As holders of the annual Newmarket U-12 Blitz Trophy, Ballymacelligott were once again invited to Newmarket, North Cork to participate in this prestigious competition which has now being running for the past nine years or so.
With eight different clubs partaking in this tournament, four from Cork and four from Kerry, it has developed into one of the finest U-12 blitzs in the South West region and Ballymacelligott GAA club were only too delighted to attend and endeavour to be the first team to retain the trophy.
Two Wins in a Row
Travelling with a squad of 15 players, Ballymac GAA aspired to do its very best to make it two wins in a row in this competition and found themselves in a group composing of Currow, Crokes and Dromtarriff of Cork. In our first game, we faced Crokes and duly made light work of overcoming the challenge of the North Cork side with the likes of Manuel, Oisin Shanahan, James Kenny, Donal Daly and Mark O Connor impressing throughout.
Such was the display of our defenders that Ballymac conceded only one score in this opening game. Our second opponents were Currow from Kerry and despite a strong start from our Kerry rivals, Ballymac closed out the game early thanks to the efforts of Sean Rice, Diarmuid Galvin, Niall Collins and Gary Lynch.
A Clean Sheet
Indeed, once again, Ballymac conceded only one score in this game as well. In our final group game, we needed to win against Dromtarriff and duly obliged with keeper Kieran Slattery keeping a clean sheet and the likes of Maurice O’Connell and Adam Wharton keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
Our opponents in the final were the host club, Newmarket and the level and intensity of this game was raised a notch or two. The hosts started the more brightly, going four points to two up inside the opening seven minutes but as soon as Ballymac opened up, it was one way traffic for the remainder of the first half with captain Jamie Sugrue leading by example, ably assisted by the dynamic midfield duo of Andy Rogers and Donal Daly. Some delightful interlinking play from Ballymac led to four goals in the first half with James Kenny 2, Gary Lynch and Maurice O’Connell all raising the green flag.
Ballymac Held Out
Ballymac emptied the bench at half time and despite a brave fight back from Newmarket, Ballymac held out with Oisin Shanahan scoring the final goal of the game.
Andy Rogers, Mark O’Connor and Mossie Brennan were all outstanding in the final and captain fantastic Jamie Sugrue gladly received the trophy on behalf of the entire Ballymac group.
Mentors, Roland Rogers and Eddie O’Connell were full of praise for their charges and all thoroughly enjoyed the day out, stopping off at the Good Table in Castleisland for a bite to eat. Well done to all involved !!
Panel: Kieran Slattery, Diarmuid Galvin, Mossie Brennan, Jamie Sugrue, Mark O’Connor, Donal Daly, Andy Rodgers, Gary Lynch, Maurice O’Connell, James Kenny, Sean Rice, Niall Collins, Adam Wharton, Oisin Shanahan, Manuel Sanchez.
Seniors Trip to Lispole
Ballymac seniors made the trip to Lispole on Saturday last in round six of the county league. Ballymac were on six points and Lispole on 1 going into this game. Rain made underfoot conditions difficult but Ballymac came away with two valuable county league points.
The teams were evenly matched in the first minutes and half way through the first half the score was Ballymac 0.6 to Lispole 1.3. Ballymac’s points came from Aiden Breen 0.2 , Vincent Horan 0.2 and a point each from Padraig McCarthy and Daniel O’Shea. Lispole’s scores came from full forward Declan O’Sullivan 1.1 and a point each from Tomas Kavanagh and Aaron Moriarty. Ballymac pushed ahead wth a goal and a point from Padraig McCarthy and a point from full forward T.J. Casey. Lispole responded with two points from full forward Declan O’Sullivan and a point from wing forward Gareth Noonan. Half time score was Ballymac 1.8 to Lispole 1.6
Aiden Breen gave Ballymac the started they needed in the second half when he got a hand to a high ball that came into the square from a free kick. Lispole replied with two points through their corner forward. Aiden Breen pointed for Ballymac before Lispole were awarded a penalty when Declan O’Sullivan was fouled.This was duly dispatched by Declan O Sullivan. Three more points from frees from Aiden Breen left Ballymac with a final score of 2.12. Lispole kicked two more points to leave their final score at 2.10
Ballymac Team : Padraig Laide, Liam Dunne, Michael Leen, Mike Sweeney, Cian Counihan, Con Reynolds, David Long, Luke Sweeney, Daniel O’Shea, Sean Savage, Aiden Breen, Padraig McCarthy, Max O Brien, T.J. Casey, Vincent Horan. Our next game in the Co. League will take place on Saturday evening July 2nd when we welcome Renard to Ballymac.
Junior League
Castleisland Dsmonds are due to take on Ballymacelligott on Tuesday 28th June in Castleisland. All support for our lads would be greatly appreciated !
