News and Announcements
In Community Games Limekiln won the 4 titles, (i.e. under13 & 15 boys & girls). The boys went on to take silver in the Leinsters, both losing out to Wexford teams.
In the National Feile for underage players, held this year in Clara G.A.A. club, Clara Co. Offaly, Limekiln, having entered teams in all six categories, achieved silver in the under 13 girls and under 16 mixed, both beaten by the Heath. Picked for an exhibition game in Croke Park ( 30/8/2009), on back of their Feile performances were Dylin Clerkin, James Dillon, Adas Bastys, Afrim Hoxha, Molly Meade, Robyn Meade, Kaitainni O'Connell, Diana Russ & Kellie McGhee.
In the All Ireland Minor Championship our Ladies & Mens teams failed to progress beyond the early stages. The Mixed team redressed the balance somewhat by beating the Heath in the Final. (more about that match later).
At Senior level our best performance was by the Men, losing in the semis by 4 runs to the eventual champions Erne Eagles. Our Ladies and Mixed teams going out early. For the first time since their inception, Limekiln failed to gain an All Star award.
Due to a late date change for the James O'Connor cup our Senior Men could not travel. Despite the same change for the Gary Kelly cup our Ladies participated and after a series of games played in bad weather, met and defeated St. Clares 8-1 in the final. Well done the Ladies.
On three Sundays in a row, Dene Duggan captained a team to the top( in three different competitions), a remarkable performance by any standards.
First up was our own “Limekiln Challenge Cup”, held on the 27th.Sept. in Tymon Park. This was a great day, with decent weather, plenty of refreshments and some tough matches. After progressing through the preliminary rounds and a playoff game, the Limekiln team captained by Dene, contested the final against Cuchullains of Ballon Co. Carlow. After a closely fought match, Limekiln scored the winning run when a Darren Goode hit brought Shane Molloy racing home. The game was probably lost by the visitors on two overthrows to Carmel Maloney on 1st. Base, which the home side took full advantage of. Carmel was the top performer for the visitors, with five outs and 1 run scored. For the home team, Shane Molloy showed what a fine leadoff hitter he is, with a 100% on base rate and a 75% scoring rate. ( 3 runs including the winner.) Top fielder for Limekiln was Darren Goode with 6 outs. Team selections, Cuchullains :-: Carmel Moloney 1/B, Joey Abbey Pitcher, Alex O’Brien catcher, Matty Dowling o/f Irene O’Byrne i/f. John Brennan o/f. Chantelle Cole 2/b. Stephen Kirwan o/f. Nicky Brennan 3/b. Craig Doyle Sub. Limekiln :-: Shane Molloy o/f, Nicole Rock 3/b, Darren Goode o/f, Mick O’Connell C, Dene Duggan P, Shannon Kelly o/f, Shauna Reilly1/b, Stephen Rock o/f, Marian Hughes 2/b.We thank everyone who took part on the day and helped to make for a hugely enjoyable event .It was great to see so many former players joining in.
On the following Sunday (4th. Oct.) , Dene led out the Minor team to face The Heath in the All Ireland Minor Mixed Final, played at St. Endas ground in Ballyboden. For four innings, Limekiln played almost perfect rounders. But in the 5th with the winning post in sight, began to leak runs. Nerves of both players and supporters became frayed before the ship was steadied and Limekiln ran out worthy winners by 13 runs to 10. Man of the match being Dene himself, having accounted for the first 8 outs. This was an outstanding win for Limekiln who struggled in the recent past to make any impression at underage level against the Heath. Limekiln line up :-: Shauna Reilly 1/b, Shannon Kelly 2/b, Megan McKevitt 3/b, Craig O’Doherty catcher, Dene Duggan captain & pitcher, Stephen Rock o/f, Philip Hudson o/f, Darragh Clerkin o/f, Yvonne Healy o/f. Subs Dylan Clerkin, James Dillon & Nicole Rock.
