Under 21 Football
MacDonaghs qualified for the North ‘B’ final with a 2-12 to 1-0 away victory over Silvermines on a sticky outside pitch in Dolla. With little preparation under their belts, it wasn’t surprising that the Magpies were a little ring rusty. They dominated the early possession but five minutes elapsed before Mathew Spain slotted over the first point of the game from a free. Soon after full-forward Niall Shinners retired injured and Rory McCarthy was introduced. We had to wait until the 17th minute for the second score when James Cleary raised a white flag. A minute later Rory McCarthy punched a high delivery from Cormac Mannion to the net. As the half wore on the team improved and they added five unanswered points to lead by 1-7 to 0-0 at the break. Six minutes into the second half Silvermines found the net and it looked like a close contest would ensue. However, a brace of points from Kian O’Kelly (11th minute) and Cormac Mannion (12th minute) opened up an eight-point gap. Although Silvermines fought tenaciously to the end, MacDonaghs emerged deserving winners. Team: Craig Morgan, Kevin Oakley, Conor Lillis (Capt), Tom Dooley, Luke Morkan (0-1), Jerome Cahill, Mark O’Neill, Darragh Peters, Martin Grace, Cormac Mannion (0-2), James Cleary (0-3), Sean McAdams (0-2), Kieran Brereton (0-2), Niall Shinners and Matthew Spain (0-1). Subs: Rory McCarthy (2-0), Kian O’Kelly (0-1), Owen Usman, Ben Chadwick and Paul Guidera.
They now face Newport in the decider on this Saturday, 24th February with time and venue to be confirmed. This will be a huge task for the team as once again they are likely to be without the services of Cian Darcy and Carl Williams.
Under 10 Hurling
After the winter hibernation training resumes on this Saturday, 24th February at 10.00am.
Juvenile Meeting
A meeting of all juvenile coaches and mentors takes place in the Thomas MacDonagh Heritage Centre on this Thursday, 22nd February at 8.00pm. All involved with juvenile teams are requested to attend.
Cúl Camp
The annual Kellogg’s Cúl Camp will be held in MacDonagh Park from Monday 2nd to Friday 6th July.
Membership
Membership fees are now due: U6, U8 and U10 €10; U12, U14, U16 and U18 €30; players over minor €50 and non-playing adults €30. 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.
Club Package
Supporters can avail of a very attractive membership package which is now on offer from the club. 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 €30. Supporters have the option of paying by direct debit.
Handball
The Munster juvenile 40x20 finals in the older age groups were played in Limerick on Sunday where Rory Grace had a very good win over his Limerick opponent in the U15 competition. Cormac Doheny had a tough outing in the U16 section and had to settle for second best against his Clare rival. Best of luck to Rory in the All-Ireland semi-final in two weeks time.
Cloughjordan Drama
The local Drama Group presents “Stella by Starlight” in the Parochial Hall, Cloughjordan, commencing on Friday, 23rd February and also on Saturday 24th, Sunday 25th, Wednesday 28th, Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd March at 8.00pm each night. The opening performance is in aid of the Mellon Educate Teacher Blitz 2018. Cast member Noreen Maher is one of the volunteers who will travel to Cape Town, South Africa in July. The club extends best wishes to the Drama Group and Noreen. Booking 087-9192877 (4.00 to 8.00pm daily).
John Heenan RIP
The late John Heenan, Vice-President of Kilruane MacDonaghs, was born in Ringroe in 1925. He went to school in Ardcroney and joined the Irish Army in 1942. He served in Collins Barracks in Cork, Kilworth and the Curragh. Hurling was his great passion and he won North junior hurling medals in 1956, 1960 and 1964. John normally operated in the forwards but in the 1960 county final victory over Moycarkey-Borris he lined out at midfield. His stint in the army gave him a great appreciation of the importance of physical fitness and consequently he always kept himself in tremendous shape. John was both trainer and masseur with the 1959 and 1965 MacDonaghs senior teams that won the North Tipperary championship as well as the successful 1960 junior side. He was an avid reader with an encyclopaedic memory that helped him absorb and retain a wealth of general knowledge. These qualities served him well on the Pub Quiz circuit and John anchored many a successful team. In 1979 John, Paddy Heffernan and Willie Maher won North and County titles in the Scór Question Time and were beaten in a play-off for top honours in the Munster Final. The same trio took the divisional crown the following year. In 2014 John was unanimously elected Vice-President of Kilruane MacDonaghs. It was a fitting honour for a universally popular and modest individual who was regarded as a gentleman by all who knew him. While hurling was always number one he loved all sports. Horse racing was a particular favourite and he was also a long-time follower of Manchester United since the time of the Busby Babes. At his funeral the coffin was draped in club colours and three generations of MacDonaghs members formed a guard of honour as John was taken to his final place of rest in Ardcroney old cemetery. To his brothers Dinny and Tim, extended family and large circle of friends, sympathy is extended.
Sympathy
Sympathy is extended to: the Bowe family, Townfields on the death of Nancy Bowe (née Tanner); the Healy family, Rapla on the death of Mary Healy (née Darcy), The Terrace, Borrisokane; and Miriam Cleary, Bantiss on the death of her father Walter Dowd, Willowmere Drive, Thurles.
