Church Gate Collection:

The annual St. Kieran's GAA club church gate collection takes place this weekend in Ardagh, Carrigkerry, Kilcolman and Coolcappagh parish churches. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.

Limerick GAA Development Draw:

We would ask those who have yet to pay their remaining membership money to please do so in the coming weeks by contacting their local draw co Ordinator. The limerick GAA development draw is a vital source of income for the club each year with 60% of all income going straight back into the club and it would be impossible to run our club without it. We are extremely grateful to all those who have joined the draw once again this year as we are now one the largest clubs in the draw due to your continued support.

St. Kieran's GAA Twitter:

You can now follow St. Kieran's GAA club on twitter on our new Twitter account where you can stay up to date with live scores, match reports and club news.

Club Shop:

With Christmas fast approaching why not purchase official St. Kieran's merchandise off the official O' Neill's website. We have a fantastic collection of items on offer including a large array of training tops, club jersey's, shorts, socks, gear bags, hoodies, jackets and tracksuits. These would make excellent Christmas presents especially for the younger generations.

Munster School's Finals:

Best wishes to all our players who are part of the Scoil Mhuire ague Íde, Newcastlewest and Colaiste na Trocaire, Rathkeale teams who contest Munster finals this week. SMI take on Ennistymon CBS in the U16 ½ D hurling final today in Meelick while Colaiste na Trocaire travel to Sixmilebridge on Friday and also face off against Ennistymon CBS in the U18 ½ D hurling final.

 

West U21 'B' Football Championship Final:

St. Kieran's 3.7 St. Senan's 1.5

The u21 footballers captured the West U21 'B' football championship on Friday night last with a comprehensive eight point victory over near neighbours St. Senan's. Despite the time of the year and the sub-zero temperatures, playing conditions were excellent and great credit must go to Mountcollins GAA club for making their pitch available and having it in such fine condition in the month of December. It is fair to say we went into the game as underdogs given our lacklustre semi-final performance against Granagh/Ballingarry and the fact that Senan's had a very comprehensive victory over Drom/Broadford in their respective semi-final. Also the fact that St. Senan's continued a number of players that were part of their intermediate side that tasted county championship success as well as contesting the Munster club final just last weekend made the task an even bigger challenge. It was the men from the banks of the Shannon that got off to the better start and quickly raced into a four point lead. We were caught napping at the back inside the opening ten minutes when a high ball across the square wasn't dealt with as the St. Senan's full forward fisted past Robert Bradley in the Kieran's goal. We soon settled into the game as we adapted to Senan's early strategy of looking to drop a man back on their kick outs and work it out from the back by pushing up and applying pressure at every opportunity. Scores soon began to come from Ray Noonan and Killian Enright as we went in at the break leading 0.6 to 1.2. While we could well have increased our first half tally were it not for some wasteful shooting and taking the wrong options on occasion in truth we could well have been out of the game were it not for a plethora of wonderful saves from our keeper Robert Bradley who was awarded the man of the match award for his stellar performance. The management pressed the importance of workrate in the second half in particular from our forwards who showed a great ability to fight for possession in the opening half in particular Liam Upton who put in an excellent workman like performance at half forward. The game was soon level inside the opening five minutes of the second period when Senan's replied with an outstanding long range free from limerick u21 goalkeeper Richard Hayes and despite the early second half onslaught by St. Senan's the lads kept their composure and continued to take the game to the Foynes/Shanagolden outfit. The game took a major turn when Noel Callanan cut through the heart of the Senan's defence and found the back of the net, an excellent personal reward after some hard work throughout the game. We soon doubled our lead when team captain Raymond Noonan's effort found the back of the net and from here the result was never in doubt as we grew in confidence and Senan's began to fade following some excellent passages of play by them that went unrewarded. When our third goal went in a few moments later the game was over as a contest and it was just a case of keeping possession and playing down the clock. There were some excellent performances on the night from a very youthful side with only two players overage next year and seven players that won west and county minor championship medals this year. At the back our full back line of Michael Murphy, John Byrnes and Anthony Mullins coped well with the early long ball onslaught by Senan's while Anthony Mullins coming forward from the back was a great source of attack for us during the first half. The half back line, our youngest line on the field, each a minor performed well throughout with centre back Diarmuid Mulcahy holding the middle, directing play ably assisted by his two wing backs John Buckley and Eoin Burke who's pace and attacks from the back provided a major headache for St. Senan's. Liam Kennedy and Darragh O' Connor worked tirelessly in the middle of the field against two physically stronger opponents and once they got to grips with them in the aerial battle they came into their own with Liam Kennedy in particular putting in a huge performance for a player with another year at minor level. While putting scores on the board is vital in winning any game it can't be done without players working hard for the cause. While potent in attack the forwards fought tooth and nail without the ball to win back possession. Half forwards Patrick Liston and Liam Upton put in workman like performances while the pace of Noel Callanan, in particular in the second period when the game got broken and Senan's tried to chase the game was a major source of success for us. In the inside line full forward and team captain Ray Noonan got on the scoresheet with a number of vital scores, in particular out second goal which the Senan's keeper could do nothing about while the pace and movement of corner forwards Stephen Lyon's and Killian Enright caused the St. Senan's full back line a number of problems throughout with Killian Enright in particular putting in a particularly strong performance. The manner of the win was very pleasing given the fact that all bar two of the panel are underage again in 2018 and the starting fifteen contained seven minors. We now advance to the county semi final where east Limerick champions South Liberties will provide the opposition. South Liberties had an impressive 4.13 to 1.13 victory over Cappamore in the east championship final and with three members of the Limerick u21 hurling panel amongst their ranks they will undoubtedly provide us with stern examination this weekend if we are to advance to the county final where south Limerick champions Ballylanders await the winners. Well done to the players and management on the win.

Team:

Robert Bradley, Anthony Mullins, John Byrnes, Michaél Murphy, Eoin Burke, Diarmuid Mulcahy, John Buckley, Liam Kennedy, Darragh O' Connor, Liam Upton, Noel Callanan, Patrick Liston, Killian Enright, Ray Noonan, Stephen Lyons, Darragh Breen, Daniel Barrett, Evan Donovan, Tomas Mullins, Stephen Hennessy, Cillian Ambrose, Eamon Ambrose, Brian McCarthy

 

 

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