Killavullen
NANO NAGLE MASSS
On Sunday the Nano Nagle Birthplace hosted the annual Open Air Mass which this year marked the 300th birthday of our dearly adored Nano. Mass was beauitfully celebrated by our Bishop, Wm Crean and our PP Fr Condon with visiting priests. Refreshments were served afterwards and a lovely sociable afternoon was held. Our thanks are extended to those who helped host this event and to all those who kindly donated home baking.
ACTIVE RETIRES OUTING
An outing is being held on June 20 for our Active Retirement Group. First off lunch will be had in Corbett Court and this will be followed by a trip to Carmel’s Garden Centre in Kilworth. The bus will depart from Killavullen Community Centre at midday and the cost is €15. Anybody interested should contact Annette Barry 022 26659 by June 15.
JOLLYTOTS
Jollytots Baby and Toddler Group meets every Thursday in Killavullen Community Centre and all are welcome to attend.
CÚL CAMP
If you missed the registration night you can still register your child online at kelloggsculcamp. gaa.ie and select Killavullen as the chosen venue.
The camp takes place Monday to Friday, July 2, to sixth It is open to children between the ages of 6 and 13 years of age and runs from 10 a.m. to 230 p.m. each day. The Cúl Camp gear, a jersey, training top and a back pack are included in the fee. A great week of activity locally and an ideal camp if you’re having summer sleepovers with cousins and friends. The cost for the first child is €60, second child is €50 and €40 for each child after that.
CONGRATULATIONS CONOR
Congratulations to Conor Shanahan, who on the eve of his 15th birthday won the first round of Drift Masters in Poland last Saturday night, beating his friend and mentor James Deane, 2017 Formula Drift World Champion. An exciting season lies ahead with the three local lads, brothers Conor and Jack Shanahan and James Deane.
PARISH SPORTS
Killavullen Parish Sports were held in Killavullen GAA grounds last Friday night and was a very successful night, The glorious weather enhanced the social atmosphere of the evening.
The races were ran efficiently by our MC Niall Hanrahan, who ensured all children got their chance to race. We had a few tight calls on the finish line and had to resort to the cameraman on the night, Damien Fallon, to check back on photos taken to make sure the correct accolade went to the correct child. John Hannon as always ensured that the start line was fair and honest and had encouraging words for all before the big race.
The highlight of recent years has been the family relay, consisting of a three person team, one adult and two children from a family. The adults race first and pass the baton to eagerly awaiting children who carry on the race to the finish line. Our thanks goes to those who prepared the field for the event and to those who helped in every way on the night.
GAA CLUB NEWS
BIT OF MAGIC FROM EDDIE COTTER GIVES KILLAVULLEN AN EXTRA TIME WIN – Yesterday, on a very firm pitch in Doneraile, Killavullen just about got over the line against Liscarroll – Churchtown Gaels in round two of the Avondhu Junior A Hurling championship. The game was nick and tuck throughout, and it took extra time to separate the two teams in the end, but a moment of magic from Eddie Cotter won the game for Killavullen.
Michael Fresh, who was to give his man, a torrid afternoon, scored the opening point in the first minute only for the Liscarroll – Churchtown Gaels amalgamation to score from their own corner forward in the next minute. The next score took an age to come, and no team scored till Barry Murphy broke the dead lock with a free in the 11th minute.
The middle of the field was very compressed at this stage, and space was at a premium. Ian O’Gorman rifled over a good point from distance before Liam Cronin scored a fine point in the 14th minute. Our opponents came right back into the game with points in the same minute, and then their third point in the 15th minute before their midfielder drew parity to the game in the 16th minute, picking up on a wayward clearance. Barry Murphy scored a free for us in the 21st minute.
The most influential player for Liscarroll – Churchtown Gaels was the youthful Colin O’Brien, and in the 24th minute, he caught a fine ball for once over Seán O’Regan, and scored a good goal, to put his team into the lead. They scored next as well to put a clear goal between the teams but Killavullen got a goal of their own, when Barry Murphy raced onto a ball, out near the corner flag, centred delightfully for Liam Cronin, who passed backwards to Jack O’Connor, who finished expertly to the net.
