ST. KIERAN’S GAA CLUB NOTES
County Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship Semi Final:
St. Kieran’s 2.12 Ballybricken/Bohermore 0.14
We made the journey south once more last Saturday afternoon for the eagerly anticipated County Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship semi final against a fancied Ballybricken/Bohermore side. Playing into the scoreboard end in the opening half we got off to a blistering start with experienced campaigners Anthony Molyneaux and Johnny McCarthy rolling back the years to give us a strong 1.6 to 0.2 lead at the first water break. We really hit the ground running in the opening quarter with our six forwards working extremely hard to create scoring chances but at the back the foundations for the victory were being laid with Diarmuid Mulcahy, Paudie McCarthy and Aaron Heffernan in particular in our full back shackling up the dangerous Ballybricken inside line who had caused havoc in their prior championship outings amassing a fine tally of sixteen goals. The return to the starting fifteen of Jack Harnett, Darragh Treacy and Mossie Shine was a huge boost to our chances also having missed a sizeable portion of the championship campaign through injury and it was clear that ring rust was not a factor in their performance with Harnett putting in a colossal performance at half back, Darragh performed solidly as the focal point of our attack giving an excellent supply of ball into the potent inside line while Mossie worked tirelessly throughout following his return from a knee injury and acted as an excellent link between defence and attack. At half time we held an eight-point lead, 2.9 to 0.7 with our first goal coming from Johnny McCarthy and it is debated whether he got a decisive touch on Eoin McEnery’s line ball for our second goal. To Ballybricken’s credit they didn’t throw in the towel at half time and were it now for some wayward shooting in front of our goal then the score line could have been a lot different. As the second half progressed the east Limerick men upped the ante but to be fair our backs stood firm against the onslaught with our half back line of Jack Harnett, Brendan McCarthy and Cathal McEnery in particular really upping their game in the second half making some excellent clearances and ensuring that the dangerous Ballybricken half forward line got no real go scoring opportunity on goalkeeper John Greaney, who apart from catching one shot from under the crossbar had little else to do other than puck out the ball. We increased our tally to 2.12 to 0.8 at the second water break but it was evident there would be one final push in the Ballybricken men who hadn’t been allowed to perform to their potential in the opening 45 minutes of the game. In the final quarter the east Limerick side pushed hard to reduce their ten-point deficit. With a trojan defensive effort we stood up to the challenge and ensured that our place in the 2021 County Junior ‘A’ Hurling final was secure with four points to spare at the final whistle. Saturday’s performance was by far the team’s best performance of the team, everything went right in the opening half when the team really clicked as a unit which ultimately put the game out of sight for our opponents. The manner in which the younger players have been embedded into and thrived within this team is a sight to behold with each player showing they have the capability to perform at this level and hopefully beyond. With the semi final victory secured we now advance to a County Final date with another East Limerick side, our 5th throughout our 2021 championship campaign against Caherline. Caherline for their part had an excellent three-point victory over a hotly tipped by the experts St. Patrick’s side on Friday evening but in an extremely impressive performance to take the spoils and will no doubt be brimming with confidence following an equally impressive group campaign which saw them amass four victories in their five outings with the only blemish on their record coming against Ballybricken in round 3 by a goal. Saturday’s win brings us back to our first County final since our 2012 victory over Monagea following the disappointment of the 2010 defeat to a highly impressive Effin side. While this team has gone through an extensive transition period since our relegation from the intermediate ranks in 2017 twelve members of the 2012 County Championship winning panel remain in situ and have added great experience to the new players who have got their first taste of championship action in 2021. The 2021 decider takes place Saturday week, November 13 with a 2pm throw in in Kilmallock which has been a happy hunting ground for us so far this season. The prize on offer for the winner is a place in the 2022 County Intermediate Hurling Championship as well as a Munster Junior Hurling Championship semi final berth against the Cork champions on December 12.
Team vs Ballybricken/Bohermore:
John Greaney, Diarmuid Mulcahy, Paudie McCarthy, Aaron Heffernan, Jack Harnett, Brendan McCarthy, Cathal McEnery, Eoin McEnery, Ian Mackessy, Mike Flynn, Darragh Treacy, Cormac Mann, Mossie Shine, Johnny McCarthy, Anthony Molyneaux, James O’ Connor, Anthony Mullins, Sean Ryan, Michael Murphy, Tomas McMahon, Billy Breen, Mike Breen, Eoin Burke, Patrick Liston, Edward Fitzgerald, Conor Woulfe, Ciaran Copse, Donie Nolan, Padraig Balfe.
U21 Football:
The u21 footballers get their county championship underway this Friday evening when they entertain Fr. Casey’s in Mountcollins at 8pm. Fr. Casey’s will undoubtedly be buoyed from their recent County Junior Premier Football championship success over Newcastlewest and will provide us with a stern test, but the Kieran’s side will be backboned with a large sprinkling of players who have County Senior Championship experience as well as members of the victorious minor championship winning side.
HURLING SISTERS FOR FUN
HURLING SISTERS FOR FUN is an initiative starting next Sunday morning, November the 7th at 10am to 11am on the Astro turf in Ardagh. This will be run by St Kieran’s GAA club and take place each Sunday morning during November at least.
This is an opportunity for girls of all ages, born on or after January 1st, 2008, to practice hurling in an organised/group setting. All girls from this area and surrounding parishes are very welcome every Sunday morning, to come along, free of charge and try it out.
We will have a small number of hurleys and helmets available but bring your own if you can please.
If you intend to come along, please text 086 2205572 so as we can have an idea of numbers, include your girls name and age please.
Ardagh Development Association & St Kierans GAA Club Lottery Draw
Results for Monday 1st November 2021 as follows.
Jackpot €5100.00
Numbers Drawn 1, 3, 22, 23
NO WINNER
Lucky Dips
€40 Noreen Noonan The Commons
€40 John Buston Coolcappa
€40 Kate Ambrose (Online)
€40 Meadhbh, Conor & Eoghan c/o Ailish’s
€40 Michelle Brouder (Online)
Next Draw Monday 8th November with a jackpot of €5200.00
Thank you for playing and for supporting our lotto. Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.