DOON GAA (2008)
Senior:
It gives me great pleasure to give you an account of our Club this year. Our
senior team had a very good start to the year. The seniors won the County League
and only suffered one defeat to Patrickswell. The team was captained by Derek
Ryan.
The most significant aspect this year was succeeding in beating Patrickswell in
the Senior Championship. This was the first time the win was achieved and it
gave a great spirit to the team.
The senior team qualified for the last eight, reaching quarter-final stages in
the championship, but had to give best to a superior Ahane team. They also
qualified for the East Final with an under strength team, were beaten by
Murroe-Boher. It finished disappointingly because there is more potential in
this team. Manager Denis Barry, Selectors, Denis Kennedy, John Stokes, Coach;
Tony Trehy, First Aid: John Collins.
Junior A
The Junior A team won the East Junior League and were beaten by Effin in the
County Semi-Final. This team also qualified for the East Junior Championship
Final but were beaten by Ahane in terrible weather conditions in Caherally. The
Junior A team were later defeated by Monagea in the County quarter final. The
team was captained by James Fox and was managed by Jim McGrath, selector Liam
Kennedy, First Aid Con Barry.
Junior B
The Junior B team qualified for the East League final beating Caherline,
Ballybricken, Pallas and Murroe but were beaten by Caherline in the League
Final. They went on to beat St. Mary’s Rathkeale, the West Champions and
are now in Co. Championship semi-final awaiting a replay against Bruree.
The Captain was Dan Holmes, Manager, Mike Ryan (B) Selectors Patsy Ryan
(R) Paddy Coleman. First Aid Con Barry.
U21
This team started the season losing to Murroe-Boher, later had victories over
St. Ailbe’s and Ahane to qualify for the East Final. In a close hard fought
battle we were fortunate to draw and had a comfortable victory in the replay.
Next was Granagh / Ballingarry in the County Quarter final; they showed great
talent and proved this is a good team. Kilmallock is our next game in County
Semi - Final on Sunday 16th November. (Unfortunately a narrow defeat). Team
captain - George Allis, Manager: Brian Treacy, Selectors: Tom Murphy, Paddy
Maloney, Liam Kennedy. First Aid: Con Barry.
Minors
The Minors had a good campaign; they reached the City / East Final. They
were beaten by Killultea / Gaels but qualified to go through to Division 1
County Semi Final. They defeated Blackrock and are now awaiting Newcastle
West in the final on Sunday 9th November. Best wishes to all the panel:
Captain: Jack O’Connell, Manager: Sean Lysaght, Selectors; James O’Brien,Tom Murphy, Paddy Coleman.
Doon was proudly represented on the Limerick Senior team this year by
Michael Fitzgerald and Denis Maloney. On the Intermediate team we had
David Stapleton, Michael McKenna and Niall Maher.
U21 - Niall Maher, Minor - Cathal McNamara, U16 - Martin Byrnes, Gerard
McPartland, U-15 - Liam Ryan (5), Colm 0 Cummin. U-14 Darragh
Stapleton. INTO Mini-sevens: Croke Park - Dean Coleman and Stephen
Ryan. Primary Game in Thurles, Pat Ryan (5).
Congratulations to Shane Whelan, Cullen Road, Oola, who was selected Junior B
East Hurler of the Year. Shane is son of Mary and John and is a very dedicated
player. Best of luck Shane and continued success.
We have plenty of talent on our teams and with good support and encouragement we
will bring a Senior County Championship to Doon in the near future.
The Club would like to thank all those who volunteer their time to coach and
prepare our Players, Managers, Selectors, Coaches, First Aid. Thanks also to our
hard working Lotto Committee. Many thanks to Denis Kennedy who looks after the
field and has everything in place, also for his help and support. Sympathies to
all who have lost loved ones during the year.
Runaí,
Caitlín Uí Riain (S).
Niall Maher U21 East Hurler of the Year 2008. Congratulations to Niall Maher who
was selected East U- 21 hurler of the year. Niall is son of Mairéad and Niall
Toomaline and are a very proud hurling family. Niall showed his talent at a
young age and played on the Limerick Primary School Team. He has played
underage, minor and was part of this year’s U21 panel. His brothers Pádraig,
Rodger and Cathal also hurl and his sister Cathy will wear the Doon jersey in
the future. His Uncles Eamon, Sean, Rodgie, Jimmy all wore the Doon jersey with
pride. His late Granddad Paddy Creamer won 3 County Senior Championships with
Cappamore and 3 with Ahane and a National League Medal with Limerick, and his
Uncle Pa played with Limerick in the late eighties. Niall was East Intermediate
Hurler of the Year 2007. Niall is a current player on our Senior Team. Best of
Luck Niall and hope you have a long and fruitful career on the playing fields.
DOON UNDERAGE REPORT 2008
Our U16 team worked very hard all year under the guidance of manager Niall Maher
and his selectors James O’Donovan and Gerdie McGrath. Playing in Division 1 they
played 9 games in their championship beating Mungret, Ahane, Claughaun,
Patrickswell, Na Piarsaig, Newcastle West, Deel Rangers and Na Fianna while
losing to Kilmallock and Adare. This qualified them for a county semi-final
where they went under to a very strong Adare side. They gave many great
performances during the year and proved themselves a very credible 3rd best team
in the county.
Our U14 team started the year by winning the East Féile na Gael competition
beating Ahane in the final. In the championship we again beat Ahane to win the
EAST final before going under to Patrickswell in the county semi final by a few
points. This game, played in Monaleen, was a great performance from our lads who
only succumbed to a much physically stronger Patrickswell team in the final few
minutes. In the county league we got to the county semi final before losing to
Adare in a replay.
This team was looked after by manager Jim McGrath and his selectors Ger
McNamara, Rodgie Maher, Fr. Ryan and Eddie Stapleton.
Our U12 team under the guidance of Br. Dormer and Joanne Breen won all their
games to again reach the EAST final versus Ahane. In this game, played in
Cappamore, scores were tight and we were well in contention for most of the game
before eventually going under by 3 points. We were beaten by a very strong
Mungret team in the county semi-final. In the County league we had some great
wins over Kilmallock, Bruff and Patrickswell before again going out to Mungret
in the semi-final.
Our U10’s were looked after this year by Jack Ryan, Alan and Barry O’Brien and
Colin O’Dwyer. They played in an all county blitz in September against Hospital,
St. Liberties, Ballybrown, Pallas, Bruff and Mungret. Along the way they also
played challenge games against Murroe-Boher and Garryspillane. At the time of
writing a Doon tournament hosting Cappamore, Pallasgreen, Sean Treacy’s and
ourselves is being organised having fallen foul of the weather in October.
Our U6 and U8s continue to show their enthusiasm to learn our game every
Saturday morning. In May we took part in a 4 week blitz playing 3 games every
Saturday against Cappamore, Pallas and Kilteely. We also hosted a very
successful U8 tournament during the year. Along the way we also played challenge
games against Pallas, Cappamore and Monaleen (twice), Sean Treacy’s, Pallasgreen
and Cappamore. This young group was looked after by Mark Doyle, Declan Ryan,
Anne McPartland and Francis Cummins.
In July our very successful VHI Cul Camp was again held with over 6o boys and
girls enjoying themselves and improving their skills along the way.
Declan Ryan