Schools Football
Congratulations to Ardconey N.S. on winning the North Final by overcoming Borrisoleigh N.S. in Bishop Quinlan Park on a 6-3 to 2-3 scoreline. This was Ardcroney’s first victory in football to add to their two divisional hurling championships and one county title.
Senior Football
Seamus Hennessy lined out at full forward and Niall O’Meara was at centre-back on the Thomas MacDonaghs team which defeated Annacarty in the county quarter-final replay on a 0-10 to 0-7 scoreline, under lights in Templetuohy. Seamus notched a point. Diarmuid Cahill and Declan Barrett were also on the panel. In the semi-final they overcame Killenaule in Templemore on a 1- 5 to 0-6 scoreline. Injury ruled Niall O’Meara out of the Killenaule game with and he faces a race against time to be fit for the county final next Sunday against Clonmel Commercials in Semple Stadium.
Committee Meeting
The monthly meeting of the committee will be held in the clubroom on this Friday November 2nd at 8.00pm. All committee members are asked to attend.
AGM
The Annual General Meeting will be held in the clubroom on Friday December 7th at 8.00pm. It will be preceded by Mass for deceased members in Cloughjordan Church at 7.30pm.
Official Opening
Roche Williams, one of our Vice- Presidents, officially opened the new extension to St. Michael’s National School Cloughjordan. Roche was principal in the school from 1954 to 1993 and his many friends are delighted to see him out and about again after a recent illness.
Cumann na Sean Ghael
The annual Cumann na Sean Ghael awards will be presented in the Dome Semple Stadium on Sunday November 18th at 4.15pm. Former Munster Council chairman Jimmy Gorman will be the guest of honour. A Kilruane MacDonaghs clubman will be honoured and join former winners Mick O’Meara (R.I.P.), Jimmy Gibson (R.I.P.), Roche Williams, Michael Banaghan and Tom Cleary. The identity of the recipient will be revealed next week.
Lotto
The Lotto Jackpot stands at €2,900. Thanks to our subscribers and promoters for your continued loyalty and support. It is very much appreciated. A growing number of our supporters in England, U.S.A. and Australia are playing online and last week we had our first player from Cuba. We encourage all parish exiles to log on to the website and join the Lotto.
County Draw
Promoters and subscribers are reminded that with the A.G.M. looming all County Draw payments should be brought up to date. Anyone who would like to join the draw can do so at any time. The next draw is on this Friday.
County Bord na nÓg Convention
The County Bord na nÓg Convention will be held on Tuesday December 4th.
North Convention
The North Board Convention will be held on Monday December 10th.
Sports Workshop
On Wednesday November 7th the first event in the Sports Workshop Series will take place in LIT Thurles at 7.30 pm. It will feature a “Motivation in Sport” workshop by Eamon O’Shea, Tipperary hurling manager and a ”Legal Responsibilities of Clubs and their Officers” workshop by Shane O’Neill, solicitor and member of Na Piarsaigh. The workshops are free.
1962 Juvenile Team
Last week’s notes included The Guardian report on the 1962 juvenile victory. The report is also on the website, under the heading articles, and includes a photo of the team.
Sympathy
Sympathy is extended to John Wilde Cloughjordan on the death of his wife Caroline and to the family of the late Maud Coughlan Cloughjordan.
Forty Years Ago
In 1972 Kilruane MacDonaghs won the North Tipperary U-21 hurling championship for the first time. This is The Guardian report:
Hennessy-Williams Scoring Machine Was Too Much For Roscrea
Six Points Margin Did Not Flatter Kilruane
Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-15 Roscrea 2-9
Kilruane senior hurlers may have departed the scene for this year, but seldom has a club shown such potential as the MacDonaghs club, as evidenced in the performance of their U-21 side in taking the Hugh Burke trophy for the first time by disposing of Roscrea in Nenagh on Saturday evening. The score indicates a close game but no one could deny the absolute supremacy of the victors who hurled with superb confidence and literally put their opponents in the shade.
The first half in particular saw as brilliant a performance as has been seen by a team in any grade for a long time by the Kilruane boys who just could do no wrong. Imbued with an enthusiasm that bordered on the fanatical, they knuckled into their task with complete and utter dedication and shot point after point to chalk a half-time lead of 2-12 to 1-6.
There was some great hurling in this period. Kilruane, on top in defence and mid-field, set the Roscrea defence a merry dance and for sheer accuracy this was a half that had to be seen to be believed. There wasn’t a wide in the game for 25 minutes and players, Roscrea boys too, whenever they shot, they shot direct and from seemingly impossible angles, the ball glided between the posts. What a pity the contestants in Sunday’s All-Ireland football final were not there to see how accurate this shooting was.
In the closing five minutes of the half, with Kilruane increasing their supremacy, they shot three wides and for the second half each side had seven.
At no stage did Roscrea ever look like catching their opponents who had strength, power and ability that outmatched the Roscrea boys all over. Indeed but for some marvellous saves between the posts by Tadhg Murphy, Roscrea would have been routed entirely but even Tadhg and his brilliance couldn’t stem the tide of scores that came especially from Gilbert Williams, outstanding from placed balls, and Seamus Hennessy, an opportunist if ever there was one. This pair between them notched 1-12 of Kilruane’s total and with Sean O’Meara at mid-field using his weight and strength to good advantage, the Kilruane attack generally was given a plentiful supply of the ball.
Another Title
So Kilruane have added another title to their minor hurling and football titles and sharing in all three were Jim O’Meara, Seamus Hennessy, Dinny Cahill, Mackey Waters and Joe Hutchinson. The future must indeed be bright for the club.
The fine hurling of the first half was not maintained thereafter. Kilruane still held the advantage and Roscrea could only add three points to their half-time total until the closing minute when midfielder Jody Spooner tapped home a goal which came after a Joe Cunningham free.
