GAA appoints team managers

The February meeting of the local GAA club was on Friday. Among the items attended to was the appointment of managers to the intermediate football team and the junior hurlers.
The grading of the minor hurlers was also discussed. While the minor hurlers won the South Tipp B title last year and reached the county final, some felt that the team this year would not be strong enough to compete in the A grade where they had been placed by the South Board.

A number were aggrieved that no representations had been made to the South Board by the club administrators not had any attempt been made to avail of the gradings appeal procedure.
The net result is that it is now too late to alter the gradings and that Mullinahone will be competing in the South Tipp A minor hurling championship in 2005.

Manager will be Martin Cody, Poulacapple. The minor footballers will be in action first and their management team needs to be put in place quickly.

The junior hurlers who reached the South Tipp semi-final last year, losing to eventual county champions, Ballyneale, will be managed again in 2005 by Jackie Bolger.

In 2000 Mullinahone won the county intermediate football final giving some great displays.
They began in 2001 in senior ranks with a bang, beating Fethard in Cloneen in the first round of the championship. However, the effort then began to falter and the rot began to set in leading to relegation play-offs in 2002 and 2003, which they survived.

However, 2004 brought a new low when they lost their first round games in county and South Championships to Loughmore and Cahir by a combined total of over 50 points.
They were again in the relegation play-offs and this time it was the earlier relegation play-off games which were the more winnable.

In the final play-off game, defeat by J.K. Brackens (Templemore) sent the locals back to intermediate.

After a very close contest for the position of manager the football leader for 2005 will be Michael Scott who has been football manager in the club for some years.
Perhaps the fact that the club has a player involved with the county senior football team will be a positive influence.

The words of the Mullinahone fifteen come to mind:
“Long life to you Ned Egan, you were never known to slack.
You were known throughout all Ireland as Tipperary’s great full-back.
And you never let us down, no you never let us down.
You are our gallant captain from the heart of Kickham’s town.”

Restaurant – Within the last decade some very fine buildings have been erected or restored locally. One of these was the Courthouse Restaurant with its lovely stone-faced frontage at the start of Killaghy Street.

The restaurant has been closed for some time but has now reopened under new managmenet.
Chef Adrian who is from the South of England has extensive experience in the catering trade and has worked as a chef in local hotels in Kilkenny. Alice is a member of the Grincell family from the Slate Quarries.

Chiropodist – The chiropodist will not visit in February. Next visit is March 28.
social club – Senior citizens are wondering when is the Knocknagow social club to re-open.
In previous years this used to be early to mid-February.

Lotto – The local lotto jackpot was not won on February 7. Numbers: 20, 21, 23 and 26. Three shared the match three prize of e150: Hannah and Jack McCarthy, Killaghy; Danny and Jenny Morrissey, Ballyvadlea; Deirdre O’Sullivan, Carrick Street.
On February 21 the jackpot could be e€2,200.

Big days – Important dates in the parish are
April 20, which is Confirmation Day.
May 21, First Holy Communion Day in St Michael’s Church.

Devotions – Stations of the Cross and Benediction will be held in St Michael’s Church each Sunday during Lent at 7pm.

Each Sunday is devoted to certain townlands. Sunday was for Clonagoose, Gurteen, Raheen, Bawnavrona, Gortnasceiche, Newlands, Jamestown, Kyleaglanna, Kyleaduhir, Graigue, Kylemore and Modeshill.

School – Anybody wishing to enrol their child in Kilvemnon NS for September 2005 may obtain an enrolment form by calling to the school. All enrolment forms should be returned by March 23. Enquiries: 052-53342.

Worth a look – Visitors to the village should take a look at the display in Kelly’s window on the Square. The display features the local women footballers who had a very successful year in 2004 and won a number of county competitions.

Under-16 – The underage club has appointed Sergeant Sean Walzer as manager of the under-16 team.
Sergeant Walzer is putting together a team of helpers.
Included is Liam Whelan, Modeshill who helped train the successful under-16’s last year.
A large under-16 panel has already started training.

Review – The recent review of events in Mullinahone ended with the week of the local elections. The following week saw a large number of events competing for headlines.

• The county senior hurlers fell to Clare in Cork while the local senior hurlers beat Cashel to win their section in the county championship.
• A new health centre was okayed as Eddie O’Meara MCC was returned to the county council on the first count.
• Next week locals mourned the loss of the famous smile from down under when Bro Joseph Crowley died in Australia.
• The minor hurlers had a good win when competition resumed after the exams in July.
• The legend of the well at Mullinadubrid was told.
• Mary Denny received a guard of honour from Callan Bridge Club.
• Kickham County weekend again brought Mullinahone to prominence.
• Mid-August brought the wedding of John Quirke and his bride on honeymoon in Phuket.
• Cissie Maher, Ballycullen passed away. Her death at a great age brought an era to an end.
• August ended with Jackie Bolger trying to emulate Boyle Roche’s legendary bird which had the gift of bilocation.

Darts – On Monday a former world champion Denis Priestly will visit Mullinahone.
Denis Priestly was twice world darts champion. Over the last 15 years he has won tournaments all over the world.

Next Monday he will pit his skills against Mullinahone’s finest in Quirke’s Castle View.
The exhibition starts at 8pm and promises to be a great night. Proceeds from a special raffle go to Knocknagow social club.