Take a magical nighttime journey through the culture and history of Thomastown Experience one of our oldest suburbs in a new light This is a free event to attend and no bookings are required Gather at dusk and explore the world around you as you walk from Main Street Recreation Reserve through Ziebell’s Farm and the pioneer precinct at Westgarthtown.  Grab your torch and walking shoes and join us on a nighttime walk exploring Thomastown’s rich and unique history We’re still planning the program for this year’s Walking Thomastown The pathways are wheelchair accessible up until German Lane.  Access to the Westgarthtown Historic Precinct is via an unsealed path and not recommended for wheelchairs Restrooms are marked on the map and located at the Thomas Street Recreation Reserve Pavillion Lalor Scout Hall and Ziebell’s Farmhouse and Museum Are there white strobe lighting or flashing effects There are no strobe lights involved.  Some of the lighting installations include moving lights We always love to engage with our community in the development and delivery of events. If you’d like to be involved in this, or any future events, please contact the Arts, Culture and Events team at EventsArtsandCulture@whittlesea.vic.gov.au feel free to tag us @citywhittlesea or use the hashtag #WalkingThomastown to share your discoveries with the community The trail is lit and event staff and security will be present to ensure a smooth and safe evening Security and site wardens will be stationed across the site wearing orange high visibility jackets.  Please speak with them to report any emergency First aid services will be moving across the event site Any emergencies should be reported to security or a site warden.  First Aid is also available at the Thomas Street Recreation Reserve Pavilion we recommend taking public transport and/or walking The walk begins at Main Street Reserve Thomastown via Main Street behind the Thomastown Recreation and Aquatic Centre Approximately 2km round-trip (an easy 30-minute walk) There are some food and hot drink options available for purchase How much time should we allow for this event You are welcome to stay and explore for the entire duration but we recommend allowing a minimum of one hour to complete the trail and enjoy the art and activations along the way there is limited public parking available at the Main Street Recreational Reserve and the Thomastown Recreation and Aquatic Centre Our information tent is located at the Main Street Reserve Playground for lost property This event will be captured by our photographers and videographers for use on social media and in City of Whittlesea marketing materials you are agreeing to have your image used for these purposes curly spuds and coffee) is available from the Thomas Street Recreation Reserve Pavillion and near the Lalor Scout Hall some acts or installations may be modified for wet weather There are performance spaces and roving acts across the event site.  Please refer to the event program for a full list of performances and times.  Where is the nearest public transportation The event is approximately a 10-minute walk from Thomastown Railway Station The 357 bus route also stops at the Main Street Recreational Reserve installations and activations are family-friendly and appropriate for all ages Zahraa is a versatile artist who embraces both digital and traditional mediums Her creative journey spans various practices Many of Zahraa's artworks have elements inspired by nature and the WTT cosmos because of her profound fascination for Earth's biodiversity blending her artistic passion with interactive storytelling Luna Tunes is an Artist from Naarm/Melbourne. They have always been a drawer but now they also do painting Along with the revolving door of collaborations LUNA TUNES aka Liam is the head Illustrator for Northern Territory social enterprise House of Darwin as well as being editor designer and creator of their own magazine LUNA TUNES Quarterly many things to me but probably/definitely something else to you Little things I’ve seen or swam into my brain Lots of other stuff - all hopefully balanced together in some way that seems just right in my gut.”  Brett Cardwell (Cardy) grew up on a farm in Whittlesea Mad Magazines and Footrot Flats - he practiced drawing daily and by late high school his cartoons appeared in several magazines and a published book by a local Sheep Dog trainer In 1994 he took a small whiteboard and flew with a small team around outback Australia using cartoons to tell stories in tiny schools This was the beginning of realizing the power of the visual story Soon after Cardy started "Cardytoons" and has worked for the last 30 years with schools around Australia and overseas He loves inspiring people with his cartooning and animation workshops as well as through caricatures watercolour and digital media to make artwork and illustration for a diverse group of galleries He draws and paints his local urban landscape the green spaces nearby and the Birrarung/Yarra River His work has earned awards and grants from the Arts Victoria and the National Association of Visual Artists he makes ‘house portrait’ art commissions for private clients His commercial illustration clients include design agencies His drawings form part of the permanent exhibition at the Hyde Park Barracks Museum He has illustrated books for six of the major publishers in Australia been awarded by the Australian Society of Authors and has been shortlisted for the SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrator of the Year A walking map will be available once the program is ready Fields marked as 'Required' must be completed Enter your email address or your friend's email addresses all separated by commas We recognise the rich Aboriginal heritage of this country and acknowledge the Wurundjeri Willum Clan and Taungurung People as the Traditional Owners of lands within the City of Whittlesea More ways to contact us Subscribe to our eNewsletters to stay up to date on what is happening near you Subscribe to eNews Thumbprint artwork by Mandy Nicholson The Thomastown Junior Football Club is seeking players for its Under 12 and Under 14 teams ahead of the 2025 season the club is looking for players to fill its Under 12’s and Under 14’s sides for season 2025 Training returns for both teams on Tuesday February 4th with the Under 12’s commencing at 5pm and the Under 14’s at 6pm Those interested should contact the following people: The South Morang Football Netball Club is seeking Under 13 and Under 14 boys’ junior footballers for the upcoming season Keon Park Stars JFC are still seeking Under 11 Junior Football players (born in 2014 and 2015) for the upcoming 2025 season The Mernda Junior Football Club is seeking Under 9’s and Under 10’s footballers for the upcoming 2025 season © Copyright 2023 Northern Football Netball League PRECEDE: Thomastown Neighbourhood House manger Liz Skitch runs a community hub from a room inside the local library, offering connection, creativity, and crisis support. Tom Ingleton spoke with Liza about mental health, hidden trauma, and why neighbourhood houses are crucial – but under resourced – pillars of community care. Tucked away in a quiet room inside the Thomastown Library, you’ll find what might just be the suburb’s most essential service – though most people don’t realise it until they walk through the door. There’s mental health slogans, and then there are mental health saviours and the latter certainly applies to the Thomastown Neighbourhood House. “We didn’t know you were here!” is the most common thing people say when they discover the neighbourhood house, manager Liz Skitch says. But once they do, it doesn’t take long for the truth to land. Across Victoria, mental health services are overwhelmed and recent studies highlight this epidemic is only getting worse. