Inter County
Best wishes to Niall O’Meara, Cian Darcy, Jerome Cahill, Eamon O’Shea and the Tipperary senior team & Páidí Williams and the Tipperary minor team in their games against Cork on Sunday.
Senior
The County League game against Moycarkey-Borris which was postponed as a mark of respect to the late Michael Cahill has been rescheduled for this Saturday in MacDonagh Park at 7.00pm.
Minor
In the latest round of the League we lost to a stronger Kiladangan side in MacDonagh Park. On this Thursday, 9th May we are away to Borrisokane at 7.00pm.
Under 12
MacDonaghs booked a place in the North D football final with a 3-5 to 1-2 home victory over Ballinahinch. Panel: Dara Gaynor, Shay Óg Kennedy, Cormac Kennedy (0-1), Jack Cleary, Padraic Nevin, David Quinlisk (0-1), Charlie Kennedy (1-0), Sean Conroy, Billy Hodgins, Tommy Gaynor, Hugo Healy (1-3), Gerard O’Looney, Bill Quinlisk and Tom Smyth (1-0). The game was nine-a-side with both teams agreeing to a roll on roll off system for substitutions.
They took on Ballina in the final in Templederry on the Bank Holiday Monday and lost out on a 3-7 to 1-1 scoreline. Charlie Kennedy grabbed the goal and Hugo Healy slotted over the point. This was always going to be a difficult encounter as it was our third team against Ballina’s second string. However, it was a magnificent achievement to field three U12 football teams in 2019. Participation was the name of the game as all players got ample game time.
Cumann na mBunscol
The Kilruane N.S. U11 hurling team qualified for the County final with a hard-earned 4-5 to 1-5 victory over Kilsheelan N.S. in the Ragg. Ardcroney N.S. U13 team qualified for the County semi-final with victories over Birdhill, Scoil Eoin Naofa Roscrea and Newport. Cloughjordan Schools U13 team recorded a victory over Portroe and now face Youghalarra N.s. with a place in the North final at stake.
Munster Championship
Tickets for the Munster senior hurling championship will not be available from the club. Supporters can purchase tickets via tickets.ie or from Centra and Supervalu outlets.
Tipperary Draw
The new Tipperary Draw has a prize fund of €500,000 including twelve cars. Thanks to all who subscribed to the last the Draw and we look forward to your continued support. Our promoters are carrying out a forensic trawl of the parish at the moment in an attempt to increase our numbers in the Draw which commences on Friday, 10th May. The County Board has confirmed that the first Draw will not be postponed.
Michael Cahill RIP (1952-10219)
On last Sunday we laid to rest Michael Cahill, one of the greatest stalwarts in the history of the Kilruane MacDonaghs club. He first played juvenile hurling with MacDonaghs in 1966. He won the following North & County medals: U21 1973; Intermediate 1978; Senior 1979; and Junior 1985. In addition he collected divisional medals in Junior (1975) and Intermediate League (1987). Michael wore the number one jersey during his adult playing career. He was also a shrewd judge of a player and served as a senior, junior and U21 selector.
Michael was a member of the club committee since 1971 and he gave forty-eight years unbroken service in a variety of roles. In 1973 Michael was elected assistant secretary and spent six years as an understudy to Tom Kirby. In 1990 he was appointed County Board Delegate and for ten years he was an able club representative in that position. In 1996 Michael was installed as assistant treasurer before being promoted to treasurer in 1998. He was in charge of club finances for the next thirteen years, stepping down from minding the purse strings at the 2011 AGM. However, Michael was given very little respite as in 2013 he took up the position of assistant treasurer for the second time. At the recent AGM he was unanimously reappointed for the seventh successive year.
In one shape or form Michael was deeply immersed in the monetary affairs of the club since 1988 when he was a member of the Finance Committee. And it is no mere coincidence that he has been such an influential figure in this area as Michael was the personification of honesty and integrity. He was a master fundraiser with few peers. Michael was a Tipperary Draw promoter since its inception in 1988. He was one of the driving forces behind the Club Lotto which commenced in 1996 and his home was the unofficial headquarters of the Lotto Committee up to recently. In our hugely successful Sales of Work Michael was always in the thick of the action.
Outside the Kilruane MacDonaghs club Michael is best known in GAA circles as a referee. He started his career with the whistle in 1974. His first final was the 1975 North U14 Urban/Rural decider and he went on to referee finals in all grades in both hurling and football. Michael’s first North senior hurling final was in 1988. He refereed six more senior finals. One of the highlights of his career was in 1997 when he officiated at the County senior final that saw Clonoulty defeat Mullinahone. Michael refereed at inter-county level and was fourth official on a number of occasions. At this year’s North Board Awards night in the Kilruane MacDonaghs clubroom he was honoured for his 45 years of distinguished service as a referee. Michael had the composure, courage and above all common sense that made him a top-class referee. He knew all the rules of hurling but more importantly he knew the game and had the ability to let the game flow without losing control.
The name of Michael Cahill will always be associated with MacDonagh Park. He took great pride in this magnificent venue and led by example in maintaining the facilities in pristine condition. Michael was to the fore in all the major development works: the erection of the stand in 1995; the construction of the Complex which was officially opened in 2006; and building the Hurling Wall in 2009. Michael was an enthusiastic supporter of the Astro Turf project which came on stream in February.
Michael was much more than a great GAA man. He had a long involvement in the Credit Union, gave twenty-three year’s service in the local Fire Brigade and was supervisor of the Fás scheme until his retirement last year. Above all he was a great family man, a friend and neighbour to many in the community.
It was fitting that he reposed in the Kilruane MacDonaghs clubroom at MacDonagh Park. The thousands that attended his funeral over the two days showed the esteem in which he was held by people all over the country. His coffin was draped in the MacDonaghs colours and on his final journey to Cloughjordan Church a massive community Guard of Honour walked in silent tribute.
Sympathy is extended to his daughters Niamh and Lousie, their mother Delia, granddaughter Caragh, his mother Peg, his partner Chris, son-in-law Donal, brothers, sisters, brothers-in- law, sisters-in-law, uncle, aunts, nephews, nieces, relatives and many friends especially James.
Leaba i measc na naomh dó.
Thanks
Kilruane MacDonaghs would like to thank all the members of the Senior, Juvenile and Camogie clubs who helped out with Michal Cahill’s funeral. Thanks to all who assisted with parking and the catering over the two days. A special word of thanks to Garda Brendan Healy who assisted with the traffic management on Saturday. Thanks to all members of the community who donated food and participated in the Guard of Honour.
