

West Championship Round 5: St. Kieran’s 3.20 Ballysteen 0.1

West Championship Semi-Final: St. Kieran’s 6.13 Drom / Broadford 1.3

West Championship Final: St. Kieran’s 1.8 Knockaderry 1.2

County Championship Quarter Final: 1.7 Knockane 0.4

County Championship Semi Final: St. Kieran’s 2.11 Bruree 0.3

City Championship Round 1: Mungret / St. Pauls 1.12 Ballinacurra Gaels 5.7

City Championship Round 2: Walkover from Na Piarsaigh

City Championship Round 3: Mungret / St. Pauls 5.16 Claughaun 0.4

City Championship Round 4: Walkover to Kildimo / Pallaskenry

City Championship Semi-Final: Mungret / St. Pauls 4.6 Kildimo / Pallaskenry 2.8

City Championship Final: Mungret / St. Pauls 2.6 Ballinacurra Gaels 0.2

County Championship Quarter Final: Mungret / St. Pauls 1.6 Galtee Gaels 0.4

County Championship Semi Final: Mungret / St. Pauls 0.11 Knockaderry 1.6

West Junior ‘B’ Football League Round 4: St. Kieran’s 2.7 Mungret / St. Pauls 1.9

West Junior ‘B’ Football League Final: St. Kieran’s 1.13 Mungret / St. Pauls 3.9

County Junior ‘B’ Football League Final: St. Kieran’s 1.9 Mungret / St. Pauls 1.7

Results for Monday 28th October 2024 as follows.

Jackpot €7500.00, Numbers draw 4, 6, 27, 29.  No Winner

Lucky Dips Winners,

€40 Kathleen Nolan Athea

€40 Alex O Sullivan c/o Dawn

€40 John Paul Barrett Cahermoyle

€40 Seamus Lordan Dromcollogher

€40 Joan Copse Carrigkerry

Next Draw Monday 4th November 2024 with a jackpot of €7600.00

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