For Roscrea the most disappointing aspect of the game was the failure of players like Spooner, Cunningham and other seniors such as Michael Shanahan and Tom Tynan to reach the form they are capable of reaching. Cunningham was his side’s best forward but his contribution, apart from frees, was not what one has come to expect from him, and young Jim O’Meara kept a very tight rein on him throughout. Jody Spooner was never happy at mid-field where Sean O’Meara and Tom Killackey reigned supreme. Kilruane were very solid and unyielding in defence with a particularly fine performance coming from centre-back Denis O’Meara. Winger Michael Waters was also very sound with the inside trio giving Joe Hutchinson, between the posts, excellent cover. If one could find fault with the inside line, it might be stated that much of the tackling was a bit robust and they could have achieved their aims without a lot of the carry on they indulged in.
Captain’s Part
In Sean O’Meara, Kilruane had a player whose experience and strength meant a great deal. He surely played a captain’s part with his long darting runs up field that caused untold havoc. Gilbert Williams was elusive and score conscious with the light Seamus Hennessy on the wing sending over scores at will. Dinny Cahill, another minor, was also impressive, and Jim Williams, though not figuring in the scoring did a lot of hard work that paid off.
Roscrea can thank the brilliance of Tadhg Murphy for the fact that only six points separated the sides in the end. In front of him, a hesitant defence was always at sea and only flashes of sound hurling came from Sean Hogan, Cronan Hogan, and Tom Tynan. In attack Joe Cunningham received most support from Joe Fitzgerald and Joe Roland.
In the 2nd and 3rd minutes Gilbert Williams pointed two Kilruane frees and Dinny Cahill another in the 4m. In Roscrea’s first attack, they were awarded a free which Joe Cunningham converted but Gilbert Williams made no mistake either with a free at the other end in the 8th minute. Kilruane had much the better of exchanges but when Roscrea attacked they looked dangerous and the hard tackling Kilruane defence was prone to fouling which Joe Cunningham capitalised upon. Cunningham pointed a free after nine minutes and after Gilbert Williams had pointed from play for Kilruane, Joe Fitzgerald had Roscrea’s first score from play in the 12th minute. Tadhg Murphy was called upon to make a truly brilliant save from Williams a minute later and when the ball was scrambled away Mackey Waters picked it up and pointed. Joe Cunningham and Seamus Hennessy swopped points as the second quarter approached and then Sean O’Meara picked up a loose ball, seemed to fumble it, but raced away to shoot home a fine goal. Roscrea replied with a Michael Shanahan point.
Tails Up
Kilruane, now with their tails up, continued to press and without reply points followed from Gilbert Williams (2), Seamus Hennessy and Dinny Cahill. Joe Cunningham reduced the arrears to eight points with a point from a free, but Hennessy was on the mark at the other end to send over once more. Roscrea, as half-time approached, went all out and Joe Cunningham goaled from a close in free but as play moved up to the other end , Seamus Hennessy replied with another goal, to leave Kilruane ahead 2-12 to 1-6 at the interval.
Eight minutes of the second half elapsed without a score and then Roscrea’s Peadar Queally pointed. Joe Cunningham’s attempted goal from a close in free was thwarted, the ball glancing off a defender’s stick and over the bar. In the 15th minute Seamus Hennessy pointed a free and two points again followed from this fine sticksman, the sequence being interrupted by a Joe Roland point.
Dinny Cahill placed Jim Williams who had his attempt at goal saved in brilliant fashion by Tadhg Murphy with the ball eventually going out for a seventy. Denis O’Meara’s 70 was again cleared out by a Roscrea defender and nothing resulted from Denis’s second attempt.
The game was as good as over when Roscrea were awarded a close in free. As the ball was saved Jody Spooner was in to pull and Roscrea had their second goal. It was the last score of the hour and it came far too late to make anything other than a respectable look on the scoreboard.
Scorers for Kilruane: Seamus Hennessy 1-6 (0-1 free), Gilbert Williams 0-6 (0-4 frees), Sean O’Meara 1-0, Dinny Cahill 0-2 and Mackey Waters 0-1.
Roscrea’s replies came from: Joe Cunningham 1-5 (1-3 frees), Jody Spooner 1-0, Joe Fitzgerald , Joe Roland and Michael Shanahan 0-1 each.
Kilruane MacDonaghs: Joe Hutchinson (R.I.P.), Phil Reddan, Kevin Dwan, Donnchadha Minogue, Michael Waters, Denis O’Meara, Jim O’Meara, Sean O’Meara (R.I.P.), Tom Killackey, Jim Williams, Gilbert Williams, Seamus Hennessy, Mackey Waters, Paddy Reddan (R.I.P.) and Dinny Cahill.
Roscrea: Tadhg Murphy, Sean Nash, Seamus Bergin, Cronan Hogan, Sean Hogan, Tom Tynan, Paddy Fitzgerald, Jody Spooner, Michael Shanahan, Joe Cunningham, Martin Cunningham, Seamus Maher, Joe Roland, Joe Fitzgerald and John McDonnell. Sub: Peadar Queally.
Referee: Donie Nealon Burgess.
Selectors: Len Gaynor (Coach), Jimmy Gibson (R.I.P.) & Jim O’Meara Glenahilty (R.I.P.)
Kilruane MacDonaghs were beaten by Clonoulty/Éire Óg Annacarty combination after a replay in the county semi-final in Templemore. Thirteen of the above team were under age the following year when they regained the North title and went on to capture the county crown against Clonoulty/Annacarty in Holycross, with Denis O’Meara as captain.
Kilruane MacDonaghs lead the county Roll of Honour with seven titles and in the divisional Roll of Honour are in second place with ten wins, one behind Toomevara.
