Senior Hurling
The senior hurlers open their championship campaign with a game against Moneygall in Dolla on this Saturday at 3.30pm. The team has prepared well and although a number of players are ruled out through injury a big performance is expected. Supporters are urged to travel to Dolla and get behind the team.
Féile
The U14 hurlers qualified for the North Féile Final with a 1-9 to 1-0 home victory against Toomevara. The visitors won the toss and to nobody’s surprise they took advantage of the breeze. However, it was MacDonaghs who were quickly into their stride. Playing our traditional direct hurling, with the judicious use of the ground ball, they took the game to their opponents. Ben Healy was a revelation in the number fourteen shirt, while Craig Morgan led the attack with great drive and determination at centre-forward. At the interval MacDonaghs weren’t flattered by the 1-4 to 1-0 lead. In the second half the Kilruane defence remained solid and the forwards tacked on five more points to clinch a place in the final against Borrisokane. Team: Mark O’Neill, Cian Spillane, Oisín O’Meara, Eoghan Mulcahy, Jack Dwan, Jerome Cahill, Nathan Ryan, Tommy Dooley, Jake O’Kelly, Kian O’Kelly, Craig Morgan (0-6), Devlin Courtney (0-1), Ben Healy (1-1) and Luke Dervan. Subs: Jack Dunne, Dylan Moran, Seamus O’Meara and Alan Spain.
Under 16
A goal in added time from Cormac Mannion snatched victory for the U16 footballers against a very useful Newport side in MacDonagh Park on a 3-1 to 1-6 scoreline. Having played into the icy wind in the first half, the home side trailed by three points at the break, with the score 1-3 to 1-0 in favour of the visitors. MacDonaghs had spurned four gilt edged goal chances, but eventually found the net after Cian Darcy had passed to Sean Quinlan who raised the green flag. On the resumption, despite copious possession and a second goal from Rory McCarthy, they seemed destined for disappointment until the late intervention from Cormac Mannion. Team: Kevin Shinners, Arran Conroy, Brendan McAdams, Paul Guidera, Martin Grace, Kieran Brereton, Jerome Cahill, Cian Darcy, James Cleary, Conor Lillis, Rory McCarthy (1-0), Niall Shinners (0-1), Tom Dooley, Darragh Peters and Sean Quinlan (1-0). Subs: Cormac Mannion (1-0) and Ben Healy. On next Monday night they are away to Borrisokane at 6.30pm.
Minor Football
The minor footballers lost out to a sharper Shannon Rovers Gaels team in MacDonagh Park on a 2-8 to 0-8 scoreline. The visitors had first use of the stiff breeze and enjoyed a distinct territorial advantage in the opening half. It took fifteen minutes for MacDonaghs to register their first point, when Finnian Mannion struck a sweet score. Bob Dooley added another white flag to reduce the deficit to three. However, in the seventeenth minute indecision in the home defence allowed Rovers in for a goal. When referee TP O’Sullivan brought the half to a close, the scoreboard read 1-7 to 0-3 in favour of the Shannonsiders. Cian Darcy was introduced at interval and he brought greater drive and urgency to the attack. Kilruane began the second half impressively, with Bob Dooley slotting over a point from a free and bisecting the posts with an effort from play. Disaster then struck for MacDonaghs. An innocuous ball was fumbled on the line by a defender and in the ensuing bout of play a penalty was conceded. This was duly converted and an eight point gap was opened up. The home team kept plugging away to the end, but victory went to the better side. Team: Cormac Boyle, Mark Tierney, Brendan McAdams, Conor Doheny, Kieran Brereton, Tomás Hogan (0-1), Caolainn Conroy, Stephen Cleary, Conor Cleary, Bob Dooley (0-3), Abhain Coleman, Kieran Lillis, Darragh Peters (0-1), Finnian Mannion (0-1) and Conor Austin (0-1). Subs: Cian Darcy, Ciarán Spillane, James Cleary (0-1) and Sean Cleary.
Peil na nOg
The U14 footballers made their exit from Peil na nÓg when they lost out to Inane Rovers in the quarter-final in MacDonagh Park on a 3-13 to 2-6 scoreline. With a stiff Siberian wind blowing into the scoreboard end, the toss was always going to be decisive. Unfortunately, captain Nathan Ryan called incorrectly and it was no surprise that the Roscrea side took advantage of the elements. MacDonaghs began brightly and dominated the opening minutes, with Luke Dervan kicking the first point of the game. Inane drew level and soon added the first of their three goals. They took a firm grip on the game for the remainder of the half. The home side made a burst before the interval to leave the score 3-7 to 0-4. With the wind at their backs MacDonaghs took the game to their opponents and although they outscored Inane 2-2 to 0-6 in the second half, the result was never in doubt. Team: Jack Dunne, Cian Spillane, Oisín O’Meara, Eoghan Mulcahy, Eoin England, Jerome Cahill, Sean McAdams, Tommy Dooley (1-0), Nathan Ryan, Alan Spain, Craig Morgan, Mark O’Neill, Owen Usman, Ben Healy (1-3) and Luke Dervan (0-1). Subs: Devlin Courtney, Kevin Oakley, Jack Dwan, Seamus O’Meara, Patrick Hayes and Kian O’Kelly.
Under 12
Both of our U12 football teams are at home to Nenagh on this Friday evening at 6.30pm.
Membership
The club would like to thank all who have renewed their membership. The senior panel led by example with a 100% compliance. A record number of non players have paid their membership for 2013 and the club appreciates this very positive response. All paid up members should be in possession of a Kilruane MacDonaghs membership card which will entitle you to discount in the Sportsman’s Dream, The Zip Yard, Jim McLoughneys, JKCS and Tadhg Flahertys. All paid up supporters and committee members will be put on Text List. (In cases where husband and wife are members, only one text is sent in order to minimise costs.) Those on the list receive the Weekly Lotto results and fixture reminders. If you haven’t received your membership card or want to be put on Text List contact Gilbert Williams @ 087-2176452.
Lotto
The Lotto Jackpot now stands at a very attractive €5,000. Tickets cost €2 and three are on offer for €5. A growing number of supporters are now availing of the facility to play online on the Kilruane MacDonaghs website. Next week’s draw is in the Corner House.
Committee Meeting
The monthly meeting of the club committee will be held on Thursday April 25th at 8.30pm.
Sympathy
Sympathy is extended to the Heffernan family Ardcroney on the death of Sheila Heffernan and to the Walsh family Lisgarode on the death of Bridget Fogarty. The late Bridget was mother of Margaret Walsh
