Under 21
MacDonaghs made history on last Sunday when they qualified for the semi-final for the second time in the one season with a 2-17 to 0-13 victory over Newport. MacDonaghs had already booked a semi-final spot with a victory over Moneygall/Clonakenny. However, Newport who had been expelled from the championship for not fulfilling their fixture against Kiladangan, were reinstated. MacDonaghs were then drawn to play Newport in the quarter-final. MacDonaghs repeated their first round victory to secure a place in the semi-final for the second time in 2016. On a bitterly cold day in Moneygall, the Magpies were deserving winners. Matters were even enough in the first half with the sides level on six different occasions. Kieran Delaney let the play flow and the first free wasn’t awarded until the eighteenth minute. Approaching half-time, the sides were level on 0-8 each when Caoilainn Conroy knifed through the Newport defence. His well-struck shot was saved, but Cormac Mannion was on hand to poach a goal to put MacDonaghs three ahead at the break. The defence was dominant in the first half and the midfield pairing of Jerome Cahill and Darragh Peters shaded the verdict. However, the workrate among the forwards wasn’t up to scratch and at the interval the management left the attackers in no doubt that there would have to be a major improvement in the second period.
On the resumption, the defence and midfield continued to excel and the forwards began to pull up their socks. Once that happened there was only going to be one result. The issue was put beyond doubt when Caoilainn Conroy intercepted a short puckout, fed Jerome Cahill who offloaded to Niall Shinners who found the net. This team is improving all the time and if the forwards decide to work for the full hour, they will give themselves a fighting chance in the semi-final against Roscrea. This game takes place in Toomevara on this Sunday, 27th November at 2.00pm. Your support would be appreciated. Team: Conor Doheny, Bob Dooley, Stephen Cleary, Tom Dooley, Craig Morgan, Tomás Hogan, Conor Austin, Darragh Peters (0-3), Jerome Cahill (0-2), James Cleary (0-1), Conor Cleary (0-3), Caoilainn Conroy (0-1), Cormac Mannion (1-0), Brendan McAdams and Cian Darcy (0-7). Subs: Finnian Mannion, Niall Shinners (1-0), Nathan Ryan and Kevin Oakley.
General Meeting
A General Meeting of all players, selectors and members will be held in the clubroom on Friday, 25th November at 8.00pm. This meeting will focus exclusively on hurling development at all grades in the club. Everybody is welcome to attend.
Sean Ghael
Congratulations to Mick Murphy formerly of the Windmill, Cloughjordan who was honoured with a Sean Ghael award. Mick gave distinguished service to both the Kilruane MacDonaghs and Borrisokane clubs. He won a North junior medal in 1960 and added a county medal when MacDonaghs overcame the Moycarkey intermediate team in the decider. In 1962 Mick won an All Ireland inter-firms medal with the ESB. He won a North senior medal in 1965 when MacDonaghs got the better of Lorrha in the final. Mick transferred to Borrisokane in 1969 and played both senior and intermediate hurling with his adopted club, winning a divisional intermediate medal in 1973. He was a selector on the Borrisokane junior and intermediate teams that won North and county titles in 1981 and 1982.
North Convention
The North Tipperary G.A.A. Board Convention will be held in the clubroom on Thursday, 8th December.
A.G.M.
The Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday, 9th December at 8.00pm. It will be preceded by Mass for deceased members in Cloughjordan Church at 7.30pm. The annual Yearbook will be launched at the AGM.
Club History
”Kilruane MacDonaghs 1970-2013 Heirs to a Proud Tradition” is now on sale in the Book Shop, Friary Street, Nenagh and in Centra, Murphy’s and Rohan’s in Cloughjordan as well as Sullivan’s, Ardcroney. You can also reserve your copy by contacting Gilbert Williams 087-2176452.The 560 page hardback publication costs €30.
Matt Cleary (Snr) R.I.P.
The late Matt Cleary (Snr), Ballyluskey, Ardcroney was a former player, selector and committee member. He playing junior hurling for the club and having acquired a farm in Puckane parish he transferred to Kiladangan in 1949. Matt played senior hurling with Kiladangan, lining out in the 1953 semi-final against Borris-Ileigh. In 1972 he was co-opted on to the Kilruane MacDonaghs club committee, serving for twenty-two consecutive years. During that period he also acted as a steward in Thomas MacDonagh Park and at the marquee dancing in Cloughjordan Carnival which was a major fundraiser for the club. Matt served as a junior selector from 1971 to 1975. MacDonaghs lost the 1974 final but bridged an eleven-year gap with a victory over Templederry the following year. Matt was also an intermediate selector in 1976 and 1977. His coffin was draped in the MacDonaghs colours and club members formed a guard of honour at his funeral. The club extends sympathy to his wife Kathleen, sons Ger and Matt, daughters, Margaret, Colette and Deirdre and extended family.