The hat-trick of wins came when Limekiln paid a visit to Ballon for a blitz competition to commemorate 125 years of the G.A.A. on Sunday11-10-09. Limekiln were pitted in the final, against their rivals of two weeks back, Cuchullains. In the first two innings, although fielding well, because of failing to sparkle at bat, having loaded the bases twice without bringing a runner home, Limekiln trailed by 4 runs to nil . The fight back began with the introduction of Adam Riordan to the batting line-up. Adam hit a fine out field drive and although caught out, brought home Eddie Healy, to record Limekilns first run. The fight back continued and with the last inning remaining, Limekiln led 5 runs to 4. Cuchullains at bat, scored the equalling score for three out, leaving Limekiln needing 1 to win. That winning run coming appropriately, when Dene Duggan, raced home from 2nd base, in a nail biting finish, from a hit by Darren Goode, who for the second time in two games against Cuchullains, had batted in the winning run. This was a great win in a thrilling match, with top class performances from players on both sides. It would be wrong to single any one player for special mention in this game, suffice to say it was a fitting finale to the season. Limekiln team :-: Eddie Healy jnr. (catcher), Laura Donnelly 1/b, Lizzie Maguire 2/b, Marion Hughes 3/b, Craig O’Doherty o/f, Darren Goode o/f, Christine Kelly o/f, Shane Molly o/f, Ami Kett sub, Adam Riordan sub, and as pitcher, the outstanding player over the last 3 weeks and surely favourite for player of the year Dene Duggan. Well done Limekiln for a fantastic finish to the season. We thank Cuchullains for hosting this event celebrating 125 years of the G.A.A. Our best wishes to Carmel Maloney, Cuchullains 1/b minder, who was injured during the game and we hope for a speedy recovery to this fine player.
Since its introduction in 2002 Limekiln have contributed greatly to the make up of the All Star selections. With some players being multible winners. The following is a year by year list of those who proudly recieved this accolade.
2002:-: Eddie Healy, Jackie Donnelly, Laura Eagers, Lizzie Maguire, Derek Duggan, Elaine Costello and Richie Costello.
2003:-:Elaine Costello, Adam Riordan, Eddie Healy, Niamh Haverty, and Lizzie Maguire.
2004:-: Eddie Healy,Christine Kelly,Elaine Costello and Lizzie Maguire.
2005:-:Laura Donnelly,Kevin Goode,David Whitson and David Ryan
2006:-:Ami Kett, Christopher Hughes, Daniel Clerkin, Darren Goode, David Ryan, Jackie Donnelly and Laura Donnelly.
2007:-:John Nolan.
2008:-:Carole Hughes,Ami Kett and Laura Donnelly
2009:-: Limekiln suprisingly recieved no award this year.
2010:-:Elaine Costello.
2011:-: Eddie Healy, Christine Kelly, Darren Goode, Michael O'Connell, Christopher Hughes. Gary Kett and Shane Murtagh.
2012:-: Eddie Healy, Darren Goode, Christopher Hughes, Shane Murtagh, Adas Bastys, John Nolan, Laura Eagers and Laura Donnelly.
2013:-: Dylan Clerkin, Amy Donnelly, Laura Eagers, Eddie Healy, C hristopher Hughes, Amy Kett, Lizzie Maguire, Shane Murtagh, Mick O'Connell, David Ryan.
2014:-: Mick O'Connell(1/b), Shane Murtagh(c), Eddie Healy(s/s), Luke Brennan(l/o/f), John Nolan(r/o/f).
Our Minor Men failed to make it through the prelimary rounds. Both the Minor Ladies and Minor Mixed made it to the Finals. The Ladies were beaten 12-10 by Castlebar and the Mixed lost out in a thrilling match to the Heath.
Match of the year for Limekiln, was without doubt, the Senior Mixed final against Cuchullains( of Ballon Carlow).This game took place in Nass G.A.A. club and like a lot of matches this year, was played in terrible weather. The early part of the match went badly for Limekiln, finding themselves 10 runs down after 5 innings. An unlikely fight back however, which coincided with the introduction of Kevin Goode,took place. Over the last two innings, showing great heart and character, in atrocious conditions,the Limekiln players fought back for a remarkable victory.