Central Region Minor League
The first round of the central region minor league takes place this Thursday 23rd of June at 7pm. Ballymacelligott are home to Castleisland Desmonds. Please keep an eye on our social media accounts for any updates/changes to this fixture
Feile 2016 – Peil na nÓg U-14 Competition
The Feile event is taking place on the 24th, 25th, 26th June. The hosting regions include Kerry, West Limerick, North Cork & Cork city. There will be in excess of 630 games all around the South West region during these days. This event will bring approximately 65 thousand people to the area for the weekend!!
Ballymacelligott have entered three teams two boys and one girl with the boys hosting Boston and Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath and the girls hosting Fethard, Co. Tipperary.
The Feile begins on this Friday evening, June 24th with each team playing two games on the Friday evening. The travelling teams & mentors will be entertained after the matches in the Earl of Desmond Hotel on the Friday night.
Games will begin again on Saturday morning at 10.30am with each of the Ballymacelligott teams playing their visiting teams on the main pitch in Ballymac.
Quarter finals will begin at 2pm on Saturday mainly in neutral venues. Semi- finals will take place on Sunday morning and finals will take place on Sunday afternoon.
There will be nine parades held throughout the south west region on the Saturday evening at 7pm. These venues include: Killarney, Tralee, Cahersiveen, Dingle, Kenmare, Listowel, Newcastlewest, Kanturk and Carrigaline. Neighbouring clubs are encouraged to join these parades and participate along with their U-6, 8, and 10 footballers in full club colours to make what is hoped a very enjoyable and memorable evening.
Our club is likely to see in excess of 300 visiting players, parents, mentors & supporters on the Friday evening and the Saturday morning. Most of the parents of players on the three Ballymac teams are housing pairs of visiting players over the weekend and will be busy dropping and picking up both their own kids and the players from the visiting club throughout the weekend. As such they won’t be available to help out with car parking, stewarding and all the ancillary things that go hand in hand with an event of this size.
We want our visitors to leave having had a great weekend as our guests. It’s the Feile committee wish that we give them that good experience and we won’t achieve that without the help of Coiste nOg parents. If you are available for any part of the Friday evening, or Saturday morning, and want to be part of a very historic weekend. Please text Fionnan Fitzgerald on 087 9860441 to volunteer. Meetings to take place this week with host families to discuss the schedule for Feile.
Feile Fixtures 2016
Friday 24th in Ballymac: Ballymac B Team versus Athea at 5pm. Ballymac B Team versus Warwickshire at 7.15pm Friday 24th in Castleisland Desmonds; Ballymac A Team versus Desmonds at 5pm; Ballymac A Team versus Castlebar Mitchels at 6.30pm; Friday 24th in Abbeydorney Girls Team Ballymac versus Abbeydorneyat 5pm; Ballymac versus Thomastown at 6.30pm; Saturday 25th in Ballymac 9.45am Ballymac B Team Vs Boston; 10.30am Ballymac Girls Vs Fethard; 11.15am Ballymac A Vs Dunshaughlin;
Should our teams qualify from their groups the following fixtures will apply: Ballymac A team will play their quarter final Saturday evening in John Mitchels. Ballymac B team will play their quarter final Saturday evening in Kanturk. Ballymac Girls will play their quarter final Saturday evening in Knocknagree. Semi Finals and finals to be played on Sunday .
Feile Parade – Please Note: All teams to assemble in Austin Stacks Park by 6pm .
Teams are dropped off at ASP and Buses and cars are diverted to Car Park at Rose of Tralee Hotel Fels Point for pick up.
Teams will line up alphabetically in the grounds of ASP for parade which will leave at 7pm sharp. All stewards to assemble at ASP by 5.30pm. Dan Walsh, Joe Wallace and Michael Moriarty to organise.
Parade stewards will be assigned on the day. All stewards to stay with parade until teams get back to their bus at Fels Point .
Faoi-14 U14A Central Region Ballymac A 4-6 Austin Stacks 3-9
A very entertaining football game played in good spirits was on display in Ballymac on Tuesday. A strong wind gave Stacks advantage in the first half. They were strong in the middle and full forward line and Cian, Sean Polman Daamen and Brian had their hands full in stemming the opposition.
We did well against the breeze our goal coming from Tim Polman Daamen. It was end to end stuff and stacks lead 1-5 to 1-2 at the half time whistle.
We had the wind at our backs in the second half and tried to play direct ball to our full forward line stacks were alive to it and repelled us on a number of occasions.
Some positional switches brought us level with seven minutes to go.
Dylan was now in full forward and we tried to get him involved with every play. However Stack’s made a quick break and scored a goal against the run of play.
This was followed by a quick point which put them 4 to the front with two minutes to go. Our boys did not give up and drove forward with Stacks intent on stopping us at all costs.
