St Kierans GAA Club Notes:

St. Kierans v Pallasgreen

Adare, 3pm

The intermediate hurlers resume their championship campaign on Saturday afternoon when they take on Pallasgreen in Round 3 of the County Championship. Both sides coming into Saturday’s game needing a win to maintain their respective championship aspirations. In our two games to date we put in an excellent opening round performance against Knockainey. On the night there was no separating the two sides after sixty-plus minutes of hurling as we took a point each from the game. In round 2 we faced off against a Na Piarsaigh side who dropped down from the Premier Intermediate ranks following relegation last season. With five minutes remaining we trailed by a solitary point before a final push from the Caherdavin side saw them take a five-point victory. Pallasgreen have suffered two defeats from their opening two games, a five-point opening round defeat to fellow east Limerick side Murroe / Boher was followed up by a narrow two-point loss to Knockainey so they will be highly motivated to put in a strong performance Saturday. We have been extremely competitive in our two games to date and can count ourselves unlucky not to pick up wins in both games. The two sides also met in the 2024 County Championship. On that occasion the east Limerick side emerged with a one-point victory following a fiercely contested game in Adare. Saturday’s game promises to be another hotly contested encounter between two very evenly matched sides. Hopefully we can build on the strong opening two games and pick up the vital two points.

St. Kierans 3.13 Galtee Gaels 1.12

The senior footballers got their County Championship campaign underway on Tuesday evening last when they travelled to Ballyagran to take on Galtee Gaels in the opening round. We went into the game as underdogs against the south Limerick side who had contested the County Semi-Final in 2024 losing out to eventual champions Adare. As always the game was played in excellent conditions in the south Limerick venue. We played into the old dressing rooms end in the opening half against the physically imposing Angelsboro side. We got the opening score of the game and could count ourselves unlucky not to find the back of the net inside the opening five minutes as Lorcan Murphy’s effort was cleared off the line. Subsequently we were dealt a major blow as Galtee Gaels found the back of the net to take the lead. from this point on we came under ferocious pressure as the southerners played with great pace and energy. There efforts were soon rewarded as they were awarded a first half penalty. Goalkeeper Donie Nolan held his composure and saved the subsequent effort and from here we began to grow in confidence. When we moved the ball at pace, we caused the defence severe problems. First half substitute Eoin McEnery made an immediate impact on the game as he pierced through the Gaels defence to finally find the back of the net for our first goal of the championship. Three late points would ensure that Galtee Gaels would head into the dressing rooms on a blistering hot evenly with the lead by the slightest of margins. From the outset there was a change in attitude within the players for the second half and from the throw in we took the game to our opponents. Darragh Treacy and Liam Kennedy soon took the ascendency in the middle of the field against the Limerick senior duo and Kennedy would find the back of the net on two occasions within the second half to put us into a commanding lead. As the half progressed fresh legs were introduced to add energy to the team with Sean Ryan, Seamus Mangan, Jack Sullivan and Sean Long all playing important roles stretching the south Limerick men as the game went into the final quarter. Despite a late onslaught from Galtee Gaels our defence led by experienced dual players Brendan McCarthy and Mossie Shine held firm. Donie Nolan dealt admirably with an aerial assault to ensure Galtee Gaels would raise no further green flags. A late point from Darragh Treacy, his third of the game provided the insurance score to secure all important two points. There were many fine performances throughout the field on the night as we took to the field fielding a side with an excellent blend of youth and experience. The six backs of Mossie Shine, Shane Fitzgerald, Anthony Mullins, Mike Shanahan, Brendan McCarthy and Mikey Long all performed well getting to grips with their tricky opponents after some challenging opening moments. Up front the forward unit had to be patient in the opening half as Galtee Gaels established their defensive twelve-man zone. Wing forwards Cormac Mann and Lorcan Murphy provided much needed energy and aerial support on the wings, John Hayes worked tirelessly as a linkman between defence and attack while the inside line of Kevin Meade, Alan Daly and Adam Lacey showed excellently throughout the hour. Well done to Adam Lacey who made his return to competitive action following an ACL knee injury sustained last season and its testament to the commitment that he has shown during that period that he played a full sixty minutes in an intense game in sweltering heat. Team v Galtee Gaels Donie Nolan, Anthony Mullins, Shane Fitzgerald, Mossie Shine, Mike Shanahan, Brendan McCarthy, Michael Long, Darragh Treacy, Liam Kennedy, Cormac Mann, John Hayes, Lorcan Murphy, Alan Daly, Adam Lacey, Kevin Meade, Sean Long Sean Ryan, Seamus Mangan, Jack O’ Sullivan, Eoin McEnery, Dylan Moloney, James O’ Connor, Fionn Gleeson, Darragh McMahon, Shay Greaney, Luke Corrigan, Darragh Breen, Bryan Sheehan, Jack Mulqueen.