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in five Australians will experience a mental illness this year, yet in outer-metro areas like Whittlesea, access to psychologists remains critically low– just 2.2 per 1000 people. Liz is many things to the community – actress, comedian and an award-winning performer – one thing she is not though is a psychologist. However, she is very often the first point of contact for individuals in distress at the neighbourhood house. “You give me a reason to leave the house,” one regular told her. Another: “Thanks to your playgroup, I now have friends all over the neighbourhood.” In a time marked by skyrocketing loneliness, cost-of-living stress and the long tail of the Covid-19 pandemic, places like this – warm, inclusive, and quietly revolutionary – are holding communities together. And they’re doing it under the radar, on shoestring budgets, and with a kind of fierce love that can’t be faked. When someone walks in clearly struggling, Liz doesn’t offer a script. “I listen. Then if I can help – I do,” Liz says. “The heart-breaking thing is that more often than not, the best we can do is provide a safe space and a phone number to a better resourced organisation.” What Liz wishes for is modest but urgent: a social worker on-site, food vouchers to give, transport for those who are stranded and can’t access services. “We do our best to partner with organisations like Foodbank and Whittlesea Community Connections but this is not enough.” In that one sentence is the quiet frustration of countless front-line workers across Victoria, who are holding space for others while burning out themselves. One moment that stayed with Liz this year happened in a surprise setting – the Death Cafè. It’s one of Thomastown Neighbourhood House’s more unconventional offerings, a philosophy-based program that facilitates conversations about end of life. “One of the women shared how she lost her daughter to leukaemia, many years ago,” Liz recalls. “I was struck by her resilience and her creativity. Despite her grief, she’s committed to her community. It reminded me you never know what someone’s carrying.” It’s a lesson that echoes across the programs the centre runs – from playgroups and craft workshops to dance classes and legal aid visits. The weight of people’s stories isn’t always visible. Since the pandemic, GPS and psychologists have increasingly referred patients to neighbourhood houses for what some countries call “green scripts” which directs patients to attend places doing activities that boost social cohesion and wellbeing without ever feeling like clinical intervention. “Social cohesion is at an all-time low. Loneliness is at an all-time high,” Liz says. “But when a new participant joins our group, we focus on their strengths. Before long, we can see confidence grow and friendships flourish, “When you are feeling broken, the way to healing is through helping others.” It’s healing through connection – and often, through creativity. One of Liz’s highlights each week is a Monday afternoon dance party called Lets Move for young adults with disabilities. “That’s how I keep going – friendship and creativity.” But Liz didn’t enter this role at a gentle time. She became manager mid-pandemic, when all the programs were shut down and the focus turned to emergency food relief. Suddenly, she was running a pantry out of the library foyer five days a week, with food lines stretching toward the nearby sports fields. “I felt out of my depth every day,” Liz admits. “It was like trying to fill a bottomless well.” Now, with the cost-of-living crisis biting harder, the support of partners like Foodbank Victoria – which brings its mobile supermarket to Thomastown on Wednesdays – has become essential. But so too has the advocacy for more sustainable support. When asked what she wants politicians and mental health services to understand, Liz doesn’t hesitate. “Neighbourhood houses provide a sense of belonging and purpose – which is often the key to overcoming mental health challenges from depression and loneliness, to stress and anxiety,” Liz says. “We provide safe spaces for people. But across Victoria, most neighbourhood house managers are working full-time hours in part-time roles. Burn-out is common. It’s not sustainable.” Liz believes every house should have at least two staff present at all times to ensure safety and adequately support the wide range of services they provide. And in Thomastown, there is a desperate need for a larger space. “We’re grateful to the City of Whittlesea and the state government for the support we do have,” Liz adds. “But demand is surging, and our capacity hasn’t grown with it.” It’s a confronting question – what would happen if Thomastown Neighbourhood House didn’t exist? “There are very few spaces people can go to for free without feeling pressure to spend money,” Liz says. “Shopping centres have become the default for when we have free time these days.” Liz is also a passionate advocate for public outdoor spaces, encouraging locals to kick a ball around at the oval, explore local parks or visit the new Whittlesea Gardens skate park. In a community where many women are migrants, caregivers, or survivors of trauma – including family violence – the role of Thomastown Neighbourhood House is bigger than just activity programs. “We see people rebuild confidence here,” Liz says. “We see healing. Sometimes people come in quiet and withdrawn and a few months later, they’re running art class.” Asked if she ever worries about her own mental health and carrying the emotional toll of caring for others, Liz is candid: “Stress and anxiety – it’s a big one for me. But I try to remember to breathe”. And perhaps that’s the greatest power of neighbourhood houses like this one, they don’t just help others find stability – they model what compassion looks like in action, and yet community organisations like Liz’s are chronically underfunded and under-recognised. As Liz states in a simple yet poignant truth “Neighbourhood houses are more important than ever.” Thomastown’s Nick Ascenzo Reserve is set for a major transformation with Whittlesea celebrating a $4.5 million funding boost from the federal government that promises to breathe new life into the well-loved community space Scullin MP Andrew Giles announced the election commitment that will see the popular reserve reimagined into a vibrant Government and council hope the project will unlock the full potential of the reserve enhancing its natural character while delivering key upgrades including improved entrances outdoor fitness stations and a multi-purpose court Whittlesea acting mayor Daniella Zinni said the investment was a major win for the community “This is a huge win for Thomastown and the surrounding areas Nick Ascenzo Reserve is already a valued local space and this investment will help it reach its full potential for the benefit of the whole community,” she said “Council has been advocating for these upgrades to enhance access We thank the federal government for recognising the importance of this space and committing to its future.” The revitalisation is part of a broader push to improve green space access across the municipality as Whittlesea responds to the growing needs of its diverse and expanding population More information on the reserve’s master plan can be found at: www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au Workers were evacuated after a fire broke out at a Thomastown factory on Wednesday Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) crews responded to several calls of a factory fire at Aylward Avenue just before 2pm Crews arrived on scene within three minutes to find smoke issuing from the factory and workers evacuating There was a fire in a conveyor machine deep inside the factory with crews endeavouring to isolate the machine and extinguish the fire All workers have evacuated safely and will all be assessed by Ambulance Victoria The factory is heavily smoke logged with the cause of the fire not known Tennis players can take their game to a new level after a major court and lighting upgrade at the Barry Road Tennis Club in Thomastown.  provides a modern and accessible space for recreational and competitive players.  