Senior Hurling
The senior hurlers kept their championship aspirations alive when they overcame Kildangan on a 2-16 to 0-17 scoreline in MacDonagh Park Nenagh. Kildangan had first use of the strong diagonal wind and they settled quickly. They went four points ahead but gradually MacDonaghs found their feet. Shane Quinlan burst through for a goal and this helped to drive Kilruane on. A feature of the game was that Kildangan were double marking Brian O’Meara, deploying Brian Kelly in front of the full back. It took Kilruane a little while to adjust and counteract this tactic. At the break the score was 0-12 to 1-6 in favour of Kildangan. However, one of Kildangan’s points was clearly wide but Kilruane refused to let this error derail their efforts.
Considering the strength of the wind, MacDonaghs were in a reasonable position. The gap was reduced to two points and then MacDonaghs had a major let off. Ruairi Gleeson blasted a penalty over the bar as the Kilruane team and supporters heaved a collective sigh of relief. This reprieve galvanised MacDonaghs into action and Brian O’Meara bulldozed his way through the Kildangan defence and rifled the sliotar past Cian Hayes. The boys in black and white received a further boost when Seamus Hennessy entered the fray at corner-forward in the forty fourth minute. His possible participation had been a closely guarded secret by the team management and not even his colleagues knew that he was chomping at the bit for action. Seamus made an immediate impression, slotting over two points and delivering the coup de grace when he fired over a magnificent line ball from under the stand. Kildangan kept plugging away for a goal but disciplined defensive work kept them at bay. Niall O’Meara was moved back to wing back for the final five minutes to help shore up the rearguard. Team: Ger Corcoran, Paudie Kelly, Murty Walsh, Eanna Hogan, Willie Cleary, Justin Cahill, Jack Peters, Kevin Quinlan, Kevin Ryan (0-2), Thomas Cleary (0-1), Niall O’Meara, Jonathan Cahill (0-1), Shane Quinlan (1-0), Brian O’Meara (1-9 incl 0-5 from frees) and Mikey Costello. Subs: Seamus Hennessy (0-3 incl 0-1 from line ball) and Eoin Williams.
Féile
The U-14 hurlers qualified for the county Féile final when they got the better of St. Marys Clonmel on a 3-5 to 1- 4 scoreline. MacDonaghs played with the wind in the first half and goals from Jerome Cahill (30m free) and Kevin Shinners helped them into an eight point interval lead, with the score 2-3 to 0-1. It was all hands to the pump in the second half as St. Marys were backed by the elements. Kilruane were reduced to fourteen players with ten minutes left and the south champions reduced the deficit to three points. However, Kilruane defended resolutely and when Cian Darcy galloped from midfield and crashed the sliotar to the net the place in the final was sealed. Unfortunately, the victory was achieved at a cost as influential midfielder Jerome Cahill was ruled out of the final with a broken finger. Team: Mark O’Neill, Eoghan Mulcahy, Arran Conroy, Liam Hannon, Tommy Dooley, Cian Darcy (1-2), Craig Morgan, Jerome Cahill (1-0), Ben Healy, John Blagdon, Martin Grace (0-1), Kevin Shinners, Rory McCarthy (0-1) and Conor Lillis. Sub: Sean McAdams.
Schools Hurling
Both Ardcroney N.S. and Kilruane N.S. qualified for the next stage of the U-11 championship. Ardcroney had two hard fought wins against Gaelscoil and Lissenhall. Panel: Cian Spillane, Kian O’Kelly, Conor Ryan, Matthew Spain, Colm Cleary, Barry Shanahan, Devlin Courtney, Oisín Carroll, Josh Geoghegan, Padraig Coonan, Keelan McGrath, Daniel Costello and Matthew Hodgins Kilruane overcame Templetuohy on a 3-3 to 2-3 scoreline but lost out to Drom on a 1-3 to 0-3 scoreline. Dylan Moran was outstanding in both games and was the best player on view at the blitz. Panel: Conor Quinlan, Jack Dunne, Louis Kennedy, Dylan Moran, Matthew Moyles, Sam Darcy, Aaron Morgan, James Loughnane and Rory Grace.
Community Games
The U-11 hurlers play Nenagh in the Community Games in MacDonagh Park on this Thursday at 7.00pm.
Junior A Hurling
The junior A hurlers take on Kildangan in Puckane on this Saturday evening at 6.30pm.
U-8 Hurling
The U-8 hurlers participated in the Blitz in Dr. Morris Park last Saturday. The first team had victories against Borris-Ileigh and Nenagh and lost out to Portroe. The second team drew with Clonakenny and Moyne and lost to Moycarkey.
