Under 21
A hard-earned 0-16 to 0-12 victory over Nenagh Éire Óg in Borrisokane secured a place in the final against Toomevara. On a perfect afternoon for hurling it was Nenagh who were quickly out of the blocks, firing over the first three points. MacDonaghs were struggling to find their feet at this stage and only for great work from centre-back Craig Morgan we could have been further behind. Cian Darcy got the Magpies off the mark with a pointed free in the sixth minute. White flags from Cormac Mannion and Jerome Cahill had the sides all square. Kian O’ Farrell and the outstanding Kian O’Kelly swopped points. The sides traded three more points before the interval to leave the game tied on 0-7 each at the break. Cian Darcy had the last point of the half from a sideline.
On the resumption James Cleary was pushed forward to midfield and Conor Lillis reverted to corner-back. James thundered into the game and arrowed a superb point from under the stand to nose MacDonaghs ahead. It was a lead they wouldn’t surrender for the remainder of the game. Cian Darcy increased the advantage when he the split the posts with a free. The Magpies were hurling much better in this half but Nenagh kept plugging away. The issue was in doubt up until injury time when some wonderful combination play between Kian O’Kelly and Cian Darcy saw the latter slot over the insurance point. A few minutes earlier the large MacDonaghs contingent in the stand breathed a huge sigh of relief when a shot from Conor McCarthy cannoned off the crossbar.
Team: Niall Shinners, Arran Conroy, Darragh Peters, James Cleary, Sean McAdams, Craig Morgan, Mark O’Neill, Martin Grace, Jerome Cahill (0-2), Conor Lillis, Cian Darcy (0-10, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65, 0-1 sideline), Kian O’Kelly (0-2), Cormac Mannion (0-1), Kevin Shinners and Luke Dervan. Subs: Kevin Oakley and Tom Dooley.
North Final
On Sunday MacDonaghs will be making their 18th appearance in a North Under 21 ‘A’ hurling final where they face new championship favourites Toomevara who were very impressive in their victory against a Kiladangan side that had been touted as likely county champions. It is going to be a mammoth task for MacDonaghs to come out on top in this one. The team will have to reach new heights to capture the title. While general opinion is that Toomevara will prove too good the Magpies are ready to give this a herculean effort. We need massive support on the day to get behind the boys. In the North senior final the fantastic MacDonaghs support pushed the team to new heights. On Sunday in Borrisokane we need that same support again and the players will respond. They CAN do it. The game is timed for 2.00pm. Hope to see and HEAR you there.
700 Draw
The Corner House was packed to capacity on last Friday night for the eagerly-awaited 700 Draw. All tickets had been sold in the most ambitious and most successful fundraiser in the club’s history. Garda Annemarie O’Meara supervised the Draw and Fr. Pat Greed picked the tickets out of the drum. Results: Citroen Car Paddy Hayes, Kilbarron; €2,000 Frances Ryan, Middlewalk; €1,000 Maurice Leamy, Capparoe; €500 Teresa Williams, Stoneyacre; €250 x2 Ann Barrett, Modreeny & Mary Kennedy, Knockearl; €200 x6 Liam Hyland, Loughane; Pat Haverty, Ballythomas; Tim Dwyer, Beechwood; Gary Kerley, Clough Inn; Síle Spain, Ballythomas; and Paddy & Recie Mulrooney, Oxpark.
The Kilruane MacDonaghs GAA and Camogie Clubs would like to thank everybody who supported the Draw both inside and outside the parish. It was a phenomenal achievement to collect €70,000 in a little over four weeks. Thanks to Mulcahy Car Sales who sponsored the Citroen Car.
The proceeds from the Draw will help finance the development of the Astro Turf facility at the Hurling Wall. The existing fence has been taken down and the contractors have already secured the site which is now off limits. Work on preparing the site and laying the Astro Turf will commence in the next few weeks.
Meeting
A meeting of the club committee will be held on this Thursday, 22nd November at 8.00pm. All committee members are requested to attend.
AGM
The Annual General Meeting will take place in the Clubroom on Friday, 30th November at 8.00pm. It will be preceded by Mass for deceased members in Cloughjordan Church at 7.30pm.
Best Wishes
The club sends best wishes to our Vice-President Martin O’Meara, Kyle who celebrated his 90th birthday on Monday.
Family Table Quiz
A Table Quiz in aid of “Ray of Sunshine Foundation” (Niall O’Meara) and “Pieta House & Living Links” (Seamus Hennessy) in the MacDonagh Complex on Saturday, 1st December at 7.30pm. €20 per table. Raffle prizes include a Weekend Away. Niall is travelling to Mombasa in Keyna from 27th December to 7th January to work with the “Ray of Sunshine Foundation.”
Running for Josie
At the recent Ball chairman Joe Whelan presented Seamus Hennessy with €1,000 on behalf of the GAA and Camogie Clubs. Seamus is edging nearer and nearer the target in his mammoth fundraiser in aid of Pieta House and Living Links.
Book Launch
Cloughjordan Heritage Volume X will be launched on Friday, 7th December in the MacDonagh Museum at 8.00pm by Fr Sean Dwan from Kilruane.There are plenty of GAA related items featured in the book. There is a profile of Tom McLoughney and a profile of William Spain from Moanfin. William Spain was the first player to win All-Ireland hurling and football medals. Photographs and match reports of the four county finals won by Ardcroney N.S. this year are also included in the book. The story of the three Dwan brothers from Kilruane who joined the Christian Brothers is also featured. The contribution of Brother Brendan Dwan to the promotion of hurling in Adore and the role he played in the winning of their first county senior title by Adare in 2002 is highlighted. Former Kilruane MacDonaghs under 21 hurler Stephen Starr, a journalist, who has reported from war-torn Syria and Turkey writes about his hurling days with Kilruane MacDonaghs and his work as a journalist around the world.
