Doon GAA Report 2025

The club rang in 2025 with a very special feeling- Reigning County Senior Hurling champions for the first time.

The first event of the year was our Dinner Dance in February to honour our 2024 champions. Held in the beautiful Radison Blu hotel on the Ennis Road with a huge crowd, it was a night to remember. Our special guest on the night was Jarlath Burns, the current GAA President and his and the other speeches left everyone on the toes. It was a wonderful night to celebrate this special occasion, and I would like to thank our organising committee for making it such a wonderful event.

Before the playing year started, our Finance committee aided by our Senior hurlers set about selling advertising boards for around our playing pitch. This was a huge success, and a very welcome income stream badly needed to keep our club afloat. A huge thanks to everyone involved in getting this off the ground and to all the businesses who supported us.

The playing season got underway with our adult teams returning to gym training early in the new year. Fielding 4 adult teams again this year along with u18 and u20, it is always going to be difficult to coordinate, but the different groups worked in tandem with each other to make it work.

The senior team, minus the players on county panels worked hard in training to prepare for the championship, and competed in the East Senior league as well as playing many good challenge games during the year,

When the championship started in August, we went unbeaten through our 5 group games, beating Patrickswell, Ballybrown and Ahane and drawing with Na Piarsaigh and Kilmallock. This saw us straight through to a semi final where we met Ballybrown in Kilmallock. On a difficult day with a strong wind we took over in the second half and ran out comfortable winners to set up a another county final meeting with Na Piarsaigh,

On 19 October 2025 in the Gaelic Grounds, the 2 teams squared up to each other again. In a very good game which swang both ways, a very good second half performance appeared to have us in a great position in injury time but a late Na Pairsaigh goal took the game to extra time. Unfortunately Na Piarsaigh were the better team in extra time and took the title. Well done to the team and management on reaching back to back finals and almost getting over the line.

Our Junior A team had a very successful year, winning the Brian Butler Cup and the County Junior A league in the early part of the year.

In the championship, we won 4 out of our 5 group games to qualify directly for a county semi final. Meeting our old foes, Caherline, this was a tight game played in Fedamore and we came out on top to reach the County Premier Junior Final against Knockaderry. Played on Saturday 18 October in Kilmallock the team pit up a great performance but luck wasn’t with us on the day and we came agonisingly short in the end , losing by 1 point

Our Junior B team beat Fedamore easily in the East Final and Na Piarsaigh in the county quarter final to get us to the county semi final. We came up against Ballybrown’s second team, which was a huge ask for our third team and after a big performance we were unable to match the strength of Ballybrown.

Our Junior C team (our 4^th adult hurling team ) won 4 of their group championship games to set up a quarter final appearance against Na Piarsaigh which we won confortably. At the time of writing this article we are waiting to play Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan in the county semi final.

Our u18 team had a hugely successful year winning the County Premier Minor final, After a poor opening game in Ahane where the team learned a few home truths, we put in 2 huge performances to qualify for a semi final. As rank outsiders of the 4 teams left in the competition the lads put in a huge performance in the county semi final against a very fancied Na Piarsaigh team to win and set up a county final against Ahane, who had already beaten us by 17 points in an earlier round. On a wonderful occasion and with a great team performance in Cappamore on the day, we were crowned County Champions.   

At the time of writing this report, we have just started our u20 championship with a win over Ahane, with further group games to come against Murroe Boher and Monaleen.    

I would like to thank all our players and management teams for their efforts and huge work out in during the year.

To our great supporters and all of our sponsors , without your continued support , it would not be possible to keep so many teams going to such a high level. Thank you again.    

  Doon GAA Juvenile Review of 2025

Historically Doon GAA were blessed with a tradition of having a strong vibrant Underage Setup and thankfully throughout 2025 this tradition has continued and prospered following our Senior Hurlers winning our first ever County Senior Hurling Title in the Clubs’s history in 2024. Thankfully our Club has numerous Parents, Guardians, Coaches & Mentors who gladly give their time in nurturing our Players to develop the skill of hurling along with building friendships, a sense of community and a love of all things Red & White. 