Munster Final
Kieran Lillis lined out at mid-field on the Nenagh Vocational School which defeated Boherbee in the Munster junior hurling final. Oisín O’Meara was also on the panel.
U-16 Football
The U-16 footballers made their exit from the championship when they lost out to Silvermines in Dolla in the quarter-final on a 0-13 to 0-8 scoreline. They had to field without Cian Darcy and Kieran Brereton who were unavailable MacDonaghs made a sluggish start and the home team was dominant in the opening half. At the interval the score was 0-7 to 0-3 in favour of Silvermines. Only for a number of vital saves by goalkeeper Cormac Boyle, the situation could have been worse. In the third quarter Kilruane were on top but could get no closer than three points. Despite an improved second half performance by MacDonaghs, the honours rested with the better side. Team: Cormac Boyle, Brendan McAdams, Jack Farrell, Willie Ryan, Caolainn Conroy, Darragh Peters, Ciarán Spillane, James Cleary, Kieran Lillis, Tom Dooley, Rory McCarthy (0-1), Conor Doheny (0-4) ), Niall Shinners (0-1), Conor Kelly and Conor Lillis (0-1). Subs: Martin Grace and Paul Guidera (0-1). Attention now switches to the hurling championship which commences in July.
Premier 12s Football
In Group 4 the second U-12 football team lost out to Toomevara in MacDonagh Park on a 4-4 to 1-1 scoreline. Toomevara always had the edge in this game and were deserving winners. There were impressive displays for MacDonaghs from Cian Spillane, David Sullivan, Kieran Spain and Jack Dawn. Team: Eoin England, David Sullivan, Cian Spillane, Kieran Spain, Daniel Costello, Conor Quinlan, Joseph Donnelly, Ben Cahalan, Jack Dwan (1-1) and Paidí Williams.
Juvenile Meeting
A meeting of the juvenile committee will be held in the clubroom on this Thursday at 8.30pm. A full attendance of all juvenile selectors is expected.
Summer Camp
The annual Kellogs Summer Camp takes place in MacDonagh Park, July 2nd to July 6th. The cost is €55 for first child, €45 for second child and €40 for third and subsequent children. Application forms will be distributed through the local primary schools. Last year there was a record attendance of 119 and organisers are hoping to better that figure in 2012.
Golden Jubilee
The club would like to congratulate Fr. Enda Burke on the Golden Jubilee of his ordination. Fr. Burke is one of our joint presidents.
County Draw
The twenty fifth anniversary County Draw has been launched. There is a total prize fund of half a million euro, including twenty five cars. Promoters will be canvassing the parish in an effort to enlist all existing subscribers and to recruit new members for the biggest ever County Draw.
MacDonagh Festival
The annual Thomas MacDonagh festival takes place on the weekend of May 4th to 7th. Cloughjordan Heritage Vol V11 will be launched on Friday May 7th in the clubroom at 8.00pm. This book contains a wealth of historical material, as well as an article on Eamon O’Shea and profiles of the All-Ireland champions of 1986. The book will be launched by Ger McCarthy, captain of the Kilruane MacDonaghs senior team which defeated Toomevara in the 1959 North final. The All-Ireland minor football trophy will be on display that night. On Monday May 7th the final of the U-14 Billy O’Meara tournament will take place in MacDonagh Park at 7.00pm.
Sympathy
The club would like to extend its sympathy to the family of the late Mick Cleary Ballycapple who died in Dublin. Mick lined out at left-wing back on the Kilruane MacDonaghs juvenile team which won the 1951 North final. This team recently celebrated the golden jubilee of this victory at a function in the Thomas MacDonagh Complex. Mick was in attendance and thoroughly enjoyed meeting all his former colleagues. Mick is younger brother of our club president Tom Cleary and is son of Con Cleary who played on the De Wets team, which won the North junior championship in 1913. After primary school Mick went to Pallaskenry College and then on to Oatlands College in Dublin. He actually played in a Leinster Schools football final with Oatlands. Mick won a scholarship to UCD, then worked as a farm manager, before joining the ACC. He was then appointed Education Officer for Macra na Tuaithe, which is now known as Foroige, and achieved national prominence with his work for both organisations. Mick and his family have always been very involved with the Kilmacud Crokes club in Dublin and in 2005 he was honoured with life membership of the Crokes. In 1995, his son Con won an All-Ireland club football medal as Crokes overcame Bellaghy of Derry and he also captained them to the county final victory in 1998. Mick, his wife Ena and family always looked after us very well at the All-Ireland Sevens. The club would also like to extend its sympathy to county secretary Tim Floyd and the Floyd family on the death of Thomas Floyd Birdhill.