The project included the reconstruction of courts five and six installation of an energy-efficient LED lighting system and upgraded fencing that further enhances the facility’s functionality.  “The new lighting extends playtime and enhances safety fuelling increased participation,” said Chris Bazos the Barry Road Tennis Club president.  “We’re proud to have our men’s team competing in the weekly night tennis league and are currently working on forming a women’s team for the next season.”  Thanks to a generous $20,000 contribution from the Barry Road Tennis Club all six courts have been painted the same vibrant blue as seen at Melbourne Park for the Australian Open.  “The court upgrades have significantly enhanced the playing experience for our members,” Craig said.   “The resurfaced courts offer a smoother elevating the overall game quality.”  These enhancements reflect Council's commitment to improving local sporting amenities and creating spaces where the community can come together to recreate and socialise Quotes attributable to City of Whittlesea Mayor “Council is committed to building and improving infrastructure that directly benefits our community. The completion of the Barry Road Tennis Club project is just one example of how we’re creating better spaces for the community to enjoy. We’re excited to see Barry Road Tennis Club become a hub for recreational and competitive tennis offering more opportunities for our residents to stay active and engaged in sport.” Two men have been charged following the death of a man in Thomastown earlier this month who was wanted in relation to the incident The man has been charged with aggravated burglary He has been remanded to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 18 A 45-year-old Glenroy man was arrested at the scene and charged with aggravated burglary – person present Police were called to the stabbing of a 36-year-old Doreen man at a Victoria Drive address on Thursday Medical assistance was provided to the Doreen man however he died at the scene Thomastown has added some more experience as it seeks to close the gap between its best and worst in the Northern Football League division 2 competition but proved no match for the top sides who had their measure and they were knocked out in the first week of finals Co-coach Sash Spiroski said that was their biggest focus heading into 2025 “The biggest thing is we have beaten a team in the top three the last few years,” he said “That is one of the major things that we want to tick off “We want that consistency and have had the ups and downs of three wins and then three losses “We need to be more consistent across 18 rounds.” The Bears signed the majority of their playing list while they were still playing this year Spiroski said having locked in the playing group made things a lot easier come the pre-season He said it being their second season as co-coaches as well also helped “It has been good and like all pre-seasons it has been tough,” he said “We’ve had solid numbers which has been good “With one under our belts you know what to expect and what to do Spiroski said they had looked to fill holes they believed they had in their squad The club has announced four new signings on social media Spiroski said they had looked to bring in some players who had experience in big games “Having people with experience on grand final day “When you get some of that experienced aspect it only makes the side better.” Deakyn Smith is the biggest signing for the Bears so far Smith is Victorian Football League-listed with the Casey Demons “He is great mates with Youseph Dib and mates with some of the other boys,” Spiroski said “He came down and had a look and he liked what he saw and the vision of the football club “He came down to the first couple of trainings before his VFL training sessions He’ll be a huge asset for the club in 2025.” Ruck Blake Ross and Luke Baniowski both cross from West Coburg which has played off in three straight Essendon District Football League division 1 grand finals James Guicas crossed from Keilor Park where he was a goalkicker for the side The Bears kick off their 2025 season on April 5 against Panton Hill The Thomastown Football Netball Club is seeking players to join its senior women’s side ahead of the 2025 season Thomastown is seeking players of all skill levels to join the club’s senior women’s side on the back of its inaugural season in 2024 There will be no registration fees and a free training singlet for any new players who join the program in 2025 The ladies of the Thomastown Parish of the Transfiguration of Our Lord have gotten very busy in anticipation of Easter having made 100 tsourekia with their target being to reach 1000 in time for the big celebration They have been working hard to compile the familiar and beloved ingredients of eggs flour and special spices to make extra tasty tsourekia The process remains strictly traditional with each tsoureki prepared by hand the room is filled with a fragrance reminiscent of an Easter family table the tsourekia are on sale from now until Easter Last year demonstrated high demand for the beloved food selling out before Holy Week even arrived with many people missing out The experience prompted the ladies to advise all those interested to be prompt this year and get one before they run out the ladies of Philoptochos also prepared melomakarona from the start of Lent until now while they are also making and selling loukoumades every Sunday The Thomastown Parish continues to remain a vibrant place of giving and tradition where taste meets faith and collective effort A shirtless man has been arrested by police on Thursday morning after a six-hour long siege saw the 50-year-old refuse to leave a crane perched four-stories high in Melbourne's north A man has been arrested after scaling a crane in Melbourne's north and refusing to come down as firefighters put out a fire at a construction site Emergency services involving police and firefighters were first called to a building fire on High St in Thomastown on Thursday about 1:45am Crews extinguished the flames which is believed to have been deliberately lit Police at the scene then spotted a shirtless man on a crane at top of the building Officers were called in to negotiate with the 50-year-old who refused to leave The man was perched four-stories high on top of the site of Nexus apartments Witnesses say he could be heard shouting and swearing at officers He left the crane with the assistance of the Critical Incident Response Team and Search and Rescue The man was escorted from scaffolding and arrested about 8am The 50-year-old was taken to hospital with injuries from an unrelated incident Detectives will interview him at a later date High St had to be closed and nearby trains were stopped Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make an anonymous report at crimestoppersvic.com.au If you're partial to stuffed cannoli or some gnocchi of the ricotta variety, we've got the festival for you. That's Amore Cheese Ricotta Festival is returning in March for its fifth year bringing ricotta-filled delights back to Thomastown the lot will be flooded with cheese-slinging food stalls and a handful of bars plus the team will host some prestigious Melbourne chefs as they demonstrate the best ways to cook with ricotta The team behind That's Amore Cheese will serve gnocchi sorrentina, a certified Italian classic, alongside spaghetti cacio e pepe tossed in a 40kg Grana cheese wheel. There's also a tantalising selection of other food vendors, such as Pacelli Deli's melted caciocavallo on bruschetta, Cannoleria's freshly filled ricotta cannoli locally distilled spirits and cocktails ready for your refreshment there's also a sprawling marketplace filled with fascinating goods Head to Bippi for Italian-style chilli and condiments Pistachio Papi for sweet spreads and desserts and Ellenika Boutique for stylish fashion and jewellery stock up on local produce with Perino Tomatoes offering the richest