Senior
MacDonaghs travel to Templemore on Sunday to play JK Brackens in the third round of the County League at 2.00pm.
Junior
In the opening round of the championship MacDonaghs will take on Nenagh Éire Óg on the weekend of 27th May.
Under 16
In the semi-final of the ‘A’ football championship MacDonaghs lost 1-16 to 1-6 to a very good Ballina side in MacDonagh Park. Although Nathan Lynch scored a goal direct from the throw-in, the visitors had wrestled control by the interval and had a three-point lead. MacDonaghs battled to the end but never threatened to reel in Ballina. Best wishes to Ballina in the final. Team: Kevin McDonald, Eoin O’Meara, Shane Whelan, Eoin Carroll, Niosa Minogue, David O’Sullivan, Colm Cleary, Páidí Williams, James Loughnane, Oisín Carroll, Nathan Lynch, Padraic Coonan, Cillian O’Neill Reidy, Aaron Morgan, and Cian White. Sub: Oisín Williams.
Under 12
Kilruane MacDonaghs (Dubh) claimed the ‘D’ football title with an 8-4 to 2-7 victory over Nenagh Éire Óg in Templederry. This is a 9-a-side competition but both sides sensibly decided to play 11-a-side with unlimited substation. This ensured that every member of the panel got ample game time in the final. First use of the strong wind proved to be the deciding factor as MacDonaghs built up a healthy 6-4 to 0-0 interval lead. Nenagh thundered into the game in the second half but had too much ground to make up. After the game Philip Delaney, secretary of North Tipperary Coiste na nÓg, presented the trophy to captain Cillian Healy. Congratulations to players and coaches and thanks to Nenagh for a tremendous game. Panel: Donnacha O’Meara, Darragh White, Cathal McIntyre, Fearghal Doheny, Cillian Healy (0-1) William Jones, Tommy Burriss (1-0), Shane Cleary (0-2), Dara O’Looney, Adam Carroll, Michael Cleary (4-1), Jack Quinlisk, Thomas O’Brien (2-0) and Colin Doris (1-0). Zack Clarke, Cormac Gaynor Cillian Franks were injured and unable to play while Michael Hennelly was on holidays
Community Games
In a cracking North hurling final our hurling team lost 4-2 to 2-2 against Nenagh in MacDonagh Park. In front of a large crowd MacDonaghs led by a point at the interval but Nenagh shaded the second half to book their passage into the county final. We wish them well in the decider.
Under 10
On last Saturday a party of twenty-two players headed to Puckane for a North Tipperary Blitz. We fielded two teams, each playing three games in glorious sunshine.
Tipperary Draw
The first draw takes place on this Friday, 25th May so supporters are still in time to make the deadline. The club is making a major drive to promote the Tipperary Draw. We hope that existing members in the draw will renew their subscription and we will be carrying out a forensic canvass of the parish to enlist new clients. With a total prize fund of €500,000 and thirty prizes each month this draw represents great value for an investment of €100.
Féile
On this Sunday, 13th May the juvenile committee is organising a dance in the Thomas MacDonagh Complex. Music is by Declan Aungier and dancing is from 9.00pm to 12.00. Tickets, costing €10, are available from parents or any member of the juvenile committee. All proceeds go to the Féile fund.
Cúl Camp
The annual Kellogg’s Cúl Camp is scheduled for 2nd to 6th July in MacDonagh Park. In 2017 we had a record attendance of 199. We are encouraging all parents to book their children on www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie. Last year 66% of participants were booked online. To secure a place for this year’s Camp parents should book immediately as the committee has decided to limit the capacity to 200. Registration will close on Thursday, 28th June and under no circumstances will bookings be accepted after that date.
Joe Burns RIP
Supporters travelling from Cloughjordan to Nenagh for matches involving MacDonaghs were never in doubt where the border was as the black and white flag flew at the house of Joe Burns in Moanfin, the last homestead in parish before the frontier was crossed. Joe literally nailed his colours to the mast as he proudly proclaimed his allegiance for all to see. He was born in the Windmill, Cloughjordan and first came to prominence as a hurler in 1952 when he played midfield on the MacDonaghs minor team that overcame Éire Óg to claim the club’s first divisional title in that grade with a 5-5 to 3-3 victory. Two years later Joe lined out at corner-forward on the junior team that got the better of Kilcommon in the final in Nenagh with a decisive 8-6 to 1-2 triumph. Joe notched a goal and the Guardian report stated that he was one of the players that “showed up well.” His brother Billy was also on that successful side. In 1956 Joe collected his second divisional junior medal as MacDonaghs prevailed against Toomevara in the North final. In his now customary right corner-forward berth, the Guardian report said that he was one of the few MaDonaghs forwards that “impressed” in that 2-5 to 3-1 victory.
In 1960 Joe pocketed his third North junior medal when he scored four goals in the victory over Ballinahinch in the decider and added a county medal in the memorable 3-2 to 2-2 triumph over Moycarkey Borris, raising a crucial green flag in the first half. In both finals Joe played in his usual role at top of the left. The Tipperary Star report names Joe as one of MacDonaghs “men of the match.” In 1962 he wore the number fifteen shirt once more as MacDonaghs suffered an agonising 2-6 to 1-8 loss against Moneygall in the North intermediate final. Joe’s last championship game for MacDonaghs was in 1970 with the No 2 junior hurling team that lost 8-5 to 4-0 in MacDonagh Park, Cloughjordan. In that year the club fielded two teams in the junior — there was no junior ‘B’ championship in that period. Joe spent most of his working life in Nenagh railway station but he also had spells as a C.I.E. employee in Cloughjordan, Ballybrophy and Templemore, throwing his lot in with the Drom & Inch club during that period. Joe was no fair-weather supporter and backed the Magpies to the hilt through thick and thin. He was one of the best known characters in the parish who always had a friendly word for everybody. Joe participated in many a guard of honour so it was appropriate that his coffin was draped in the black and white and club members, together with members of Ballymackey FC, flanked the funeral cortege on the journey to his final place of rest in Grawn cemetery. To his wife Peggy, son Tom, daughter Theresa, sister Sadie and extended family sympathy is extended. Solas na bhFlaitheas ar a anam uasal.
