GAA Report 2005

G.A.A. News

2005 was a very enjoyable year for Doon with our underage teams in particular enjoying a great deal of success. At our A.G.M. it was decided to form a Club na n6g to concentrate on our underage teams. Bro. Dormer took the chairperson's role with Ann McPartland as secretary. This was a successful initiative which encouraged a great deal of parental involvement in our underage teams. 2005 also marked the sad passing of our life President, Bill Lonergan. Bill was one of our best ever hurlers and a lifelong supporter.

The Doon senior team began the year brightly playing well and winning the all county league. The serious injury of forward, Don Anderson in a car accident caused a great deal of concern. Thankfully Don made a full recovery and is back involved as a selector with the U21 side. Doon were narrowly beaten in the East Final by Murroe/Boher. The county senior championship was not a memorable one for Doon. In the first game we beat newcomers Dromin/Athlacca but then lost to Adare and Tournafulla. On a positive note, several excellent young players emerged. Andrew Mackey Declan Ryan and Michael Ryan are to be thanked for their dedication during the long playing season. The junior A team played very well at times recording some big wins. However a surprise defeat to Fedamore put us out of the East Championship at semi­final stage. At the time of writing we have reached the Brian Butler Cup final. The junior B team made a great effort training regularly but despite a great performance were beaten by Ballybricken in the east championship. Anthony Fahey deserves great credit in reactivating players and creating a very enjoyable set up. The late Tom O'Brien would have enjoyed this team's progress. Our junior A team were managed by Mike O'Connell, Roger Maher and Denis Ryan. The minor team had a disappointing year after the excellent campaigns of previous years. Doon reached the semi final but lost out to a determined Patrickswell side. Two minor players, George Allis and Micheal Ryan provided great local interest in Limerick's tremendous run in the All Ireland championship. Both players showed great commitment to play on All Ireland day. Jim McGrath, Ollie Walsh, Roger Maher and Derek Ryan have worked for several seasons with our minor team.

The Ui6 team were very young this year and competed in the Division i championship. The team enjoyed a perfect competition winning every game. In the final at Bruff, Doon defeated Knockaderry in a well contested game. Congratulations to Sean Lysaght as manager, team trainer Brian Treacy and selectors, Pat Ryan, Myles Treacy, Patrick Coleman and David Stapleton. The U14 team reached the Feile Final losing out to Ahane. However in an inspired performance, Doon turned the tables on Ahane to win the East Final.

Doon eventually went out of the championship to a very strong Na Piarsaigh side. Jim McGrath, Ger McNamara, Michael Carew, Fr. Ryan, Mike Hayes and Barry O'Brien took care of this team.

Bro. Dormer, Brian Stapleton and Willie Reale took charge of the U12, U11 and U10 teams. The U12's  recorded a series of great wins in the east competition but were beaten in the final by Ahane. The Un team beat Ahane in the east ground hurling competition. The Uio team won the A and B competitions in the East Indoor hurling championship at Caherconlish. They also won their group in the city games blitz, beating Kilmallock, Bruff and Croagh, Kilfinny. Our U8 teams played and beat Kilmallock and Sean Treacys as well as taking part in a ground hurling blitz in July where 28 children participated. Seven players played in the primary schools County games winning the County Final. These boys went on to play in Croke Park beating a Waterford team. Joanne Breen, Ann McPartland and Mark Doyle organised these teams. In August we hosted a very well supported summer camp where seventy children participated. The club thanks all those who helped out. Johnny Butler who organised the field received a very well deserved award for his many years service to the club in Caherconlish.

Several young players represented Limerick with Eoin Fitzgibbon at U16; Liam Reale at U15, Cathal McNamara and Martin Byrnes at U14. Cathal won the County Feile Skills competition and did very well in the All Ireland competition. We also had several representatives in Martin, Cathal, Michael Barry, Conor White and Seamus Carew. The club's future looks bright with such talented youngsters emerging.

Liam Kennedy, Secretary

 

Our Doon Heroes

The wonderful campaign of the Limerick Minor Hurling team in 2005 aroused great excitement countrywide, particularly here in Boon as we were represented on the panel by two outstanding young hurlers, George Allis and Micheal Ryan. In a county starved of success at minor level the victories of Limerick over Waterford, Tipperary, Antrim and Dublin built up momentum towards All-Ireland day.   Our two players showed great determination as it took the Limerick selectors quite some time to recognise what we here always knew, that they were well ready for the big stage. Both boys were steeped in hurling tradition from their childhood.  They were both the product of Limerick/Tipperary parenthood - "The perfect combination".