while Puopolo Artisan Salumi presents some of the best cured Australian meats in town with another stellar line-up of Italian culinary talent and live entertainers Catch chefs and TV personalities like Adam D'Sylva Pia Gava and Telina Menzies showing off their talents in live cooking demonstrations stick around for musical performances from the Siesta Cartel Band and Veneto Club Choir face painting and a petting zoo are bound to keep them entertained as you dine the day away https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/section/1237/advertise-with-us All the latest breaking local news from Kilkenny County Keep up to date with the latest sports news Read the latest crime and court news from Kilkenny Read all the latest Irish news and updates from around Ireland Find whats happening in and around Kilkenny Enjoy our award winning photos and picture galleries taken in Kilkenny Read about the latest properties available in Kilkenny Enjoy our latest and up to date motoring review and news in Kilkenny Recent death notices and obituaries from Kilkenny Latest environmental and climate change news in County Kilkenny Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter Support our mission and join our community now you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism Works are continuing on the installation of a new shared three metre footpath in Thomastown on the R448 (opposite SuperValu in the town) ranging from the new Fountain Field housing development to the pedestrian crossing and once that’s complete it will connect to the current footpath READ NEXT: Suggested Kilkenny IPAS centres were 'totally inappropriate' it's been claimed  Sharing pictures of the development works so far on social media Killeen Civil Engineering said: "Some recent work carried out down in Thomastown Co Kilkenny Great progress being made and the team flying it as always Fianna Fáil councillor, Deirdre Cullen said she was 'delighted' with the new footpath in Thomastown "It’s something we would have looked at a good few years ago but the funding didn’t allow for it," adding "it’s brilliant to see that infrastructure going in immediately which will enhance the area." FOR MORE THOMASTOWN NEWS, CLICK HERE " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g please subscribe and support local journalism Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news Gardai say the young girl was competing in an event at the Cork Autograss Racing Club when her vehicle crashed Doctor365's walk-in clinic in Kilkenny is open 7 days a week Heat Pump Pro are here to keep your boiler in top condition Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time A fight night featuring the nephew of underworld figure and attempted murder target Sam Abdulrahim has been cancelled after a firebombing at the Thomastown venue renewed police safety fears Firefighters were called to a blaze at QRoom in Settlement Road about 5.30am on Friday Former Mongols bikie and professional boxer Suleiman “Sam” Abdulrahim.Credit: Instagram who did not want to be identified because of safety fears said the venue’s owner had been sleeping inside in the leadup to the event because of concerns it would be targeted They said he had been struggling to find enough staff willing to work at Saturday’s fight Police said the venue was targeted by offenders in a car and that the person sleeping inside escaped injury The arsonists fled and torched the car in Dole Avenue “The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be established however the fire is being treated as suspicious,” police said in a statement “Detectives from the Arson and Explosives Squad will attend the scene this morning and the investigation remains ongoing.” Fire damaged the front of the QRoom venue.Credit: Nine Police had been in contact with the venue and event organisers to ensure safety and security measures were in place for the event but raised further concerns about the bout going ahead after Friday’s incident “Victoria Police is aware that the permit for a boxing event that was to be held in Thomastown has been cancelled by the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board,” they said in a statement “Police made a submission to the board today [Friday] outlining a number of safety concerns in particular following the fire at the premises,” police said in a statement survived an execution when he was shot at multiple times outside his Thomastown home on May 24 He had been lured from his home in the early hours of the morning while going to help his parents whose car had been set on fire in Brunswick Abdulrahim escaped after ramming his car into the gunman’s BMW and chasing them from the scene Two weeks later his home was again sprayed with bullets The Age has previously reported that there was a contract on Abdulrahim’s life after the underworld figure allegedly joined forces with an interstate gang to try and gain control of a slice of Victoria’s billion-dollar illicit tobacco market Police had advised him against fighting at his own boxing match earlier this year with two separate venues due to host it firebombed Four businesses connected to Abdulrahim have also been torched over the past year including a Moonee Ponds tobacco and vape store that was targeted three times The boxer survived being shot eight times while driving in a funeral procession outside the Fawkner cemetery in June 2022 Anyone with information or CCTV footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here. A fight night featuring the nephew of underworld figure and attempted murder target Sam Abdulrahim has been cancelled after a firebombing at the Thomastown venue renewed police safety fears. Firefighters were called to a blaze at QRoom in Settlement Road about 5.30am on Friday. A source with knowledge of the incident, who did not want to be identified because of safety fears, said the venue\\u2019s owner had been sleeping inside in the leadup to the event because of concerns it would be targeted. They said he had been struggling to find enough staff willing to work at Saturday\\u2019s fight. Police said the venue was targeted by offenders in a car and that the person sleeping inside escaped injury. The arsonists fled and torched the car in Dole Avenue, Reservoir, a short time later. \\u201CThe exact circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be established, however the fire is being treated as suspicious,\\u201D police said in a statement. \\u201CDetectives from the Arson and Explosives Squad will attend the scene this morning and the investigation remains ongoing.\\u201D Police had been in contact with the venue and event organisers to ensure safety and security measures were in place for the event, but raised further concerns about the bout going ahead after Friday\\u2019s incident. \\u201CVictoria Police is aware that the permit for a boxing event that was to be held in Thomastown has been cancelled by the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board,\\u201D they said in a statement. \\u201CPolice made a submission to the board today [Friday] outlining a number of safety concerns, in particular following the fire at the premises,\\u201D police said in a statement. Abdulrahim, known as the \\u201CThe Punisher\\u201D, survived an execution when he was shot at multiple times outside his Thomastown home on May 24. He had been lured from his home in the early hours of the morning while going to help his parents, whose car had been set on fire in Brunswick. Abdulrahim escaped after ramming his car into the gunman\\u2019s BMW and chasing them from the scene. Two weeks later his home was again sprayed with bullets, but this time no one was home. The Age has previously reported that there was a contract on Abdulrahim\\u2019s life after the underworld figure allegedly joined forces with an interstate gang to try and gain control of a slice of Victoria\\u2019s billion-dollar illicit tobacco market. Police had advised him against fighting at his own boxing match earlier this year with two separate venues due to host it firebombed. Four businesses connected to Abdulrahim have also been torched over the past year, including a Moonee Ponds tobacco and vape store that was targeted three times. The boxer survived being in a funeral procession outside the Fawkner cemetery in June 2022. Anyone with information or CCTV footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or . Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens.. they created history by becoming the first Kilkenny club to add the senior championship to a junior the club were winning back-to-back intermediate-senior titles Coincidence also chimed in the club’s goalkeeping fortunes Paul Barron took over in goal from Diarmuid Galway whereas in 1946 they also had difficulties with the position According to local historian Dermot Kavanagh’s excellent and comprehensive record of Kilkenny finals from 1887 to 2003 Thomastown “had the unusual experience of having to replace both their goalkeeper and sub-goalkeeper through injury during the match” They also lost their influential county player Dan Kennedy to injury but prevailed by two points the club had the honour of nominating the Kilkenny captain and Kennedy led the county to the famous 1947 late late win over Cork in the All-Ireland final who reached just two more finals before this year – both double-digit defeats by Bennettsbridge in 1967 and by Ballyhale in 1988 Having won the intermediate All-Ireland back in January the club was ready to give senior a good rattle and they had a strong run to the final including the defeat of Ballyhale Shamrocks who had won three of the previous six All-Ireland titles Jonjo Farrell was once the Leinster championship hurler of the year during his intercounty playing career He captained Thomastown to the junior All-Ireland in 2013 and has been providing experienced leadership to the current team in an influential centrefield He scored 0-2 from play on Sunday and his partner Peter McDonald was named man of the match by Clubber TV It has been a brilliant twilight for Farrell’s career [ Thomastown dethrone O’Loughlin Gaels to end 78-year wait for Kilkenny senior titleOpens in new window ] “I’m 36 this year. We won a junior back in 2005 and another one in 2012 but that was the only success I had until last year, we won the intermediate and went on to win the All-Ireland. Then today! The end of my career has been a lot more successful than the start of it.” With the success of the younger players coming through in underage competitions, he is determined to stay on and provide a guiding hand. “We have such a young team – as I say, I bring up the average age a good bit! – a young, fit team with no issues. They’d run all day and hit all day. It’s unreal and something we didn’t have for years. We probably lacked physicality but now we have it in spades,” he said. “Everyone knows the history. We were beaten in three intermediate county finals and a semi-final. There was a lot of hurt there but the team was young at that time and they’re after coming now and we’re at the top table.” It’s all of seven seasons since a team from outside Kilkenny won the Leinster club title so the pressure will be on to duplicate at provincial level their rapid promotion in the county. “Maybe it’s easier to do it the first year when you have the momentum of intermediate success behind you. We might have a few lads going off and different things happening. You have to grasp it when the chance is in front of you.” Seán Moran is GAA Correspondent of The Irish Times Facebook pageTwitter feed© 2025 The Irish Times DAC Kilkenny SHC final: Thomastown 0-18 O’Loughlin Gaels 0-7Thomastown shrugged off the heavy hand of history in Nowlan Park on Sunday to win a first Kilkenny Senior Hurling title since 1946. In his acceptance speech saptain Jay Burke said for all of his team-mates and fellow panellists in the many years to come, “2024 would always be blue”. Not alone were the new champions completing a lightning-fast metamorphosis from intermediate in the space of 12 months but they had to overcome the formidable obstacle of defending champions and All-Ireland finalists, O’Loughlin Gaels. There was no evidence of this disparity in experience, as from the start Thomastown set about the contest in persistent rain with gusto and made their physical presence felt, especially up front. It wasn’t classified information that O’Loughlins are built on defence and the challengers brought the fight to their opponents’ strongest sector. John Donnelly, coming off his best season at inter-county, was the early difference, scoring the first point and going on to bag four by half-time, as well as a sublime assist for cousin, Stephen Donnelly to score the team’s fifth point and leave them 0-5 to 0-1 ahead at the end of the first quarter. He then started the second half with a marvellous ball into another of the clan, Robbie to stretch the lead to 0-10 to 0-4. Paddy Deegan, a galvanising performer in O’Loughlin’s achievements last season, was unable to impose himself on proceedings and inside, young Colm Treacy posed plenty of problems for Kilkenny’s All Star full back Huw Lawlor. Bad as the conditions were, the champions’ attempts to master them were thoroughly unconvincing. Mikey Butler, another All Star in the champions’ defence – whose smart intervention in the 12th minute had cut out early danger – uncharacteristically coughed up a ball for Stephen Donnelly to fire over a point for 0-11 to 0-4. There were four minutes gone in the second half and yet nobody in the crowd of 9,465 would have been expecting anything other than a Thomastown win. They won the first half 0-9 to 0-4 and would win the second by 0-9 to 0-3. Eleven points was a massive margin of victory on a day when scoring wasn’t easy but the new champions could have had a couple of goals as well but Stephen Murphy saved really well from Treacy and a Lawlor block kept out another shot by Rory Connellan. At centrefield, they also had control. Thirty-six-year-old veteran and former county man Jonjo Farrell hurled defiantly for 0-2 and was well supported by Peter McDonald. In truth though, there was hardly anywhere on the field that Thomastown didn’t hold sway. Goalkeeper, Paul Barron who was an understudy to injured regular Diarmuid Galway, was a model of composure behind an aggressive and dominant defence where Zach Bay Hammond’s athleticism and physicality set the tone. It was as if the efforts of the past year had shattered the champions. Owen Wall’s speedy incisions occasionally looked dangerous but in general they were unable to mount sustained attacks. John Donnelly said Thomastown were determined to stand up physically to their elevated surroundings. “Every day you go out, you have to hit lads and tackle. I wasn’t at the final last year but a lot of my friends were and they couldn’t get over the physicality of it. We were still an intermediate team then and we definitely had doubts if we went senior would we be able to compete. It’s just hard to imagine now we’re the best team in the county and it’s brilliant.” Thomastown hadn’t even been in a final for 36 years but used the momentum from last year’s successful run to the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship to launch what turned out to be a momentous season. “When we won the intermediate last year, it was definitely the best three or four months of my hurling career, just the enjoyment going to Wexford, Newry and Wicklow. You see the supporters here, they travelled with us every day last year. It was such an enjoyable journey and I’d love to go on another one,” said Donnelly. They will now compete in the Leinster championship, which has been the preserve of Kilkenny clubs in recent years, facing the Westmeath champions, Lough Lene Gaels or Castletown Geoghegan, whose final was postponed on Sunday. THOMASTOWN: P Barron; P Connellan, J Burke (capt), N Kirwan; ZB Hammond, E Donnelly, B Staunton; P McDonald (0-1), J Farrell (0-2); R Donnelly (0-8, 6f), J Donnelly (0-4), L Connellan; S Donnelly (0-2), C