Under 21
The 0-14 to 0-10 loss to a better balanced Toomevara in the North final brings the playing season to a close. It was a disappointing conclusion to a great year. Going into the game with Jerome Cahill and Darragh Peters carrying injuries was always going to make the task more difficult. A tremendous first twenty minutes put MacDonaghs in the driving seat as they led by 0-8 to 0-0. However, before the interval Toomevara got a foothold in the game and only trailed by six points at the break. When James Cleary slotted over a point on the resumption it looked like the first half pattern was going to be replicated. That was to be the last score for the MacDonaghs as Toomevara inched their way back into the contest. They began to dominate in most sectors of the field and they emerged deserving winners.
Team: Niall Shinners, Arran Conroy, Darragh Peters, Conor Lillis, Sean McAdams, Craig Morgan, Mark O’Neill, James Cleary (0-1), Martin Grace, Kian O’Kelly, Cian Darcy (0-8, 0-5 from frees, Jerome Cahill (0-1), Kevin Shinners, Luke Dervan and Cormac Mannion. Subs: Kevin Oakley, Tom Dooley and Devlin Courtney.
Thanks to the players, the management team of Brian O’Meara, Tom Killackey and Ned Darcy & June Whelan (First Aid) for all their efforts during the year. Best of luck to Toomevara in the County championship.
Cumann na mBunscol
Congratulations to Cloughjordan Schools who captured the County E football title with a 5-3 to 2-3 victory over Thomastown N.S. in Semple Stadium.
Freshers League
Congratulations to Kevin Oakley who captained GMIT to win their first ever Freshers Hurling League Title. Kevin lined out at corner-back in the 4-16 to 2-12 victory over Trinity.
AGM
The Annual General Meeting will take place in the Clubroom on this Friday, 30th November at 8.00pm. It will be preceded by Mass for deceased members in Cloughjordan Church at 7.30pm. This is an opportunity for our players and members to have an influence on club policy. Everybody’s views and opinions are welcome. All our supporters and players are asked to make a special effort to attend.
Dinner Dance
Ashley Park House will be the venue for the Dinner Dance on Friday, 18th January.
GAA Quiz
Congratulations to the Ardcroney N.S. team of Brian O’Meara, Shane Cleary, Michael Cleary and Billy O’Brien who qualified for the County final of the GAA Schools Quiz. They tied for first place with Borrisoleigh in the North final in the Thomas MacDonagh Complex but lost out by one mark after three round of tie-break questions. The County final takes place in Thurles on Sunday evening.
Laochra Gael
Congratulations to John Kelly, Cappawhite who was one of the Laochra Gael recipients in Thurles on Sunday. John played with Kilruane MacDonaghs in the 1973 North and County senior finals.
Family Table Quiz
A Table Quiz in aid of “Ray of Sunshine Foundation” (Niall O’Meara) and “Pieta House & Living Links” (Seamus Hennessy) in the MacDonagh Complex on Saturday, 1st December at 7.30pm. €20 per table. Raffle prizes include a Weekend Away. Niall is travelling to Mombasa in Keyna from 27th December to 7th January to work with the “Ray of Sunshine Foundation.”
Book Launch
Cloughjordan Heritage Volume X will be launched on Friday, 7th December in the MacDonagh Museum at 8.00pm by Fr Sean Dwan from Kilruane.There are plenty of GAA related items featured in the book. There is a profile of Tom McLoughney and a profile of William Spain from Moanfin. William Spain was the first player to win All-Ireland hurling and football medals. Photographs and match reports of the four county finals won by Ardcroney N.S. this year are also included in the book. The story of the three Dwan brothers from Kilruane who joined the Christian Brothers is also featured. The contribution of Brother Brendan Dwan to the promotion of hurling in Adare and the role he played in the winning of their first county senior title by Adare in 2002 is highlighted. Former Kilruane MacDonaghs under 21 hurler Stephen Starr, a journalist, who has reported from war-torn Syria and Turkey writes about his hurling days with Kilruane MacDonaghs and his work as a journalist around the world.
Sympathy
The club extends sympathy to Christine Starr, Ardcroney on the death of her brother Frank Gleeson, Borrisokane.
