Inter-County
Congratulations to Hugo Healy and the Tipperary minor team on the victory over Limerick in the Munster Final. Hugo becomes the twenty-second Kilruane MacDonaghs player to win a Munster minor hurling medal: Liam White 1961, Paddy Dwyer 1961, Len Gaynor 1962, Mackey Waters 1973, Jim O’Meara 1973, Seamus Hennessy 1973, Joe Hutchinson 1973, Eamonn O'Shea 1976, Enda Hogan 1976, Michael Conway 1980, Liam Gleeson 1987, George O’Leary 1987, Brian Gaynor 1991, Martin Haverty 1993, Ray McLoughney 2003, Seamus Hennessy 2007, Jack Peters 2012, Darragh Peters 2015, Cian Darcy 2015 & 2016, Jerome Cahill 2016, Kian O’Kelly 2018, Hugo Healy 2026.
Commiserations to Craig Morgan and the Tipperary senior team on the loss to Clare and to Shane Cleary and the Tipperary U20 team on the loss to Clare in the Munster final.
Junior ‘A’
MacDonaghs remain unbeaten in the County League after they recorded a 2-22 to 0-13 away victory over Boherlahan Dualla – three victories have also been chalked up in the North League. The sides met in MacDonagh Park last year with Kilruane prevailing on a 3-21 to 2-17 scoreline. On this occasion, we had to travel into the hurling heartland of Tipperary – passing the monument to the famed Tubberadora hurlers on the way.
The teams had to contend with a bitter crosswind, slightly favouring the Magpies in the opening half. MacDonaghs were quickly out of the blocks and led 1-5 to 0-1 after seven minutes. Tommy O’Meara scored the goal in the seventh minute when he tapped home the rebound after the Boherlahan keeper had saved an effort from Conor Cleary. The home side found their feet in the second quarter and cut the deficit to four with three minutes left in the half. In the twenty-ninth minute, Cillian Healy scored a terrific goal after some excellent teamwork. At the interval, the score was 2-9 to 0-9 in favour of the visitors.
On the resumption, the sides traded three points before Kilruane raised five successive white flags to open an eleven-point gap. For the final ten minutes, Boherlahan lost a man overboard, and the Magpies exploited the numerical advantage to finish with a flurry of points. Kilruane had nine different scorers. Keeper Kevin Naughnane kept his fourth clean sheet of the season. The defence has only conceded two goals (one from a free) in six matches. The old adage that “defences win matches and the forwards decide by how much” still holds true in modern hurling.
This was one of the youngest junior teams ever fielded by the club. Eight of the starting fifteen were U20, including two U19s and three U18s. The average age of the team was 24. When seasoned campaigners Eanna Hogan, Paddy Ryan and Eoin Hogan are omitted from the equation, the average age plummets to 21.
The next game is against Ballylooby Castlegrace. Victory in this encounter would send Kilruane top of the table and secure a place in the knockout stages of the competition.
Team: Kevin Naughnane, Paul Molloy, Eanna Hogan, David O’Sullivan, Paddy Ryan, Cormac Doheny, Eoin Hogan (0-1), Cathal England (0-1), Cormac Kennedy (0-2), Conor Cleary (0-2), Cian Moyles, Cillian Healy (1-2), Tommy O’Meara (1-2), Brian O’Meara (0-6, 0-4 frees), Charlie Kennedy (0-3). Subs: Eamonn Coonan, Matthew Moyles, Michael Hennelly, Fiachradh Ahearne Woods (0-2), Oisín O’Meara.
Junior ‘B’
In the penultimate North League game, Kilruane had a 4-22 to 1-15 victory over an understrength Knockshegowna side in Ballingarry. The visitors had first use of the breeze, playing into the ‘scoring goal’. Inside the first minute, Knockshe had opened the scoring with a point. Man of the Match Oisín O’Meara had the sides level a minute later. Knockshe edged a point ahead once more before Oisín O’Meara set up Cathal McIntyre, who finished to the net from close range in the third minute. Oisín raised a pair of green flags in the twelfth and sixteenth minutes, which helped the Magpies into a 3-10 to 0-11 interval lead. Four minutes into the second half, any hopes of a Knockshe revival were dashed when full-forward Martin Grace muscled the sliotar over the line for Kilruane’s fourth goal. Knockshe kept plugging away until the final whistle, but MacDonaghs kept the scoreboard ticking with all six forwards and midfielder Johnny Naughnane contributing to the final tally.
Team: Tom Austin, David Mooney, Fearghal Doheny, Danny Cahalan, Cormac Gaynor, Stephen Cleary, Robert Austin, Johnny Naughnane (0-2), Cormac Mannion, Conor Doheny (0-3, 0-2 free), Kevin Shinners (0-3), Cathal McIntyre (1-8, 0-5 frees), Louis Kennedy (0-2), Martin Grace (1-0), Oisín O’Meara (2-4). Subs: Eoin England, Sean Quinlan, Ross Austin, Dara O’Looney, Niall Shinners, Cian Hayes, William Jones, Donnacha O’Meara.
Referee: Mark Houlihan (Lorrha).
The final group game will be on home soil against Borrisokane on Friday, 5th June.
Minor
In the quarter-final of the ‘B’ football championship, we play Portroe in MacDonagh Park this Friday, 22nd May, at 7.00pm.
Under 14
Our second football team has a busy schedule this week. On Thursday, 21st May, they face Durlas Óg in Ardcroney, at 7.00pm. On Sunday, 24th May, they play Clonmel Óg in MacDonagh Park, at 11.00am.
Under 8
On Saturday morning, we hosted Nenagh Éire Óg and Ballinahinch in MacDonagh Park. Kilruane MacDonaghs fielded three teams, and the boys hurled unbelievably well with fantastic teamwork and skill. Thanks to Nenagh and Ballinahinch for travelling, and thanks as always to all the parents and coaches for their support.
Lotto
The jackpot stands at €7,600. Tickets are available from the usual outlets, or you can play on ClubSpot. Thanks for your continued support.
Bingo
The weekly Bingo session continues on Saturday night in the Fr. O’Meara Centre, Kilruane at 8.00pm. The jackpot is €1,350.
Sympathy
The club extends sympathy to Siobhán O’Leary and family, Beechwood on the death of Siobhán’s mother Eileen Dowd, Castlegregory, Kerry and to the family of the late Laura Kennedy, Carrigatoher.