Treacy, R Connellan (0-1). Subs: T O’Hanrahan for Treacy (54 mins), D Prendergast for P Connellan (60), J Holden for S Donnelly (64). O’LOUGHLIN GAELS: S Murphy; T Forristal, H Lawlor, M Butler; D Fogarty, P Deegan, J Molloy; J Ryan (0-1), J Nolan; F Mackessy, M Bergin (capt; 0-3, 1f), C Kelly; S Bolger, O Wall (0-2), C Heary (0-1). Subs: P Butler for Nolan (35 mins), S Johnston for Bolger (40), R Buckley for Kelly (52). Fáilte chuig gaa.ie - suíomh oifigiúil CLG in Kilkenny SHC Final action at UPMC Nowlan Park A year ago Thomastown triumphed at Intermediate level in Kilkenny subsequently adding Leinster and All-Ireland titles Thomastown defeated favourites O'Loughlin Gaels at UPMC Nowlan Park A controlled first half display from Thomastown was reflected by a 0-9 to 0-4 interval scoreline while Stephen Donnelly and the experienced Jonjo Farrell were others to impress for the victors Robbie Donnelly ended the contest with eight points Scorers for Thomastown: Robbie Donnelly 0-8 (6fs) Scorers for O'Loughlin Gaels: Mark Bergin 0-3 (1f) Subs: Thomas O'Hanrahan for Treacy (54) O'Loughlin Gaels: Stephen Murphy; Tony Forristal Munster SHC: Limerick assert themselves against Waterford 2 days ago Round-up: Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship2 days ago Cork and Waterford to contest Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Final2 days ago Súil chun cinn ar Phort Láirge in aghaidh Luimnigh an deireadh seachtaine seo3 days ago Official Sponsors of the GAA Football All-Ireland Championship Official Sponsors of the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Championship Underworld boss Kazem “Kaz” Hamad is suspected of orchestrating two overnight firebombings as part of a feud with his long-running enemy Three underworld and police sources allege Hamad is behind an arson attack that happened in the early hours of Monday morning at Abdulrahim’s Thomastown home which has previously been the scene of an attempted hit on the controversial underworld figure and a separate drive-by shooting at hair salon Infinitii Hair in Port Melbourne led to two children – a primary school student and a young teenager – in a neighbouring home being hospitalised for smoke inhalation A woman in her 40s was also taken to hospital for smoke inhalation Victoria Police’s acting commander of crime command said it was only through sheer luck that nobody died as a result of the Port Melbourne fire “This has been one of our greatest fears .. since the arson series started in March of 2023 on mainly tobacco stores across metropolitan Melbourne,” Kelly told reporters on Monday afternoon “To light a fire in a business premise where residents are living above just shows no regard for the lives and safety of members of the public.” The hair salon in Port Melbourne mid-morning on Monday.Credit: Simon Schluter He said police suspected a spate of overnight fires in Thomastown Port Melbourne and Cairnlea may be linked to organised crime Kelly said police would be “relentless” in their pursuit of the perpetrators we came very close to having some fatalities after what occurred in Bay Street which is just totally unacceptable,” he said It is alleged the Port Melbourne blaze was a suspected attack on a business associated with Abdulrahim and was used to intimidate a man Hamad believes has provided information to police Former Mongols bikie Suleiman “Sam” Abdulrahim reinvented himself as a boxer.Credit: Instagram That man was also the target of an alleged arson attack on a van outside a tobacco shop in the northern suburbs last week Police say he was the key witness in the prosecution of a suspected Hamad standover man which collapsed in July after he refused to co-operate with authorities Detectives believed he was extorted for at least $10,000 for the “protection” of his tobacco shops in Melbourne’s north Two tobacco shops owned by the witness were allegedly destroyed in firebombing attacks within minutes of each other in May which was launched in October 2023 to combat the so-called tobacco war told The Age that 77 tobacco shops and 19 other businesses have been the target of arson attacks in the nearly 18-month-old turf war between Hamad and other syndicates Hamad and Abdulrahim have been warring since 2016 when gangland figure George Marrogi was charged with the murder of Hamad associate Kadir Ors it was alleged that Abdulrahim may have been involved in luring Ors to the Campbellfield car park where he was gunned down The feud is also the suspected motive for a firebombing of the QRoom venue in Thomastown in late July A fight night featuring Abdulrahim’s nephew was subsequently cancelled due to safety fears Police and underworld sources say Hamad’s war with Abdulrahim is both business – over control of the tobacco market – and deeply personal This has included numerous firebombing attacks at venues and properties linked to Abdulrahim but otherwise owned or operated by uninvolved parties The Thomastown property is owned by a relative of Abdulrahim and had been unoccupied since the ex-Mongol bikie was targeted at the address in May Seventeen bullets were sprayed at Abdulrahim when he was lured outside to be executed on May 24 ramming his car into the gunman’s BMW and chasing them off The botched hit came after the underworld figure allegedly joined forces with an interstate gang to gain control of a slice of Victoria’s billion-dollar illicit tobacco market In February, police warned Abdulrahim about a contract on his life and advised him against fighting at an upcoming boxing match Two separate venues due to host the fight were later firebombed causing extensive damage and prompting organisers to cancel the bout The burnt-out home in Thomastown on Monday morning.Credit: Simon Schluter Four businesses connected to Abdulrahim have allegedly been torched over the past 18 months, including a Moonee Ponds tobacconist that was targeted three times and in June, his family’s home was sprayed with bullets again Abdulrahim had already survived being shot eight times while driving in a funeral procession outside Fawkner cemetery in June 2022 Police say the alleged gunmen fled overseas There were several other suspicious fires across Melbourne on Monday morning A punching bag amid the charred remains of Sam Abdulrahim’s old home.Credit: Simon Schluter a fire engulfed a property in a disused retirement village on Gladesville Boulevard a crime scene was established after a fire at a tobacco store in Cairnlea at 6.05am a 37-year-old was arrested after a fire started in an apartment block on Clark Street at 9.15pm on Sunday Police said a resident set fire to his own apartment and the blaze damaged four other units Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incidents or with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or log onto www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here Underworld boss Kazem \\u201CKaz\\u201D Hamad is suspected of orchestrating two overnight firebombings as part of a feud with his long-running enemy boxer Sam \\u201CThe Punisher\\u201D Abdulrahim Three underworld and police sources allege Hamad is behind an arson attack that happened in the early hours of Monday morning at Abdulrahim\\u2019s Thomastown home led to two children \\u2013 a primary school student and a young teenager \\u2013 in a neighbouring home being hospitalised for smoke inhalation Victoria Police\\u2019s acting commander of crime command \\u201CThis has been one of our greatest fears .. since the arson series started in March of 2023 on mainly tobacco stores across metropolitan Melbourne,\\u201D Kelly told reporters on Monday afternoon \\u201CTo light a fire in a business premise where residents are living above just shows no regard for the lives and safety of members of the public.