Senior
Despite losing 2-20 to 1-19 against Toomevara in the third round, we have qualified for the quarter-final. We finished on four points the same as Toomevara, but they claimed top spot on the head to head rule. Since 2015, we have only missed out on reaching the quarter final on two occasions. This is our record in those ten years: 2015 (semi-final), 2016 (quarter-final), 2017 (quarter-final), 2018 (quarter-final), 2019 (semi-final), 2020 (3rd in the group), 2021 (quarter-final), 2022 (County Champions), 2023 (4th in the group) and 2004 (quarter-final and hopefully two steps after that). In that period, we also reached 3 North finals 2016, 2018 (champions) and 2021.
Last Saturday, Toomevara played with the aid of the breeze in the first half and went 0-5 to 0-1 up after ten minutes. Three of their points came from frees, one from a sideline and another from a 65. MacDonaghs clawed their way into the game and were on level terms 0-5 each after 18 minutes. A trademark goal from Cian Darcy in the 21st minute put the Magpies in front for the first time in the game. At the interval, Toomevara led by 0-12 to 1-8. On the turnover, points from Niall O’Meara and Cian Darcy put Kilruane into the lead for the first time. Two minutes later, Toomevara seized the initiative once more when Darragh McCarthy converted a penalty. From there to the end, Toomevara kept their noses in front, and their second goal in the 54th minute gave them a five-point cushion. MacDonaghs fought hard to bridge the gap, but Toomevara pulled extra men back in defence and emerged deserving winners.
Qualifying from the “Group of Death” is a position we would have gladly accepted before a ball was pucked in the championship. We face a mammoth task in the quarter-final where we will be viewed as rank outsiders. It will be all hands to the pump in the quarter-final, so hopefully, all injuries will be cleared up during the next three weeks, and the management will be selecting from a full deck.
Team: Páidí Williams, James Cleary, Kieran Cahill, Eoin Hogan (0-1), Conor Austin, Craig Morgan, Aaron Morgan, Paddy Ryan, Jerome Cahill, Kian O’Kelly (0-1), Willie Cleary (0-13, 0-10 frees) Niall O’Meara (0-1), Brian O’Meara, Thomas Cleary (0-1), Cian Darcy (1-2). Subs: Darragh Peters, Mark O’Neill.
U19
A hard-earned 4-19 to 0-17 victory over Kiladangan in Puckane earned a spot in the semi-final. MacDonaghs had the aid of a strong diagonal wind in the first half, but it was Kiladangan who were first off the mark with two points. Kilruane soon settled, and with fifteen minutes gone, had edged into a 0-6 to 0-4 lead. In the 29th minute, Michael Cleary struck a crucial goal to help the Magpies into a 1-12 to 0-6 interval lead. Considering the strength of the wind, this was far from being an insurmountable deficit for the home side.
On the restart, Kiladangan cut the gap to seven with pointed pointed frees from Evan Sherlock (goalkeeper) and Jos Slattery. Kilruane responded with a goal from Michael Hennelly in the 36th minute when he cut in from the right wing to fire a daisy-cutter to the net. A flow of five pointed frees for Kiladangan, interrupted by a Michael Cleary free, left six points between the teams as we headed into the final quarter. Micheal Cleary bisected the posts with another free and a Brian O’Meara goal in the 48th minute snuffed out any chance of a Kiladangan revival. Down the home stretch, MacDonaghs controlled the game to advance to the semi-final.
Kilruane scored 4-14 from play with all the six forwards and one midfielder contributing to the tally. Kiladangan scored three points from play and fourteen from placed balls. Their keeper Evan Sherlock contributed 0-4 from long-range frees. The free count was 19 to 6 in favour of the home side.
Team: Tom Austin (Capt), Danny Cahalan, Cathal England, Cian Hayes, Paul Molloy, Eamonn Coonan, Shane Cleary, Cian Moyles, Tommy Burriss, Tommy O’Meara, Jack Mulcahy, Cillian Healy, Michael Hennelly, Brian O’Meara, Michael Cleary. Subs: Andrew Hayes, John Hannan.
Referee: Brendan Ryan (Ballina).
In the semi-final, we play Burgess in MacDonagh Park, Cloughjordan, this Wednesday, 28th August, at 6.30pm. Admission by Tap & Go.