A converted free left us with a goal required to snatch a draw. Brian Cassidy moved from full back and he drove into the stacks penalty box, with a trip leading to a penalty.
Time was now up and this was the last kick of the game.
Dylan stood up and planted a pile driver in the roof of the net. Great jubilation by Ballymac players at having stolen a draw. This was a hard fought game and a learning process also. Next up Laune Rangers on Thursday the 16th.
Panel: Eoghan Kenny, James Bailey, Bryan Cassidy, Ciaran Brosnan, Adam Joy, Tim Polman Daamen, Darragh Sweeney, Cian Godley, Dylan Dunne Moriarty, Darragh Broderick, Denis Brosnan, Jonathan Lowe, Dara Leen, AidanO’Brien, Sean Horan, Sean Polman Daamen, Cathal Culloty and Thomas O’Connor.
Central Region Ballymac 5-14 Laune Rangers 2-6
We continued our strong play following our recent draw against Austin stacks. We played with a considerable wind at our back in the first half. Rangers opened the scoring but from then on our boys dominated. Our forwards in particular played intelligent football on the evening. Aidan, Johnny, Darragh L., Darragh B., Tim, Denis, and Sean H. gave an exhibition of creative play and sublime score taking. Darragh B. had his best performance of the year and all forwards worked tirelessly with a hunger and passion that was great to see. Such work relieved the pressure on our defense and indeed the backs were able to concentrate dutifully on their job without being under constant pressure. As complete a team performance as they have played since their early years! Leading 2-11 to 0-1 at half time the lads just had to ensure they would withstand the Rangers back lash, with the wind now favouring our hosts.
Our boys were not to be outdone on the night and two further goals from our early attacks put the game beyond Rangers. However Rangers didn’t give up and tried time and again to find a route to our goal only to be denied by our staunch defense. A further highlight of the night was a fine penalty save by Eoghan a real beauty! We were on a roll and the boys continued some lovely passages of play from end to end. Again great credit to the boys. Next up Glenbeigh Glencar Cromane at home in Ballymac at 7.30pm on Monday Night.
U-14B
Our B team played Milltowm/Castlemaine last Monday evening and the score line on the night was Ballymac B 2-08 to Milltown/Castlemaine 6-07. We played again on Thursday night against Laune Rangers. We played very well on the night a came away with a winning result of Ballymac 5-14 to Laune Rangers 2-06. We will play our last game before Feile tomorrow night the 20th of June in Ballymac against Austin Stacks with a throw in at 6.30pm.
Faoi 10
Our Academy continued as usual on Sunday morning last the 19th of June as we welcomed Fossa for challenge games. The games were very enjoyable for the boys on a morning which was difficult for good football due to the rain.
Faoi 8
The next series of Go Games took place last Thursday night last in Cordal. Teams participating on the night were Castleisland Desmonds, Currow, Cordal and Scartaglen. Many thanks to Cordal GAA for hosting the Games. The academy for our U8 panel continued last Sunday morning the 19th of June with our U8 boys playing challenge games against Fossa. The games were very competitive and the boys are progressing well. Many thanks to Fossa GAA for travelling for these games.
Faoi 6
U6 Academy Boys & Girls had a good outing last Sunday and everyone had lots of fun learning their skills.
CailinÍ Faoi 12
Our U-12 girls continued their recent good form in the Co. League with a 2 -09 to 1 – 03 victory over Beale/Ballyduff last weekend. This result ensures a home semi-final for the girls on Tuesday, 21st June at 7.00pm against Beaufort.
Cailiní Faoi 10
Despite inclement weather conditions on Sunday morning last, there was a great turnout of girls. Amongst those who braved the conditions were Orla O Connor, Niamh Rice, Alice Brosnan and Maggie Scanlon.
Ballymac Handball
Ballymac Handball wish to thank everyone the helped in recent Tesco Community fund at Manor West. A generous contribution has been received from Tesco and our sincere thanks to them also.
O Brennan School 5K
O Brennans School inaugural 5K had a great turnout and thanks to all runners and walkers of all ages who participated. Thanks also to stewards, caterers and everyone else who helped out on the day. Particular thanks to Terence O Connor for all his dedication and hardwork in organising this event.
Lotto at €3,300
The lotto was held in O Riadas Bar on Monday, June 13th for a jackpot of €3,200. Numbers drawn were 6,7,8,9. There was no winner. Lucky Dips: 1. Peg Looney, c/o Tony Marshall; 2. Anthony Curran, Tylough; 3. John and Gene Griffin, Ballymac; 4. Brenda Kearney, c/o Tom Leen; 5. Matt Rennie, Fossa. Sellers Prize: Tony Marshall. The lotto now stands at €3,300 and can be played with a click here: www.ballymacgaa.com
