Senior Hurling
In the county championship Kilruane MacDonaghs have been grouped with Burgess, Borris-Ileigh and Drom-Inch. The first rounds are scheduled for April 5th and 12th.
Juvenile AGM
A well-attended and very productive Annual General Meeting of the juvenile club was held on last Friday. The following appointments were made: Presidents Fr. Tom Hannon, Fr. Enda Burke and Tom McLoughney; Chairman Michael O’Meara; Vice-Chairman Seán Ward; Secretary Mark Spain; PRO Gilbert Williams; North Board Delegate John O’Meara; School Liaison Officers Brian England (Cloughjordan No 1), Barney Naughnane (St. Michael’s), Ardcroney (John O’Meara) and Kilruane (Gilbert Williams). Management teams were finalised for all grades: U16 Eoin Hogan (Manager) and Mark O’Meara; U14 Liam O’Kelly (Manager), Jody Hurley, Michael O’Neill, Justin Cahill, John Hyland and Thomas Cleary; U12 Gilbert Williams (Manager), Mark Spain, Alan Carroll and Martin Walsh; U10 John Mulcahy (Manager), Justin Cahill, Éanna Hogan, Mark O’Leary and John O’Meara; U8 Michael O’Meara (Manager), Mick Cleary, Niall Healy, John Jones, Tom Quinlisk, Damien Franks, Martin O’Looney, Peter Hennelly and Eoin Kennedy. At U6 the club is adopting a new system to cater for this age group. A large number of coaches have been recruited to assist with the weekly sessions on a rota basis, with Brian Gaynor co-ordinating the programme.
Meeting
The monthly meeting of the club committee will be held on this Friday, February 13th at 8.00pm. All committee members are requested to attend.
Coaching Course
The juvenile club is organising a Foundation Course in hurling in the MacDonagh Complex on this Wednesday, February 11th and Wednesday, February 18th at 7.30pm each night. This course is essential for new coaches and is also an ideal opportunity for all our juvenile mentors to recharge the batteries.
J1 Draw
This is your last chance to enter the JI Draw which takes place on this Sunday, February 15th in the clubroom at 6.00pm. This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for you and your friend to earn up €10,000 each on your J1 trip in 2015. The lucky winner and a friend will work in the Spillane Group Restaurant and Bars. The prize also includes: return flights for two from Shannon/Dublin to New York; first month accommodation (in staff lodgings); second and third month accommodation will be organised (payable by winners) and two meals per day, included for duration of contract. Tickets cost €10 and can be purchased on www.kilruanemacdonaghs.com/NewYork. Tickets can also be purchased from any committee member. Full list of terms and conditions are available online. Anybody can purchase a ticket and nominate a relative or friend as the winner.
Membership
Membership fees are now due: U6, U8 and U10 €10; U12, U14, U16 and U18 €20; players over minor €50 and non-playing adults €20. Subscriptions are now due. Players should pay their respective managers and supporters can join with any committee member. Players can only participate in games when membership fee is paid. There is absolutely no exception to this. All paid-up subscribers will receive a specially designed club-membership card. Non-playing adults, who join the club, will be put on text list. Paid-up members can also apply for match tickets and avail of discount in the Sportsmans Dream, Jim McLoughney’s, Tadhg Flaherty’s, JKC’S and the Zipyard on the production of a valid membership card.
Membership Package
Supporters can avail of a very attractive membership package which is now on offer. For just €200 you will have a full year’s Lotto subscription, entry to the County Draw as well as your membership. In effect, supporters who subscribe to this package will have free membership — a saving of €20. Supporters have the option of paying by direct debit.
Handball
The Munster handball championship semi-finals were played on Friday night in Nenagh. Tipperary had a tough draw against Clare. Rory Grace played U12 and after a very good battle lost narrowly 15-11 in two games. In U14 Matthew Spain and Sean Hayes won 15-2 and 15-7. Sean McAdams teamed up with John McGrath in U16 and after losing the first game 18-21, prevailed by 21-11 and 11-4. The last contest saw Jerome Cahill play Tiernan Agnew. An absorbing tussle, that lasted two hours, ebbed to and fro with Jerome winning first game 21-20. His Clare opponent took the second 21-11 and also the tie break 11-7. The winners will play in the Munster finals on weekend February 21st/22nd at Tipperary venues.
Sean O’Dwyer R.I.P.
The club extends sympathy to the family of the late Sean O’Dwyer, Tyone, Nenagh, formerly of Ballymackey and Crowle, Cloughjordan. Sean played corner-back on the MacDonaghs juvenile team that overcame Moneygall in the 1951 North final in Borrisokane. He was a member of the minor panel that got the better of Nenagh in the 1952 divisional decider and two years later he was part of the junior squad that saw off the challenge of Kilcommon in claiming the North title. In 1956, playing in his favoured berth at right corner-back, he collected his second junior medal as MacDonaghs prevailed against Toomevara in the North final. The match report noted that Sean gave an impressive display in that triumph. He progressed on to the senior team and lined out in the 1958 and 1960 North finals when MacDonaghs had to give second best to the great Toomevara team of that era. Unfortunately, Sean didn’t play during the 1959 season when MacDonaghs became champions by dethroning the holders, Toomevara in the final. In March 2012 Sean and his colleagues from the successful 1951 juvenile team celebrated the diamond jubilee of that victory at a memorable function in the Thomas MacDonagh Complex. He enjoyed renewing acquaintances with his former comrades. Although domiciled in Ballymackey for many years and latterly in Tyone, Sean followed the fortunes of MacDonaghs with keen interest. The O’Dwyer family is held in the highest esteem throughout the parish . During the War of Independence, Sean’s father, Bill O’Dwyer participated in the Modreeney Ambush on June 3rd 1921. In reprisal, O’Dwyer’s licensed premises in Crowle was one of four houses in the Cloughjordan area burned by the military. Sean’s brothers also enjoyed success with MacDonaghs. Liam was on the U15 team that won the club’s first county juvenile crown in 1944. Paddy and Mick won North senior medals against Lorrha in 1965 while Paddy won a Munster minor medal in 1961. The youngest brother, Eamon pocketed one county and two divisional juvenile medals in 1964. Sean’s coffin was draped in the Kilruane MacDonaghs colours and club members, led by president Tom Cleary and chairman Matt Cleary, formed a guard of honour as the funeral left St. Mary’s Church and headed to Ballinree cemetery.
Sympathy
Sympathy is extended to Donal Treacy, The Sweep, Cloughjordan on the death of his father Bill, and to the Morgan and Daly families on the death of Michael Morgan, Cappinsmear, Borrisokane.
