G.A.A.

26th Feb.; Fr Caseys will have a tough fight on their hands if they hope to reclaim the Limerick senior football championship, last won by the club in 2000. They have been drawn in the same group as reigning champions, Drom-Broadford. Also included in this group are Ballylanders, Claughaun, Newcastlewest and Oola and, with only two teams advancing to the semi-final stages, the issue may not be resolved until the final-round matches when Fr Casey\rquote s play Drom-Broadford, Claughaun meet Newcastlewest and Ballylanders are pitted against Oola.

7th April; Fr Casey`s were beaten by St Sennan`s on a score of 0-11 to 0-5 in the final of the U/21A football championship.

30th April; Fr Casey`s defeated Newcastlewest in the semi-final of the U/21 A football championship during the week on a score of 1-12 to 1-5. The West Limerick senior football final was held in The Inch on last Sunday evening and resulted in a two point win for Drom/Broadford over St Kieran`s. Despite the poor weather, a bumper crowd was in attendance and the local committee had the pitch and facilities in tip-top condition.

23rd April ; Limerick U/21 footballers relinquished their Munster Crown when beaten by Cork on Saturday on a score of 1-12 to 0-8. The teams were level at half time at 0-5 each. However, Cork finished strongly to run out convincing winners. Limerick hurlers were hammerd by Clare in the league on a score of 3-23 to 1-13. In the MFC Askeaton defeated Fr Casey`s by 1-10 to 1-7. And in division 2 of the ACFL St Kieran`s had a 2-8 to 1-7 win over Fr Casey`s. The club will hold a fund-raising dance at The Clubhouse on this Saturday night, 28th April with music by Country Moonlight.

16th April; Limerick hurlers and footballers both had good wins in the league on Sunday. The footballers defeated Wicklow by 1-8 to 0-8 in the Gaelic Grounds. The hurlers accounted for Dublin by 1-24 to 2-11. Limerick U/21 footballers are due to play Cork in the Munster final at the weekend. Fr Casey`s defeated Kilcolman by 2-9 to 1-3 in the league.

2nd April; Limerick U/21 footballers are through to the Munster final after defeating Tipperary by 1-9 to 0-3. They now play Cork (who beat Kerry by 1-11 to 1-10) in the final. Limerick, of course, are defending champions, having won the title last year before being beaten in the All Ireland final. Limerick hurlers suffered their first league defeat of the season, going down to Galway by 2-19 to 2-12. Kerry footballers defeated Dublin by 2-9 to 0-10. Fr Casey`s had a two point win over Glin in the West Limerick championship on a score of 1-11 to 1-9.

26th March; In the West Limerick U/21 football championship, Fr Casey`s had a narrow one point victory over St Kieran`s. Final score; Fr Casey`s 1-7. St Kieran`s 1-6.

26th Feb; Limerick footballers lost to Ulster Champions, Armagh on a score of 2-12 to 0-10 in the league in Kilmallock on Sunday. The Shannonsiders trailed by 1-7 to 0-5 at half time. They missed at least two good goal opportunities in the second half, but still finished strongly, scoring three closing points without reply. Limerick hurlers played a useful challenge against Tipperary, going down narrowly by 0-21 to 1-17 in a high-scoring game.

19th Feb; Limerick hurlers and footballers both recorded good wins this weekend. The hurlers defeated Offally in the league by 2-15 to 1-11 to retain their unbeaten run in the competition. Meanwhile, Limerick footballers had an unexpected win over Clare in the McGrath Cup by 1-14 to 1-8. Fr Casey`s, this year`s county champions, are back in training and it will be interesting to see how many, if any, of them make it on to the Limerick team

12th Feb; Abbeyfeale football team and officials returned from Gran Canaria on Sunday morning, bronzed and tanned after their well deserved winter break in the sun. The new season beckons, and they will be anxious to make a good start. The GAA Social takes place in the Devon Hotel on this Saturday night, 17th February. National Football League.; Offaly 1-18. Kerry 0-10. Antrim 1-7. Limerick 0-8.

5th Feb; The senior football team and officials are presently relaxing in Gran Canaria. They return at the weekend and will turn their attention to the new season when they hope to retain their county title. The Annual Dinner Dance takes place in the Devon Inn on Saturday 17th February, and tickets are now available from committee members. National Hurling League; Limerick 4-18. Antrim 1-4

22nd Jan. Fr Casey`s senior footballer team and management are heading for Gran Canaria early next month. The trip, which is being sponsored by local companies and businesses, is a reward to the team for capturing the county senior title after a lapse of 53 years. Seven team members had their heads shaved as part of a fund-raising drive. This raised over £2,000. A benefit Race Night will be held in the clubhouse next weekend with Kostal, the town`s largest employer, as the main sponsor.

2nd Jan. At a recent AGM of Fr Casey`s G.A.A. club the following Bord na nOg officers were elected; Chairman-Tom Enright. Vice Chairman-Jim O`Donnell. Secretary-Seamus McNamara. Ass. Sec. -Jeremiah O`Connor. Treasurer-Fr Tim Curtin. Ass. Treas. -Dan Lane. PRO -Joan O`Connell. Ass. PRO -Catherine Flynn. Committee-Pat Scannell, Jerry O`Sullivan, James Joy, David Keating, Pat Joe Walsh, Dan Gleeson, Liam Cummins, Noel Murphy, Margaret Murphy, Michael O`Keefe. Team Managers are; U/10 -Tom Enright. U/12 -Pat Scannell. U/14 -David Keating.

Abbeyfeale play Eire Og in Cusack Park in Ennis on Saturday evening in the first round of the senior club championship. However, they may be forced to take the field without the services of their influential midfielder, Liam Quirke, who is nursing a leg injury. The winners will have a prestigeous home game against Cork champions, Nemo Rangers.

ABBEYFEALE WIN COUNTY TITLE!

Bonfires blazed brightly on the outskirts of Abbeyfeale on Sunday night, and the high winds and heavy rain failed to dampen the spirits of the large and enthusiastic crowds who gatherd to give a rousing welcome to the footballing heroes of Abbeyfeale.

A few hours earlier in the Gaelic Grounds the team had bridged a fifty three year gap by winning the county senior football championship for the first time since 1947.

In a closely contested game, played in atrocious conditions, Fr Casey`s ran out narrow winners by 8 pts to 7.

They trailed by 7 pts to 2 at half time, having played against a gale-force wind. Highlight of the first half was an excellent penalty save by Toddy McMahon after twenty five minutes.

Aided by the breeze in the second half, Fr Casey`s clawed their way back in to contention and when they levelled the scores with just two minutes remaining, a draw looked inevitable.

However, deep into injury time, when a free from Buggy Fitzgerald rebounded off an upright, the alert Tony Scannell was on hand to grab the loose ball and kick an historic winning point.

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