20/02/2024: Here is all the latest news from Kildysart GAA club. We are excited that the new season is upon us and we wish all teams and players the very best.
Fixtures:
U18 Spring League - The Kildysart/Coolmeen U18 team kicks off the 2024 season with a home match on Sunday at 11:00 (25th February) when they take on Cooraclare. Doonbeg and Kilrush/Kilimer are also in our group. There are 18 teams in the competition made up of 2 groups of 4 and 2 groups of 5. The top team in each group plays in the Division 1 Cup semi-final, with the 2nd placed team in each group vying for the Division 1 Shield. The third-placed teams will compete in the Division 2 Cup semi and the fourth-placed teams are in the Division 2 Shield semi-final. A reminder that this is a league competition and not a championship.
Seniors: It’s Friday Nights Lights for the Cusack Cup opener as Kildysart travels to Miltown to take on the reigning Garry Cup champions on Friday 15th March. It was April 2022 when Kildysart last faced Miltown in the league and the Blues ran out big winners 4-15 to 1-4 in front of a home crowd. Miltown ended up being relegated that year but the Claret and Amber spent just 1 year in the second division, bouncing back to the top tier with their win over Doora Barefield.
The Seniors will once again compete in the 19th annual John O’Gorman Cup and will travel to Lissycasey on Saturday 2nd March for the opener. Last year when these two teams met in the Cusack Cup, it was agreed that the result would double up for the O’Gorman Cup as well. The match was played in Clareabbey where two Keith Murphy goals edged Kildysart in front 2-9, 1-10. Click to see the 2023 match report. Doonbeg, Miltown and Naomh Eoin are also taking part.
The Junior Men are competing in the Division 6 league with Clarecastle, Clooney-Quin, Doonbeg, Parteen-Meelick, St Breckans, and Doora Barefield. They hit the road for their opener as they face the Magpies in Clarecastle on bank holiday Monday 18th March.
The Junior Ladies will once again compete in Division 4, with their first match taking place on or before 10th March. Fixtures will be published once they are known.
U16 Ladies will travel to Meelick for the Division 4 opener on or before 26th March. Doora Barefield and Kilmihil are also in their group, with the semi-final groupings being 1v4 and 2v3.
The U10 & U12 boys have been active for the past few weeks taking part in mini leagues at the Kilmihil Astro Turf.
Please check the Clubzap Games tab or the website fixtures listing for all up-to-date fixtures and results.
Development Squads: Kildysart is well represented on Clare teams and development squads:
· U13: Olivia O’Shea, Sarah Garry, Cara Tompkins
· U14: Alex Garry, Robbie Kelly, William Neenan, Andrew Watson, Jamie Eyres, Fionn Connelly, Aaron Connelly, Joe Doohan
· U15: Reuben Ginnane, Ben Sheehan, Siney Neenan
· U16: Liam Casey
Shop: The club is now operating a shop at (most) home matches serving coffee/tea, minerals/water, and bar/sweets. The shop is located in the kitchen in the clubhouse and will be open for the U18 match this Sunday (25th). Please enter via the main clubhouse door and exit via the kitchen door and follow the footpath around the Labasheeda side of the clubhouse. Lotto will also be on sale and cash or card will be accepted.
Scoreboard: The only thing missing now from our first-class pitch is a modern scoreboard and the club is seeking 1-2 sponsors to partner with to make this happen. Please contact Noelie Garry at (087) 980 1985 to discuss the options available.
Field Signage: The club will soon be offering field signage on our fencing around the field. More details will be posted in the coming weeks.
Allianz League: Diarmuid O’Donnell made his Allianz League debut on Sunday last in smashing style, playing a key part in Clare’s 1-point win over Offaly (2-10, 1-12). Having been sprung from the bench in the 44th minute with Clare soon to be 9 points down, O’Donnell slotted over two points and was in the right place to volley home a rebound to the back of the net. The goal, the in 70th minute, allowed the Banner to draw level with the Faithful County. Clare pulled ahead by 2 points only for Offaly to be awarded a penalty – in what would be the final kick of the game. Mercifully for Clare, the ball was put over the bar and Clare came home with the 2 points. Emmet McMahon was 100% accurate from place balls scoring all three of his attempts.
Clare sits mid-table in Division 3 and will host Wicklow on Sunday in Cusack Park at 2pm. Sunday will also see Kildysart under-age take to the pitch in Cusack Park as the Kildysart/Coolmeen U11 boys and Kildysart Ladies U11’s will form a mixed team and will play at halftime. Tickets to Sunday's match can be purchased here.
Lidl Ladies National Football League: Clare Ladies have not been beaten in the league this season and are one win away from securing Division 2 status for 2025. The Banner travel to the Wee County this Sunday to take on Louth.
Membership: The club offers the choice of membership or lotto/membership combined. There are also family and multiple children discounts available. The rates remain the same as in 2022 and 2023. As per GAA rules, all membership is due by 1st January each year and all those who are not including the lotto with their membership will have received renewal emails and should please renew as soon as possible. For those availing of lotto membership, a text message/email will be sent out when your 2023 lotto subscription has expired. All Membership can be renewed here.
Lotto: The jackpot is €4,600 and three tickets can be purchased for as little as €5 with no commitment by tapping here. Lotto is also available in the pubs and shops and outside Centra on Friday and Saturday from 10-1pm.
