Senior
A 3-19 to 3-15 victory over Kiladangan in Nenagh earned a place in the quarter-final. A large crowd assembled in MacDonagh Park to witness the first clash of the neighbours since the Magpies prevailed in the 2022 County final. MacDonaghs had first use of the breeze playing into the traditional “scoring goal”. Kilruane started impressively and points from Jerome Cahill, Willie Cleary (free) and Shane Cleary had us 0-3 to 0-0 ahead on the scoreboard after five minutes. At the end of the first quarter, the Magpies were two clear. In the twenty-second minute, Thomas Cleary fielded a long delivery, offloaded to Kian O’Kelly who dispatched the sliotar to the net to put Kilruane six ahead. On the cusp of halftime, Bryan McLoughney found the net for Kiladangan, and Joe Gallagher added a point to cut the deficit to two points. In added time, captain Niall O’Meara popped with a trademark point to leave the score 1-11 to 1-8 in favour of Kilruane at the break.
Two minutes into the second half, MacDonaghs got a great boost when Kian O’Kelly scored his second goal. Once again, the spadework was done by Thomas Cleary, who thundered in from the left wing, handpassed Kian who deftly stroked the sliotar into the corner of the net. Kiladangan responded with three points. Kilruane hit a purple patch and reeled off four points on the trot from Cian Darcy and Willie Cleary (3). The Magpies had now the bit between their teeth with a five-point cushion and five minutes of normal time left. Joe Gallagher scored Kiladangan’s second goal in the fifty-seventh minute to leave them just two in arrears. It was now hurl-or-go-home time for Kilruane and how the team responded as the finishing line loomed. Jerome Cahill and Shane Cleary fired over two sublime points from the left wing. In the sixty-first minute, Eoin Hogan was hauled down as he bore down on goal, and referee Kevin Jordan signalled a penalty. The general consensus among the supporters in my vicinity was to tap it over and go five clear. However, Niall O’Meara went for the jugular and buried the sliotar in the right-hand corner of the net. Kiladangan kept plugging away and were rewarded with Bryan McLoughney’s second goal, but it was too little too late to deprive MacDonaghs of victory.
Team: Páidí Williams, James Cleary, Aaron Morgan, Jack Peters, Kieran Cahill, Craig Morgan (0-1), Niall O’Meara (1-2, 1-0 penalty), Jerome Cahill (0-3), Conor Austin (0-1), Shane Cleary (0-2), Kian O’Kelly (2-0), Cian Darcy (0-2), Willie Cleary (0-8, 0-5 frees), Thomas Cleary, Michael Cleary. Subs: Mark O’Neill, Darragh Peters, Eoin Hogan.
Quarter-Final
In the quarter-final, we face Nenagh this Sunday, 28th September, in Semple Stadium, at 4.00pm. Our neighbours are joint favourites to lift Dan Breen with Paddy Power offering odds of 5/2. It is going to take a herculean effort by the lads to cause another upset, so massive support will be essential in Thurles.
Paddy Quinlan Tournament
The annual U11 Paddy Quinlan Tournament will be held in MacDonagh Park on Saturday, 27th September, with the first games commencing at 10.00am.
MacDonagh Park
This Saturday, 27th September, MacDonagh Park hosts the relegation semi-final between Roscrea and Lorrha at 4.00pm. All available stewards are asked to be in attendance at 2.30pm.
Lotto
The Jackpot now stands at €4,300. 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 with the Jackpot standing at €1,150.
Tipperary Draw
The September Draw will take place this Friday in Brosnan’s Bar, Cashel, at 8.00pm. You can still join by contacting Fionnuala 0876334990 or Sinéad 0879901826.
Sympathy
The club extends sympathy to the family of the late John Ryan, Knocknacree, Cloughjordan. He played underage, junior and intermediate hurling with MacDonaghs. As a mark of respect, the Tricolour in MacDonagh Park flew at half-mast. His coffin was draped in the club colours, and members formed a guard of honour at his funeral.
Sympathy is also extended to Gretta Williams, Nenagh Road, Cloughjordan on the death of her sister Annie Shelly (née Maher), Bushertown, Moneygall.