Fixtures:

St. Kierans 1.17 Ballylanders 0.12

The senior footballers returned to Ballyagran for their second championship game in five days on Saturday evening to take on Ballylanders in round 2. Both sides had contrasting fortunes in the opening round, we enjoyed a comprehensive victory over Galtee Gaels following a strong second half performance while Ballylanders suffered a heavy defeat to Kildimo /Pallaskenry in their first game. The two sides met in the opening round of the 2024 Championship, on that occasion we came away with an emphatic victory over the south Limerick side who would subsequently contest the relegation final for the third year in succession. Given it was our second game in five days and for dual players a third game in seven days there was always the concern that fatigue may slip due to the intensity of so many games in a short period of time. following their opening round defeat there was a clear determination in the south Limerick side to get their championship campaign back on track early on as they got the games opening score before a two pointer from John Hayes opened our account. Four two pointers from John Hayes and a Dylan Moloney goal would ultimately prove to be the catalyst for the victory on the night. The decisive moment of the game came on the 18th minute when Dylan Moloney got on the end of an Eoin McEnery pass to find the back of the net and put us into a five-point lead, 1.6 to 0.4. We would hold a four-point lead at the interval, 1.7 to 0.6 but the game was far from over as the southerners showed great resilience throughout the opening half and were it not for some wayward shooting they may well have gone in level at the break. Ballylanders began the second half brightly getting the opening score of the half. Midfield duo Darragh Treacy and Liam Kennedy soon began to impose their will on the game and became a vital source of possession. Sean Ryan made an immediate impact following his introduction and coolly slotted over a point to increase our lead once again. Up front Eoin McEnery’s piercing runs continued to give the Ballylanders defence headaches while Seamus Mangan began to thrive in the open spaces created up front and quickly opened his own account. Further scores, 2 two pointers from John Hayes and a Liam Kennedy point put us in the ascendency as the final whistle approached.  At the full time whistle we came away with an eight-point victory to pick up our second win of the campaign. We are in the exact same position as we were at this stage last season and there is much work to be done in our three remaining group games if we are to go a step further and advance from the group to the knockout stages of the championship this season. The senior footballers now enjoy a two week break in preparation for round 3 against Newcastlewest as we focus our attention on rounds 3 and 4 of the County Intermediate Hurling Championship.

Team vs Ballylanders: Donie Nolan, Mike Shanahan, Shane Fitzgerald, Mossie Shine, Sean Long, Brendan McCarthy, Michael Long, Darragh Treacy, Liam Kennedy, Cormac Mann, John Hayes, Eoin McEnery, Dylan Moloney, Adam Lacey, Kevin Meade, Sean Ryan, Seamus Mangan, Lorcan Murphy, Jack O’ Sullivan, Anthony Mullins, Conor McMahon, James O’ Connor, Fionn Gleeson, Darragh McMahon, Shay Greaney, Luke Corrigan, Darragh Breen, Bryan Sheehan, Jack Mulqueen, Alan Daly,

20 / 8 / 2025: County Minor ‘B’ Hurling Championship St. Kieran’s vs Belville Gaels in Ardagh @7pm

23 / 8 / 2025: County Intermediate Hurling Championship St. Kieran’s vs Pallasgreen in Adare @3pm

24 / 8 / 2025: County Junior ‘C’ Hurling Championship St. Kieran’s vs Adare in Ardagh @7pm

Results for Monday 18th August 2025 as follows. Jackpot €8200.00

Numbers Drawn: 9, 16, 17, 26. No winner, Lucky dips is as follows

€40 Luke Corrigan Ardagh

€40 Paul Daly Ardagh

€40 Kay Ryan Ardagh

€40 Paul Daly Ardagh

€40 Philomena O Connor Ardagh

Next Draw 25th August 2025 with a jackpot of €8300.00.