\\u201D Kelly said police would be \\u201Crelentless\\u201D in their pursuit of the perpetrators which is just totally unacceptable,\\u201D he said Detectives believed he was extorted for at least $10,000 for the \\u201Cprotection\\u201D of his tobacco shops in Melbourne\\u2019s north A fight night featuring Abdulrahim\\u2019s nephew Police and underworld sources say Hamad\\u2019s war with Abdulrahim is both business \\u2013 over control of the tobacco market \\u2013 and deeply personal when he was lured outside to be executed on May 24 ramming his car into the gunman\\u2019s BMW and chasing them off The botched hit came after the underworld figure allegedly joined forces with an interstate gang to gain control of a slice of Victoria\\u2019s billion-dollar illicit tobacco market about a contract on his life and advised him against fighting at an upcoming boxing match Four businesses connected to Abdulrahim have allegedly been torched over the past 18 months including a Moonee Ponds tobacconist that was targeted three times and in June Abdulrahim had already survived being in a funeral procession outside Fawkner cemetery in June 2022 Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incidents or with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or log onto Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens A man has died after a stabbing in a Melbourne home on Thursday night. The victim was discovered with fatal injuries inside a home on Victoria Drive in the northern suburb of Thomastown at around 8:40pm.  Police were called to the scene and administered CPR, but he was pronounced dead. The exact circumstances surrounding his death are yet to be established and homicide detectives attended the scene. Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:... Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six... We are trapped in unsellable newbuild homes after a £52m dual carriageway was built on our... Horror as $4.5M influencer-laden yacht SINKS off Miami... after glam women made a rookie maritime... Pub is forced to pay family £75,000 after wrongly accusing them of 'dine and dash' over £150... How Meghan's biggest cheerleader brokered Harry's disastrous BBC interview - three months after... Woman dead and three others including a child injured after car ploughed into pedestrians: Man, 49,... 'It's a rather giant f*** you.' Royal insider's furious reaction to Meghan's Instagram salvo as... Woman who was missing for more than 60 years is found 'alive and well' decades after vanishing... American tourist suffers horrific fate while attempting to capture selfie at Rome's Colosseum The towns being ruined by day-tripper invasions. Selfie-loving tourists cause traffic hell and the... Revealed: The reason behind Fred & Rose West kids' bitter family rift as siblings have 'nothing to... How can I see the Red Arrows' iconic flypast? Map reveals when and where planes will be visible over... Hamas hostage, 23, 'raped by personal trainer influencer in her own home after being released' King, Queen, William and Kate honour selfless devotion of Britain's wartime heroes as they lead... Husband of British mother, 65, who was knifed to death in French village says her affair is a... Man is found stabbed to death in ordinary Australian homeCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} Visit the RTÉ Home Page Click the Magic Door to see what's on the other side © RTÉ 2025. RTÉ.ie is the website of Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Ireland's National Public Service Media. RTÉ is not responsible for the content of external internet sites. ahead of their Masita All-Ireland Post Primary Schools D Hurling Final during the Masita All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Finals Captains Call at Croke Park in Dublin They’re a relatively small school but they’ve harvested a very rich crop of talented young sportsmen It’s not often you have the chance to win two All-Ireland titles in two different sports with pretty much the same group of players but that’s the opportunity that now presents itself to the Kilkenny school Last month the school’s senior boys soccer team won the John Murphy Senior ‘B’ National Cup Final they’ll contest the Masita GAA Post Primary Schools Niall McInerney Cup (All-Ireland Senior D Hurling) Final against Scoil Phobal “Everyone in the school is just delighted to have this opportunity,” says Eoghan Hennessy who coaches the school’s hurling team “This bunch of lads are a really sporting group When a group comes along that are just talented you have to make the most of them I suppose." There are also representatives from Tullogher-Rosbercon but most of the Grennan College team is made up of players from the local Thomastown club Seven of them were part of the Thomastown panel that last year won the club’s first senior Kilkenny championship for 78 years so they already boast an impressive sporting pedigree That experience of having played together since a very young age is one that has made them a formidably well-oiled machine in Grennan College colours “Around 10 of these lads played together in the primary school and they know each other inside out,” says Hennessy “They came from first year together and are all in sixth year now at the moment They know what to say to each other and how to get this lad or that lad going Does he need a kick in the arse of does he need to be talked to with an arm around the shoulder.” accepts the Cup after his team's victory in the Leinster Final That instinctive understanding they’ve developed over the years has made them an easy team for Hennessy and his fellow coaches to mentor “The most pleasing thing from our perspective is how they problem-solve on the pitch,” he says “They're an unbelievable bunch of lads in that sense In two or three of the games we've been down by three four or five points at half-time but you don't have to say much to the lads because they know what needs to be done and they're able to put the head down and just dig in We might say a few words but they can gauge themselves and really work at it and do what needs to be done Post Primary Schools All-Ireland Finals tend to be a journey into the unknown for both teams but he has a lot of faith in his own charges “You'd see the programmes from matches they’ve played and they’ve a few Roscrea and Offaly boys so they're coming from strong hurling counties,” he says “I know it's quite a big school and they have won a bit down through the years so we know it's not going to be an easy task “We just hope that if your boys can play as well as they can Masita GAA Post Primary Schools Niall McInerney Cup (Senior D Hurling All-Ireland) Final You can watch a live stream of the match here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3WZoDiRZqc https://www.kildarenow.com/section/1005/contact-us All the latest breaking local news from Kildare and county Find whats happening in and around Kildare and Leinster Enjoy our award winning photos and picture galleries taken in Kildare and Leinster Catch up on all the latest business news in Kildare and Leinster Read about the latest properties available in Kildare and Leinster Enjoy our latest and up to date motoring review and news in Kildare and Leinster Kildare and Leinster Met Eireann Weather Forecast Recent death notices and obituaries from Kildare and Leinster Latest environmental and climate change news in County Kildare It is “only a matter of time” before a serious accident occurs at the junction of Caragh-Newbridge Road and Rathangan-Naas Road in Thomastown Cllr Noel Heavey tabled a motion at a meeting of Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District on Wednesday Cllr Heavey called on the council to produce a report on the frequency of vehicle collisions at the junction of Caragh-Newbridge Road with Rathangan-Naas Road in Thomastown “and what it might consider as appropriate to remediate this busy junction.” Cllr Heavey said there was an issue at the junction where traffic was very busy and motorists “dart out” across the junction He said there is an accident at the location “most weeks” and there was a serious accident on this road over the previous weekend gardai know “every detail” of every accident that happens in the county and his understanding was this