Congratulations to The Heath on their great performances at underage level. i.e. in Feile, Community Games & Leinsters. ALso in the Minors. Undoubtably Club of the year at this level.
Congratulations, also to Cuchullains, for their fabulous achievement, in becoming All Ireland Senior Mens champions for the 1st, time. Beating in the final the Legendry, multi All Ireland winners and outstanding Senior Mens team over the last decade, Erne Eagles. Well done Cuchullains, keep up the good work.
Community Games Rounders continues to suffer a falloff in teams taking part. Limekiln claiming the four Dublin titles without much opposition. Of those the only team to qualify for the Leinster finals on the 5th. July, held in Clondalkin Dublin, was the under 13 boys team. , failing by the smallest margin to Wexford, to qualify for the Final proper.
In the Leinster League our teams have had mixed fortunes, the under 13 girls, under 15 girls & boys and under 14 mixed all losing out to The Heath. The under 15 girls & boys winning against Wolfe Tones ( Sallins). The best match so far at this level, by a long way, was the under 13 boys, in which the Limekiln lads beat The Heath lads by one run in a thrilling encounter, to become Leinster Champions. Continuos bad weather interupted the completion of the Leinsters, with some Finals being postponed untill early in the New Year.
In the Senior Championship the men have struggled all year, failing to progress beyond the 1st. round. While the Ladies, on the other hand, made it to the Final, where they lost out to Bagenalstown by 2 runs.
The Ladies headed up to Derry on 6th. July to play in the Gary Kelly Cup. This competition was played in atrocious weather. After a series of games, Limekiln battled through to meet Bagenalstown in the Final. In a thrilling fight back, having been 7 runs down, inspired by a dramatic turn around in pitching form by Jodi McKendry, explosive batting by Marion Hughes and sparkling fielding by Amy Donnelly, Limekiln Ladies sqeezed home by the one run needed.
The underage Feile was held on the 2,3& 4th. August in Carragh Co. Kildare. On the same weekend (i.e. the 3rd. ) the All Stars had a run out in Croke Park.
At the outset of the season it was our intention, as usual, to field in all competitions available to us throughout the year, but a dispute with regard to the fielding of our two Senior Mixed teams led to the withdrawal of all our Senior teams from the latter stages of all Senior competitions. In Community Games competitions we successfully retained three of the four Dublin titles,(under 13&15 boys and girls),losing out to Clondalkin in the under 13 Girls Final In Feile Cluiche Corr,i.e. a Festival Weekend of Rounders, held this year in the grounds of Gormanstown College over the August Bank Holiday weekend we had over 40 young club members taking part, with teams playing in all categories. We were not strong enough to win any titles but everyone played with great gusto and not a little skill. The venue and bad weather led to the event being very poorly supported this year. The atmosphere of the usual "weekend away" was badly missed. (This weekend of Rounders caters for under 13&15 boys and girls and under 14&16 mixed(coed).Teams from all Provinces of Ireland attend.
In Leinster, league/blitz, competitions were held on several weekends, at various locations. Our Club were crowned champions at,under 13 Boys,under 13 Girls, under 15 Girls & under 15 Boys and under 14 Mixed .
All Ireland Championship competitions for Male, Female and Mixed teams are held every year at Senior and Minor(under18s)levels. Our Club were delighted and proud to have reached the finals in all six sections in 2004, Achieving the ultimate goal in Minor Men and Minor Mixed, Senior Ladies and Senior Mixed, an unprecedented success of four All Ireland Titles for our Club. This was always going to be a hard act to follow, as indeed proved to be the case.
The All Stars were awarded and presented in Croke Park on December 16th. Well done to John Nolan who was our sole winner this year.
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For news on 2009 season, click on My Site News.