 

Such was the vast numbers of Doon people heading for Croke Park on that September day that the area around the Red Parrot Pub - owned by Doon woman, Colette O'Meara (O'Connor) made the place like a home fromhome.

It was a proud and wonderful day for all Doon people and the sight from the stands and terraces of two of our own on the field of play was something to treasure. Though defeat was Limerick's fate on the day, for these two boys there will be great days yet. They achieved every young hurlers dream to represent your county in Croke Park on All-Ireland day and for

that we congratulate them.

Denis Kennedy

 

 

 

 

 

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Doon are crowned worthy U21 hurling A champions at Bruff

By HARRY GREENSMYTH

Doon 1-16

Adare 2-6

THERE was no slip up by Doon in the county under 21 A hurling final at Bruff last Sunday.

They looked back to the 2004 decider and a last minute goal which sent them back unlucky losers to a famous hurling stronghold and they were determined they would not suffer the same fate when they took on Adare in Kilmallock in yet appearence in the final jump.

Doon with 13 of last year's team eligible to play were firm favourites to win as Adare minus Wayne McNamara had not really impressed on the path to the final obstacle. All the pointers were in the direction of Doon and while they did take the honours the Adare boys gave a good account of themselves as  they fought a brave battle against a classy Doon combination.

Long periods of the well contested hour were controlled by Doon but they never could afford to relax in the face of huge pushes by Adare when things were going badly against them.

The Adare comeback in the second half was mighty as made for some super human efforts by both teams. Granted Doon finished strongly and the better side it was due to some wonderful hurling by the entire team. And the same applies to Adare who had players all over the field to apply sheer courage to stay with the well drilled winning outfit.

Doon made their intentions known as early as the first minute when Denis Moloney made his way from his wing back position to within 40 metres of the Adare to sling over an inspiring point. James Bradshaw and Michael Fitzgerald raised a further two points before James Hickey opened Adare's account. Doon came in for severe testing at this stage and Eddie Kiely and Aidan O'Brien were  working hard to curtail the dangerous attacks set up by Andrew O'Connell and Billy Supple. Doon managed to keep their nose in front and forged ahead 0-8 to 0-4 with the end of the first half in sight.

Then Doon struck for a very important goal via Roger Ryan who took a perfect pass from Micheal Ryan to make it 1-8 to 0-4. There was an exchange of points in advance of the short whistle to leave Doon ahead 1-9 to 0-5.

Michael Fitzgerald who was deadly accurate from frees in the first half started the second half on the same footing. He lifted two more over the bar and the fine attendance were between two minds to strike for home or stay to witness a one way end to a match which was the focus of much attention in the days ahead of the game.

Nobody should have doubted the courage of Adare when the opposition was moving sweetly ahead. They struck with a vengeance to rock Doon. Johnny Fitzgerald burst through for a goal and no sooner had the fire turned to a simmering glow it was red hot when Billy Supple crashed another. And Adare missed to make use of two frees after the lead was cut to a single goal.

Of course there was plenty of time for Doon to recover. An attack which yielded at least three long hand passes went on the wing to Roger Ryan who with the best point of the hour settled Doon and the title was on its way to the hills.

This victory was badly needed in Doon. It was back in 1982 when they won their last under 21 hurling and this fourth is as welcome as any of the other three.

Scorers - Doon - Michael Fitzgerald 0-9, Roger Ryan 1-1, Tomas McLoughlin, Michael Ryan, James Bradshaw, Ger Beary and Denis Moloney 0-1 each. Adare - Johnny Fitzgerald and Billy Supple 1-0 each, Andrew O' Connell 0-2, Ross Kennedy, Diarmuid Sexton, James Hickey and Liam Costello 0-1 each.

Doon: Ciaran Ryan, Morgan Crowe, Aidan O'Brien, Diarmuid Ryan, Denis Moloney, Eddie Kiely, Roger Maher, Jason Ryan, George Allis, James Bradshaw, Ger Beary, Roger Ryan, Micheal Ryan, Tomas McLoughlin, Michael Fizgerald. Sub. Brian Fenton for Allis.

Adare: Shane O'Donoghue, Damien Derwin, Stephen O'Connell, Tony Scanlon, Paul Rohan, Ross Kennedy, David Hannon, Andrew O'Connell, Diarmuid Sexton, Johnny Fitzgerald, Billy Supple, Neil Mulvihill, Mikey Lyons, James Costello, Joey Shire. Subs. Liam Costello for Lyons, Liam Kennedy for Scanlon.

Referee, Mike Sexton, Bruree..