information is forwarded to Kildare County Council which then forwards it to the Road Safety Authority Calling for what he described as “joined-up thinking” on the issue Cllr Heavey said it was “only a matter of time” before there was a very serious accident at the junction that would result “loss of life.” to have a low-cost safety improvement scheme carried out at the location Cllr Heavey said the issue was one of national importance and called for the problem to be addressed a council official pointed out that information relating to traffic collisions is not shared with Kildare County Council and that the problem largely stemmed from driver behaviour This was a matter of enforcement for An Garda Síochána Cllr Heavey said it was his understanding that An Garda Síochána shared accident information with Kildare County Council and that it was “sinful” if this were not the case the people to do something about it are the municipal authority and if they are not receiving this information It was noted by the Cathaoirleach that Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer (FG) is to join the Community Policing Board group and this was a matter that could be brought up in that forum for clarification A report issued by Kildare County Council stated: 'The Kildare Newbridge Municipal District office does not have road collision records 'This office agrees to list the junction between the L-7087 and L-7041 in Thomastown for consideration for low-cost safety improvement work schemes All works are subject to budget and staff availability.' Outside Naas courthouse are: Susanna Cawley House of Hearing's experienced audiologist Matt Allen This is probably not the page you’re looking for The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n \n \n \n '.concat(e,' Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response The file could not be found for a number of reasons such as the file being moved or deleted. Please check your spelling and if you still can't get to the right page try heading to the homepage for a look around If you still have problems, try contacting us and we'll do what we can to help you. Click here to get back to where you came from Thomastown Camogie Club hosted its fundraising fun run last weekend The event - held in honour of Jenny Grace a much-loved former member of the club - was previously to take place in February but was postponed due to inclement weather. Kieran and Katie O’NeillStarting and finishing at the community centre hall the routes took in the beautiful countryside of Thomastown and fabulous scenes of Ballylinch Stud Thomstown's annual St Patrick's Day Parade will take place on Monday March 17 at noon. Thomastown Community Network will also once again run the annual Great Wheelbarrow Parade through the street this St Patrick's Day Thomastown players celebrates after the Kilkenny County Senior Club Hurling Championship final match between O’Loughlin Gaels and Thomastown at UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny History came rattling on Thomastown’s door and was embraced with vigorous warmth as they eased to a first Kilkenny senior hurling title in 78 years Defending champions O’Loughlin Gaels never came to terms with the relentlessness of the challengers who belied their inexperience with a demonstration of manic intensity from the off All-Star nominee John Donnelly set the standard with a point in the opening seconds and barely let up Four first-half points were accompanied by a lay-off for another score in that period along with a converted free that he won his presence wasn’t as noticeable although he was only too happy to lend a hand to the rearguard effort in preventing the All-Ireland runners-up from trimming the five-point half-time difference But O’Loughlin Gaels never got going in trying conditions watched by a sizeable 9,465 crowd Huw Lawlor was firefighting admirably but for a player with great balance Mikey Butler struggled while Paddy Deegan and Fionán Mackessy were out of sorts That had as much to do with Thomastown getting in their faces and it will be a major regret for Brian Hogan that his team couldn’t replicate that fiery attitude Just one point in the third quarter in contrast to Thomastown’s three effectively put paid to them retaining the cup Thomastown also had two chances to put a fork in the game O’Loughlin Gaels’ goalkeeper Stephen Murphy expertly kept out Colm Treacy’s goal attempt in the 41st minute The coup de grace threatened to come again 11 minutes later but Huw Lawlor kept out Rory Connellan’s effort the hits kept on coming for O’Loughlin Gaels as Robbie Donnelly bolstered his tally with frees and Jonjo Farrell sent over his second point of the final Staying focused was crucial for John Donnelly “When I had to get myself going again was when we had two goal chances in the second half to put the game to bed and we didn’t take them ‘Just keep playing the next ball.’ We kept playing them and thankfully it was enough to hold on in the end.” he remarked: “I wasn’t at the final last year but a lot of my friends were and they couldn’t get over the physicality of it We were still an intermediate team then and we definitely had doubts if we went senior would we be able to compete It’s just hard to imagine now we’re the best team in the county and it’s brilliant Manic would be an appropriate word to summarise the first half who were without first-choice goalkeeper Diarmuid Galway following his injury in the semi-final were more comfortable with its frenetic nature and Donnelly was showing the way with timely contributions His fellow forwards were making it a struggle for the O’Loughlin Gaels defenders to clear their lines Farrell followed it with another and any suggestions that Thomastown would struggle in their first final since 1988 were soon dispelled After Owen Wall had O’Loughlin Gaels up and running Thomastown midfielder Peter McDonald broke through on goal in the sixth minute but his shot wasn’t as convincing as his determination to create the opening the scores kept on coming for the challengers John Donnelly sent over his second point between setting up Rory Connellan and Stephen Donnelly getting in on the act Mark Bergin broke that string of four Thomastown points with a free and Conor Heary found his range in the 19th minute to indicate O’Loughlin Gaels had found their feet Yet they were caught on their heels for a neat one-two John Donnelly concocted for a point from a sideline and Robbie Donnelly punished a Butler foul on Colm Treacy Bergin sent over a point from play on the half-hour mark but John Donnelly restored Thomastown’s four-point advantage which grew to five before the interval when Robbie Donnelly sent over a free claimed by his cousin John The anticipated O’Loughlins fightback never came as Thomastown reeled off the first three points of the second half and they were on the road to emulating Clara who followed up intermediate success in 2012 with senior triumph the following year Now the All-Ireland intermediate champions Thomastown will aim to go one better and claim a Leinster senior title They face the Westmeath champions in a quarter-final on November 17 it was definitely the best three or four months of my hurling career,” smiled Donnelly they travelled with us every day last year It was such an enjoyable journey and I’d love to go on another one.”  From as little as €1 a week with our digital introductory offer Already a subscriber? Sign in ATTENDANCE DOWN: The Kerry and Clare players march behind the Millstreet Pipe Band in the parade before the Munster GAA Football Senior Championship final By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser You have accepted push notifications for this content. If you would like to manage your push notification preferences, you can do so here Thomastown GAA club held their dinner dance in Langtons Hotel to celebrate winning the Kilkenny senior hurling title This is the first time the club has won the title since 1946.  Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.