St Kierans GAA Club Notes:

St. Kierans 1.11 Croom 2.7

The Junior footballers recovered from a disastrous start to be crowned County Junior ‘A’ Football League champions on Thursday evening overcoming the challenge of South Champions Croom. Fielding the same side who overcame Fr. Casey’s in the West final we got off to a disastrous start and trailed 2.2 to 0.2 inside the opening quarter as we found it difficult to deal with the lively Croom attack. Our chances were dealt a further blow when we missed a penalty, and it looked as if it wasn’t going to be our night. such is the character within this group of players they showed no willingness to throw in the towel despite the early setbacks and we soon got ourselves back into the game. The game was played in sweltering conditions in the always excellent Castletown / Ballyagran GAA grounds, and both sides were rewarded for their efforts with a water break mid-way through the opening half. This afforded the players to get much needed refreshments on board but also some quick words of advice from the management team which had an immediate effort. We were awarded our second penalty of the half this time Jack O’ Sullivan found the back of the net and we were back in the game. Working hard throughout the field Conor McMahon and O’ Sullivan began to get a foothold in the middle third following the loss of Donie Nolan while players such as Jack Harnett and Anthony Molyneaux used their wealth of experience to help reduce our deficit and at the half time interval the two sides were deadlocked at 1.6 to 2.3 which was remarkable given the disastrous start we had. We soon got to grips with the lively Croom forward unit with Shane Fitzgerald and Mikey Kelly excelling. Once we took the lead in the second half, we wouldn’t relinquish it, and our lead would extent to three points as the half progressed only to be reeled back in by the south Limerick men as the final whistle approached. With the clock ticking the Maigue-siders pushed hard to tie up the game but our defence held firm to ensure that the only shots they could get off were low percentage efforts from outside the two-point arc. Following ten minutes of additional time the final whistle finally sounded in a game where we looked dead and buried inside the opening quarter. Over the past three seasons this group of players has shown a huge level of character and is clearly playing with a huge level of confidence. To win West and County League honours in our first year at this level against competition, the majority of whom will be operating a grade higher than us at Premier Junior level in the County Championship is a fantastic achievement and the players and management team deserve all the plaudits for the manner in which they perform night in night out. In the past three seasons this group has won two West Junior ‘B’ Championships, County Junior ‘B’ League and Championship and West and County Junior ‘A’ League honours as well as contested a Munster Club semi-final. Team captain James O’ Connor accepted the trophy on behalf of the group and thanked his fellow players and the management team for their hard work and dedication and wished Croom well in their upcoming championship campaign. With the league journey over for the year we now look forward with optimism to the upcoming County Championship campaign, our first in many years at Junior ‘A’ level. Making the step up in grades ultimately, we face a major step up in the level of competition. Undoubtedly some players will make the step up to the senior team for the County Championship but with a large panel of players there is no reason this group cannot continue to be competitive in our group which contains Ballylanders, Camogue Rovers, Monaleen, Hospital and our opening round opponents St. Patrick’s. Our next outing at this level will be a repeat of the West League semi-final when we travel to Colyroe to take on Castlemahon in the West Championship Quarter final in advance of the County Championship.

Team vs Croom Con Enright, Michael Murphy, Shane Fitzgerald, Shay Greaney, Fionn Gleeson, James O’ Connor, Mikey Kelly, Conor McMahon, Donie Nolan, Jack O’ Sullivan, Jack Harnett, Cathal McEnery, Luke Corrigan, Oisin Ryan, Anthony Molyneaux, John Doyle, Shane Lynch, Michael Upton, Sean Ryan, Darragh McMahon, Ben Cussen, Oisin Commane, Cathal O’ Connor, Darragh Breen, Jack Mulqueen, Dan Duggan, Ray Cahill.

Results for Monday 26th May 2025 as follows. Jackpot €7000.00.

Numbers Drawn: 2, 12, 19, 27.

No winner lucky dips

€40 Aileen Enright Newcastle West

€40 Thomas Harnett Ardagh

€40 David Dillane Rooskagh

€40 Eadaoin Mackessy Newcastle West

€40 Tommy Dillane Reens c/o Moloneys

Next Draw Monday 2nd June 2025 with a jackpot of €7100.00.