Our U13, U14, U15 (Féile), U16 & U17 age groups competed competitively in in their respective championships / league competitions, while our U8, U10, U11 & U12s played in the GoGames series and our Nursery (U6) had much fun in developing their hurling Skills every Saturday morning which culminated with a very successful Blitz with our near neighbours Cappamore to finish off their year.

Our Juvenile Club owes a depth of gratitude to both our Primary Schools, and our Secondary School who in parallel promote our games and compete competitively in various School Competitions throughout the school year.

Throughout the year Doon GAA Healthy Club provided a variety fruit platters following Saturday morning training sessions and blitzes, this initiative provides fruit to our Players, Parents, Mentors and Visitors and encourages our Youth Members to consider a healthy treat occasionally.

Our Juvenile Year “kicked off” in earnest following the Club’s Road Hurling Tournament held on St. Patrick’s weekend. 

 U16 / U17 Hurling:

The 2025 U17 “A” league was based on 3 groups. Two of the groups had 3 teams, and the third had four competing teams. Our group consisted of Doon, Ahane & Monaleen. After a solid spell of preseason training and a challenge game against Kildangen, Doon’s campaign began at home against Ahane on the 1^st April where Doon recorded a 4-11 to 1-09 victory over their opponents.  Round 2 resulted in a loss to Monaleen at home on a score line of 2.09 – 0.18. Score difference and positive draw meant Doon qualified for the league final playing Kilmallock. The league final was played on a sunny evening, 2^nd May in Martinstown where after a gallant effort, Doon came undone in the final quarter by a very strong Kilmallock side. Doon died on their swords on the night and all were very proud of them. The campaign was concluded with the group enjoying some food & each other’s company in the clubhouse.

Our U17 Panel comprised of players aged 13 and up, their love of both parish & club was evident and proved to be a vital factor later in the year when many of the core Players played vital roles when our Minor Team secured Premier A success.

Upon closure of the U17 hurling season, Doon U16 had a Championship to look forward to, competing in the “B” Championship for 2025. Our Panel consisted of U14, U15 & U16’s and with the Championship being played during peak holiday summer months we relied much on our younger panel members to field Teams. Injury sidelined a number of Players across the campaign throughout the year.

Our opponents were Kildimo-Pallaskenry (away), Bruff (home), Patrickswell (away), Hospital-Herbertstown (home), Pallasgreen (away) & Dromcollogher Broadford (home). We recorded a win against Bruff and were desperately unlucky not to have wins in at least three other games.

Ultimately, we failed to qualify for the playoffs and our season ended with a loss to Dromcollogher Broadford at home. Again, during the closing stages of the campaign our core U16 Players were focusing on the Premier Minor Championship as the prepared for the County Final.

U15 Féile nGael hurling:

Our U15’s competed in the preliminary rounds of Division “1A” of the Féile Competition on the 19^th April in Caherdavin when we played Na Piarsaigh, Mungret St Paul’s and Monaleen in a Blitz arrangement across the morning. Our Panel predominantly consisted of our U14 Players and a number of U12 Players and when entering the Competition, we were aware of the monumental task ahead. The playing squad will remain similar for the coming season, and we know that the experience of competing at Division “1A” in 2025 will be of benefit.

U14 Hurling:

Our U14s entered Division 1 of the Championship for 2025 where we were pitted against Na Piarsaigh, Monaleen, Mungret St. Paul’s, Ballybrown, Murroe Boher and Ahane. Throughout the league element of the Championship, we held our own for the majority of the matches and were unlucky not to have been victorious against some of the stronger City Teams at the final whistle.

We progressed to a Sheild Semi Final where we were victorious over Ahane on a scoreline of 3.11 – 1.10. Our Season culminated with a Shield Final playing our fellow East Limerick Side Murroe Boher where we lost out by the slimmest of margins with a scoreline of 0.11 – 0.10. Our Team should great spirit in competing having been down by 5 points at half time.

Thanks to Tomás & Majella Hanrahan of Forestlink who kindly sponsored tops for our U14s on the day. 

Our year ended on a positive note when John Moloney (formerly of Kilmoylan) brought a selection of Éire Óg of Cork U13 & U14 Players to Toher Road to play in the reestablished Willie Deere Challenge.  Following a 3 Game Blitz between evenly matched Teams the Willie Deere Cup remains in Doon for another year.

