Senior Hurling
The song says that “twenty-one years is a mighty long time.” It is twenty-one years since Kilruane MacDonaghs defeated Borris-Ileigh in a senior championship match. On Sunday, 3rd July 1994 MacDonaghs overcame Borris-Ileigh in Roscrea on a 3-11 to 1-13 scoreline. The gap was emphatically bridged on last Sunday evening in MacDonagh Park, Nenagh when the Magpies triumphed on a 3-16 to 0-9 scoreline. Since the return to senior ranks MacDonaghs have beaten all the major powers in the division, except one. You’ve guessed correctly. The Greyhounds are last on the list.
Borris-Ileigh were forced to line out without Brendan Maher and there is no doubt that his absence was a severe blow to the opposition. MacDonaghs played into the town goal in the first half, the traditional ‘’scoring goal.” However, it was Dan McCormack who drew first blood from a free after Seamus Hennessy was penalised. Thomas Cleary had MacDonaghs ahead in the fourth minute. He latched on to a breaking ball, bore down on goal and finished with aplomb. A second free from Dan McCormack reduced the gap to the minimum. Thomas Cleary raised his second green flag after a pass from Cian Darcy. In truth, it was a ball that should have been cleared by the Borris-Ileigh defence. MacDonaghs hit three points on the trot, one from play by Cian Darcy and a brace from placed balls by Kieran Cahill to leave Kilruane 2-3 to 0-2 ahead in the sixteenth minute.
Dan McCormack scored his third point from a free after Éanna Hogan was adjudged to have overcarried. MacDonaghs finished the half with a flourish, firing over five unanswered points from Justin Cahill, Buggy, Cian Darcy, Kieran Cahill (free) and Conor Cleary who had replaced the injured Kevin Ryan. The defence was well on top in the first half. The looseness that was very evident against Burgess was conspicuous by its absence. The backs worked as a unit with Seamus Hennessy outstanding. Hal-time score: MacDonaghs 2-8, Borris-Ileigh 0-3.
Borris-Ileigh began the second half brightly as MacDonaghs struggled to find their rhythm. Dan McCormack pointed from a free, awarded after a late tackle. The same player added Borris-Ileigh’s first point from play. MacDonaghs soon re-established their dominance and Kieran Cahill split the posts from a free. In the fortieth minute Buggy passed to Cian Darcy who rifled the sliotar to the net. The score was 3-10 to 0-5 and the game was effectively over. Thomas Cleary and Kieran Cahill, from a free, tacked on points as the gap widened to sixteen points. Dan McCormack was unerring from another free and Shane McCormack — the only other Borris-Ileigh scorer apart from the oft-mentioned Dan — raised a white flag. Kieran Cahill and Dan McCormack swopped points from frees. Kieran Cahill took a pass from Buggy and sent the sliotar sailing between the posts. Cian Darcy added a pair of points and Dan McCormack had the final point of the game to leave the final score 3-16 to 0-9.
Team: Thomas Williams, Éanna Hogan, Seamus Hennessy, Jack Peters, Willie Cleary, Niall O’Meara, Ray McLoughney, Kevin Ryan, Liam Gibson, Justin Cahill (0-2), Kieran Cahill (0-7), Darragh Peters, Thomas Cleary (2-1), Brian O’Meara (0-1) and Cian Darcy (1-4). Subs: Conor Cleary (0-1) and Tomás Hogan.
Junior Hurling
Kilruane MacDonaghs travel to Dolla on Friday evening to take on Silvermines in the league. Throw-in is at 7.30pm.
Parish League
The Parish and Mini Leagues got off to a flying start last Saturday. Action continues on this Saturday at 11.00am. All boys should be present at 10.45. Any player who was unable to attend last Saturday will be slotted into a team for the second round.
Schools’ Hurling
There were mixed fortunes for our school teams. Kilruane N.S. had a 6-10 to 1-5 victory against Scoil Eoin, Roscrea in St. Cronan’s Park. Team: Tristan Madden, Jamie Kennedy, Eoin O’Meara, Cian White, Aaron Morgan, Sinéad McAteer, Rory Grace, Fionnán Hurley, Paul O’Neill, Georgie O’Leary, Paul Dwyer and Sean Williams. 8Cloughjordan N.S. just came up short against Birdhill.
U16 Football
In the final group game Kilruane MacDonaghs had an away victory against Nenagh. On Monday evening they took on Inane Rovers in the semi-final in MacDonagh Park and lost out by the minimum of margins. Final score: Inane Rovers 1-6, MacDonaghs 1-5. Full report next week.
U14 Football
In the second round MacDonaghs just edged out Borrisokane in Gardiner Park on a 4-4 to 1-10 scoreline. Two late goals gave the visitors victory by the minimum of margins. Team: Kevin McDonald, Owen Farrell, Conor Quinlan, Louis Kennedy, Kieran Spain, Dylan Moran (1-0), Páidí Williams, James Loughnane, Kian O’Kelly (1-2), Rory Grace, Matthew Moyles, Aaron Morgan, Cormac Doheny, David O’Sullivan and Colm Cleary (1-0). Subs: Nathan Lynch, Pádraig Coonan (1-0) and Eoin O’Meara. On this Wednesday evening they are at home to Lorrha/Rovers at 6.30pm.
Under 12 Football
After an exciting tussle in the quarter-final, MacDonaghs came out the wrong side of a 3-3 to 3-2 scoreline against Kildangan in MacDonagh Park. MacDonaghs seemed to have snatched victory in the dying minutes when Zack Dervan found the net. However, there was one final twist when Kildangan scored the winning goal in a last-gasp attack. Team: Oisín Williams, Cian White, Tom Larke (1-0), Eoin Carroll, Ross Austin, Rory Grace, Kevin Naughnane (0-1), Ciarán Coffey, Jack Ryan, Zack Dervan (2-0) and Sean Williams. Subs: Jake Adler, Gerorgie O’Leary and Danny Cahalan (0-1)
Club Gear
This is your final opportunity to purchase MacDonaghs tops. Adult sizes costing €40 and youth sizes at €35 can be ordered from John Casey 086-2304642. Initials can be put on tops at no extra coast. A photo of the top and a list of the various sizes can be viewed on www.kilruanemacdonaghs.com. The deadline for orders is 30th April.
County Draw
The new County Draw has been launched with a €500,000 prize fund. There are two cars to be won every month plus twenty-eight other prizes. Last year Maura Grace came out of the drum for a Skoda Octavia car worth €15,000. The club is hoping that all existing members will rejoin and a forensic trawl of the parish will be undertaken to enlist new subscribers. The County Draw is a major source of revenue for the club. By joining you have an opportunity to win fantastic prizes and also have the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping Kilruane MacDonaghs and Tipperary. There are four payment options available: One payment of € €100; Two payments of €50; Monthly payment of €10; and Direct Debit.
Meeting
The monthly meeting of the committee will be held on this Thursday, 30th April at 8.30pm. All committee members are requested to attend.
Sympathy
Sympathy is extended to the Killackey and Darcy famiiies on the death of Bill Joe Killackey, formerly of Church Road and to the Keevey family on the death of Alice Keevey, formerly of Townsfields.