This was in the 27th minute, but Barry tweaked his hamstring in the move, and had to be withdrawn. The final score of the game came from Liscarroll – Churchtown Gaels in the 29th minute to leave a point between the teams at the interval, 1-05 to 1-06 in their favour. Killavullen hit seven wides in that period which was concerning.
Liscarroll – Churchtown Gaels scored the opening point of the second half in the first and then another point from a 65 metre free in the fifth minute only for Killavullen to hit back with a free of their own in the sixth minute. We were rocked back when our influential full back and captain, Pa Sheehan had to be withdrawn after going down heavily on his ankle.
Our opponents though scored again from their inside corner forward in the eighth minute, and our next scored came after the introduced Charlie Lillis, scored in the 14th minute. Colin O’Brien scored another free for Liscarroll – Churchtown Gaels in the 18th minute to put them three point ahead. Séamus Fox landed a fine free in the 20th minute for us, only for Liscarroll – Churchtown Gaels to score another point in the same minute.
Pádraig Looney was sprung from the Killavullen bench and made a telling contribution with his pace. After being out injured for close on four months, it was good to have him back. He caught a fine ball in the 21st minute and sent a booming shot high over the bar to announce his arrival.
Séamus Fox scored a lovely point from distance in the 25th minute to bring one point between the team, but our opposition scored the next point to stretch out their lead again, in the 26th minute, and made sail for home with another point in the 27th from their midfielder. We had our backs to the wall at this stage, but had the legs on our opponents, and Eddie Cotter was fouled and enabled Liam Cronin to score a free in the 28th minute, and then Pádraig was fouled, and Liam converted to bring us back to within a point. Charlie was then fouled and Liam equalised in the 31st minute.
We spurned a glorious chance for the match winning goal, when their keeper saved expertly from a Mike Fresh shot and then we conceded a free that Liscarroll – Churchtown Gaels converted and time up, deep in the injury time. But we conjured up another opportunity, and Paul O’Sullivan left fly with purpose from out on the wing, and it sailed true, and split the uprights to draw the game, 1-14 to both teams at the end of normal time.
In the opening period 10 minutes of the first half of extra time, both teams were out on their legs and despite loads of honest endeavour, there was no spark from either team, and the only two scores of this period, came both from frees from the respective free takers.
On the final changeover, Liscarroll – Churchtown Gaels scored the opening point in the seventh minute of the 10, and followed up with what looked like a match winning point in the eighth minute. However, from a quick puck out, the ball ran on to Eddie Cotter, who raced through their defence, and left fly with a great ground shot, that their fine goal keeper could not reach.
Liscarroll – Churchtown Gaels were broken at last, and Killavullen added further points from the impressive Séamus Fox, before Liam scored another free, and then split the posts for the last time in the 10th minute from a 65 metre free to give us a flattering four point win. The margin was never that big throughout the game, but the younger legs of Killavullen were a decisive factor in the heat and humidity of Sunday last, in the final period of extra time.
Seán O’Regan and Billy Norris were influential at the back, then Kevin Fox, when he had to revert to full back, and Ian O’Gorman left what he had on the field. Upfront, we bunched a deal that suited our opponents but when we ran at our opposition, we created problems. The win was good for the team collective though, as each and every body played a significant part in achieving it. The final score was 2-18 to 1-17 in our favour.
Under-12 LOSE OUT TO CHARLEVILLE IN HUM DINGER – Killavullen were gallantly defeated after extra time in an exciting, enthralling and captivating under-12A Hurling League final played last Thursday evening in Buttevant in perfect conditions for hurling.
Killavullen were slow to settle into the game and Charleville had 2-1 on the board before Killavullen responded with a point of their own. Gradually Killavullen settled into the game with a number of goals from Owen Magner pushing Killavullen ahead. Killavullen tacked on a few points putting them in a strong position as half time loomed. Charleville finished the first half very strong with two goals in quick succession leaving the teams all square at half time on a score of Killavullen 3-6, to Charleville’s 4-3.
