Inter County
Best wishes to Cian Darcy, Jerome Cahill, Craig Morgan and the Tipperary U21 team in the All-Ireland final against Cork. Congratulations to Donal O’Shea, son of Eamon, who scored ten points for Galway in their victory over Kilkenny in the All-Ireland minor final.
Senior
In the third round of the County championship MacDonaghs will face Éire Óg Annacarty in Dolla on Sunday, 2nd September at 12 noon.
Minor
Kilruane MacDonaghs just edged out Borrisokane in the North ‘B’ semi-final after extra time in Puckane on a 2-18 to 2-16 scoreline. Although Páidí Williams and Sean McAdams raised the first two white flags Borrisokane were dominant in the first half as the Magpies struggled to get into the game all over the park. The omens didn’t look great at the interval as MacDonaghs had failed to take advantage of the breeze and trailed by seven points with the score 1-8 to 0-4 in favour of our neighbours. On the resumption Borrisokane stretched their lead with a point but MacDonaghs responded with a Kian O’Kelly point from a free. When Borrisokane scored their second goal in the 36th minute to open a nine-point gap many Kilruane followers would have been forgiven if they headed for the exit gate.
However, the management had shuffled the deck at the break and these changes began to pay dividends. Kian O’Kelly had been moved to full-forward and he was a constant threat on the edge of the square. He was double-marked but still continued to have a major influence on the game. Mark O’Neill revelled in his move to centre-back and Sean McAdams thundered into the match at midfield. MacDonaghs reeled off 1-5 on the trot to leave the minimum between the sides— Matthew Spain had fired home a great goal in the 45th minute. Borrisokane reacted to this MacDonaghs onslaught with two points to open up a three-point lead. Around this time MacDonaghs lost a man overboard and the task looked beyond them. They refused to buckle and substitute Shane McAteer poked home a goal in the 30th minute to leave the sides all square. Matthew Spain slotted over a point a minute later and that seemed to be a clincher. Borrisokane were thrown a lifeline when they were awarded a free (soft) in the 33rd minute and they salvaged a draw in normal time.
For extra time MacDonaghs, facing the breeze, started with the full complement of players once more. Borrisokane forged ahead with a pointed free but Sean MacAdams nudged the Magpies in front with two white flags from placed balls. Borrisokane finished the half with two points to edge one clear. In the second period of extra time MacDonaghs were on top and outscored their opponents 0-4 to 0-1 to book a slot in the final against Silvermines.
Team: Kevin McDonald, Louis Kennedy, Mark O’Neill, Paul O’Neill, Luke Morkan, Sean McAdams (0-9, 0-7 from frees), Aaron Morgan, Kian O’Kelly (0-3, 0-1 from a free), Páidí Williams (0-1 free), Nathan Lynch (0-2), David O’Sullivan (0-1), Owen Usman, Patrick Hayes, Eoin England and Matthew Spain (1-1). Subs: Devlin Courtney, Niosa Minogue, James Loughnane, Shane McAteer (1-0), Fionnan Minogue and Colm Cleary (0-1).
Under 14
We have a home semi-final against on Wednesday, 29th August at 7.00pm against the winners of the Burgess and Kiladangan game.
Under 10
We travelled to Ballina recently and played three competitive games against the host club. We had twenty-three players in action. Thanks to Ballina for the invitation. The annual Paddy Quinlan tournament takes place on Saturday morning, 1st September in MacDonagh Park.
Under 11
Both of our teams have home ties against Nenagh Éire Óg in the first round of the Plate competition which commences this week.
Clothes Collection
The Juvenile and Camogie Clubs are organising a Clothes Collection in aid of Seamus Hennessy’s “Running for Josie” fundraiser (Pieta House and Living Links). Bags can be left in the Complex anytime between now and 11.00am on Thursday, 30th August. Your support would be appreciated.
Lotto
Congratulations to Peig Cahill, Grawn who scooped the latest Lotto Jackpot of €3,400. Thanks to all our loyal promoters and subscribers for your continued support. The Jackpot now stands at a very attractive €2,000.
Jim Hensey RIP
The late Jim Hensey, Ballyluskey, Ardcroney was a member of the U15 team that overcame Templederry in the 1944 North final and went on to claim the club’s first juvenile County title with a victory over Holycross. In 1954 he won the first of his four divisional junior medals when MacDonaghs got the better of Kilcommon in the final. Jim was also on the victorious teams in 1956, 1960 and 1964. He lined out at centre-forward on the 1960 team that edged out Moycarkey-Borris in the County final. Jim was a great team player who normally operated in the attack. He was a quiet and unassuming character who had a great interest in farming and machinery. At his funeral club members formed a guard of honour and his coffin was draped in the club colours. To his sister Eileen, brother John, nieces, nephews and extended family sympathy is extended.
Sympathy
The club extends sympathy to the Prout family, Ardcroney on the death of Nock Prout, Ryehill, Ballinderry.