U13 Hurling:

Our U13 Panel consisted of Players from our U10, U11, U12 Age Groups and were entered in Division 1 of the U13 League. The U13 League is played prior to the commencement of the U14 Championship. We played Granagh Ballingarry at home and Mungret St. Paul’s away. Both opposition teams were very competitive, but the matches afforded our younger players the chance of playing their first competitive games in the Red and White in preparation for their transition from the GoGames to Championship.

The Panel travelled to Borris-in-Ossory / Kilcotton GAA grounds in June to participate in the LJ Drennan Memorial Tournament. We played Borris, Camross & Kiladangan in our Group and lost out in the Semi-Final to a stronger Roscrea side on the day.

At the time of compiling our Annual Review of 2025 we are preparing to partake in the inaugural Brother Cunningham Tournament hosted by Middleton GAA Club in his memory and are scheduled to play a selection of U13 Teams from across Munster. Brother Cunningham has relations in the Parish, thought in St. Fintan’s Secondary School and his Great Grand Nephews Ryan Stapelton will line out for Doon on the day and Barry Murphy a current Senior Player for both Doon and Limerick.

U12 Hurling:

Our U12 played in the GoGames series throughout the year playing several games against city and East Limerick sides in preparation for their transition to U13 competitive league / championship next year.

During the year the U12’s were selected to partake in the Croke Parke Active Days with involves a trip to Croke Park, a Museum & Stadium Tour and most importantly the opportunity of playing 3 Matches on the hallowed turf of Croke Park. We had a very successful day with 27 Players playing games against Valley Rovers (Innishannon, Cork), Naomh Bríd (Waterford) & Abbeydorney (Kerry) on a memorable day in Croke Park.

Participation in the Croke Parke Active Days would not have been possible without the support of the Donnacha Ryan Luke Memorial Truck and Tractor Run, who kindly donated the cans and bottles from their fundraiser in June. Thanks to the Parents who helped collect the empties throughout the evening and those who subsequently returned them at local vending machines. Additionally, thanks to Paddy Dakar who gave a kind donation towards the cost of the Bus for the trip.

Our Cul Camp ran from the 14^th to the 18^th of July with 84 attendees. A great time was had by all.

In September we had our annual Trip to Rathdowney Errill GAA Club in Laois partaking in the Darren Hickey Memorial Tournament where we played Emeralds (Kilkenny) Clough / Ballacolla (Laois) in the Group stages, Moyne Templetuohy (Tipperary) in the semi-final and progressed to the final where we had the slimmest of winning margins over Emeralds on full time.

Paudie & Róisín Maher of Maher Contractors kindly sponsored a set of Jerseys for our U12s.

U11 Hurling:

Our U11 Hurlers participated in their GoGames throughout the year together with several friendly outings across the season. The highlight of the Year was the playing in the Munster Active Day series of Games at the home of Hurling, Semple Stadium Thurles. Following the Stadium Tour, they played Inniscarra (Cork), Borrisokane & Moyne Templetuohy (Tipperary).

In September they competed in the Seán Ryan Cup hosted by Cappamore GAA where they played, Claughan, Cappamore & Drommin / Athlacca in the Group Stage. They subsequently missed out in the final when the match went to sudden death following the conclusion of Extra Time.

John O’Leary of Argo Civils, Plant Ltd. kindly sponsored a set of Jerseys for our U11s.

U10 & U8 Hurling:

Our U10 & U8 Hurlers trained across the season and completed in their respective GoGames fixtures throughout the year.

Nursery / U6 Hurlers:

The nursery is a mixed boys and girls who come together every Saturday morning at our GAA field. It’s a concept that is well established within our Club and continues to grow and improve each year when new volunteers bring their ideas and techniques to Nursery. The Group consists of Players up to age 6 who participate in various fundamental movements and hurling activities such as running, bending, hand to eye co-ordination, communication, which enhances the skillset being learned and perfected. The theme has always been may-hem and fun for all, the mix of colour and fun is infectious, and one cannot but help but smile and engage. Their year culminated in a home Blitz with our near neighbours Cappamore with Fruit Platters provided by Doon GAA Healthy Club.

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