U17
Two minutes into injury time, Shane Cleary rose highest in the MacDonaghs goalmouth to pluck a long-range Evan Sherlock free out of the clouds. As Shane burst out with the sliotar, referee Mark Gennery blew the final whistle, and the Magpies were heading into the semi-final after a 1-19 to 2-15 victory. With the breeze at their backs, Kilruane were in the ascendancy in the first ten minutes and led 0-6 to 0-1. A Charlie Kennedy goal in the 18th minute, followed by a Michael Cleary free, put MacDonaghs 1-8 to 0-4 ahead. An opportunist Kiladangan goal in the 26th minute gave them oxygen with the scoreboard reading 1-11 to 1-7 in favour of Kilruane at the break.
On the resumption, two Kiladangan points just left the Magpies with a two-point cushion, and it was game on. With 40 minutes gone, only the minimum separated the sides. Killruane weathered the Kiladangan storm, and with seven minutes left, had extended the advantage to five. A pointed Kiladangan free and an Evan Sherlock penalty in the 55th minute gave Kiladangan a lifeline and made for a tension-filled final few minutes as Kilruane held a one-point lead. The MacDonaghs defence stood firm in the closing minutes to deny Kiladangan the equaliser.
Team: Andrew Austin, Cathal McIntyre, Fearghal Doheny, Jack Quinlisk, Paul Molloy, Shane Cleary, Cormac Gaynor, Tommy Burriss, Cormac Kennedy (0-2), Tommy O’Meara (0-2), Johnny Naughnane (0-1), Micheal Cleary (0-8, 0-6 frees), Charlie Kennedy (1-4), Cillian Healy (0-1), Ray Quinlivan. Subs: Michael Hennelly (0-1), Hugo Healy.
On Monday evening, a place in the final was booked with a 3-10 to1-9 victory over Nenagh in Toomevara. Full report next week.
U15
In the ‘A’ semi-final, we play Roscrea this Thursday, 29th August, in Toomevara, at 6.30pm. Admission is by Tap & Go. Our second team gave an impressive performance away to Durlas Óg in the fourth round of the ‘C’ championship. In wet and windy conditions, they came out the wrong side of a 1-7 to 0-5 scoreline.
Team: Shane O’Meara, Robert Cleary, Conor McGrath, Ronan Hayes, Sean Whelan, Odhran Goulding, Shane Carroll, Dylan Hussey Sheahan, Arman Khan Wahid, Rory McLoughney, Emmet Dwyer (0-1), Harry Gannon, James Last, Ciaran Foote (0-4, 0-3 frees), Daniel O’Brien. Subs: Colin Gaynor, Cian O’Looney.
In the fifth round, we are at home to Cashel this Sunday, 1st September, at 11.00am.
U13
In the ‘C’ semi-final, we lost 4-3 to 4-2 against Borrisokane in Ballinderry. This was a tremendous performance by our second team, which has improved throughout the championship.
Inter County
Tommy O’Meara and Cormac Kennedy lined out with the Tipperary U16 team that lost to Galway and Cork. Dara Gaynor and Hugo Healy played on the Tipperary U15 team, who claimed the Arrabawn Cup with a 6-12 to 4-3 victory over Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. Mark Cleary, Shane O’Meara, Senan O’Leary, Tadhg Teefey, Lukah Williams and Tarla Doris were part of the North Tipperary U14 squad that won the Sonny Walsh Tournament in UL.
Community Games
Congratulations to the Cloughjordan Community Games U12 Girls soccer team and to the U11 Mixed Tag rugby team who won their respective All-Ireland finals in Carlow.
Tipperary Draw
Congratulations to Phil Power, Templemore Road, Cloughjordan, who won €500 and to John Conroy, Ballinamurra, who won €300 in the monthly Draw.
Lotto
The jackpot stands at €5,000. Tickets are available from the usual outlets, or you can play on Club Spot. Thanks for your continued support.
Bingo
The weekly Bingo session continues on Saturday night in the Fr. O’Meara Centre, Kilruane at 8.00pm. The jackpot is now a very attractive €1,800.
Sympathy
The club extends sympathy to: the family of the late Mary Hennelly (née Tanner), Townfields and formerly Emill, Cloughjordan; the family of the late Michael Ryan, Brookeville Green, Nenagh; and to the family of the late Mary Kenny (née Darcy), Loughawn, Dunkerrin.