Killavullen started the second half brightly with a goal from Owen Magner following some great team play, and two points following pushing Killavullen into a five point lead. Charleville then responded with two goals of their own. It was nip and tuck from here to the finish with both teams trading scores. Charleville were leading by two points with the same number of minutes remaining when the Kilavullen inside forwards forced a 65 from the Charleville defence. Colm O’Mahony lobbed the ball in and it deceived the goalkeeper and the Charleville backs and ended up in the back of the net giving Killavullen a one point lead.
Following the puck out Charleville won a free and in the subsequent play the ball was pointed leaving the teams all square. The referee blew the fulltime whistle shortly after, leaving the score Killavullen 6-9 to Charleville’s 7-6.
Sustenance and stretching were the order of the day during the five minute interval before the first period of extra time commenced.
Charleville started the first period stronger with a goal inside the opening few minutes. Killavullen responded with a point and a well worked team goal from Owen Magner pushing them into a one point lead as the half time whistle sounded.
The teams were level on two subsequent occasions after the second period of extra time started. As time went on the superior numbers on the Charleville panel told as they finished the game stronger and won the match. The final score was Killavullen 7-11, Charleville 9-10.
This was a brilliant team performance from Killavullen where the 12 panel members give their all on what was a very warm evening for 70 minutes of hurling (extra time included).
Credit must be given to the hard working defence, strong midfield and high scoring attack in which Owen Magner scored five goals and a number of points.
RESULTS – Killavullen V Charleville – under-12 A11 Hurling League Final in Buttevant on June 7 – Charleville win 9-10 to 7-11
Killavullen V Kilshannig – under-14 A Football League in Glantane on June 9 – Killavullen win 3-07 to 2-9
Killavullen V Liscarroll Churchtown Gaels – Junior A Hurling championship on Sunday, June 10, in Doneraile – Killavullen win 2-18 to 1-17
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES – Division 2 hurling league concluding game is earmarked for June 20 in Killavullen.
LOTTO – There was no winner of the lotto last week end when the lotto jackpot stood at €1,900. The latest numbers drawn last Tuesday night were 20, 30 and 34 – No Winner. The lucky-dip winners were as follows: €50 Neca O’Gorman – Seller Magners Bar; €30 P Dennehy – Seller Griffins Bar; €20 Olive Feore – Seller Billy Feore. The next draw for €2,000 will be in the Haven Bar
GOLF CLASSIC
The entire buzz is about our forthcoming golf classic, with only four or so teams yet to be filled. With a number of personnel from Killavullen very involved in the day to day operations of Doneraile Golf club, Killavullen GAA will have a golf classic in this very picturesque venue on June 23. The format will be a champagne scramble, which should make for lively scoring.
You can enter your team and reserve your slot by email to killavullengolfclassic@outlook.ie or text to John at 086 3934232, Eamonn at 086 – 2563314 or Joe at 086 8641348. Team of three persons – €120 with meal
Excellent prizes have been arranged with golf outings arranged for Castlemartyr, Fota and Waterville links course, so those prizes are certainly worth getting excited about. Graham Conway will sponsor the longest drive competition, and other decent prizes for nearest the pin too, so, good, bad and indifferent golfers will all have something to aim for.
DRINK TEA FOR MND
On Wednesday night, the 20th, even if you have only a fleeting interest in Gaelic games, you might drop down to the club house, and drink tea for the Motor Neurone Association.
Killavullen play Shanballymore on that night, in the final instalment of the Division 2 hurling league at 7.30 PM, an Under-sixes blitz has been arranged for both fields between 6.30 and 7.30 and a girls game in on also in pitch two, so loads of persons should be around.
This fundraiser for MND is being organised by Killavullen GAA Club, in conjunction with the Mellerick family, so why not drop into the grounds, and give some money to those collecting for this most worthy of causes. Tea or coffee and selections of cakes and home baking will be available on the night in return for your donations.