Following months of preparations, Féile Peile Na nÓg was held over the weekend in Kerry, North Cork and West Limerick.
Report by Gerard Collins
Ballymac hosted Dunshauglin GAA Club, Co.Meath; Boston, USA and Fethard GAA Club, Co.Tipperary. Players from these clubs stayed in houses in the parish and many thanks to families for keeping these children. Many new friends were made over the weekend and hopefully all our visitors will have happy memories from their time spent in the parish.
Great credit is also due to our Club Feile Committee who left no stone unturned to ensure all activities held in the club over the weekend ran smoothly.
Many thanks to all club members who volunteered their time to ensure GAA people from USA, England, Belfast, Carlow, Westmeath, Clare and Limerick whose teams played games in Ballymac had an enjoyable experience.
Probably the highlight of the weekend was the visit to our club by Uachtaráin CLG Aogán Ó Fearghail who spent time meeting club members and posing for photographs with them.
Cailiní Faoí 14
Our U-14 girls began their Féile weekend in Abbeydorney on Friday evening with games against the home side and Thomastown from Kilkenny.
Unfortunately, luck was not on our side for either game and we came home empty handed. In our final group game on Saturday morning we played our visiting club Fethard and after an exciting game the scores finished level.
These results saw us travel to Knocknagree to play Banteer in the quarter final of the Shield. In this game we ran out easy winners to qualify for a semi final game on Sunday morning with our friends from Fethard.
On the day the Tipp girls proved too strong for us. While our girls were very disappointed to lose, they can be very proud of themselves and the effort they made in all of their games over the weekend.
Féile U14 Boys
Our Féile experience commenced on Friday June 24th in Castleisland. We were in a group with Castleisland Desmonds, Castlebar Mitchels and Dunshauglin.
First up a game against our nearest neighbours, Desmonds. Weather was fair on the evening and we started in flying fashion although it was a noticeably light Desmonds side.
The boys maintained a half hour of pressure and completed the game with a healthy margin on the score-board.
Next up, Castlebar Mitchels – the club from Mayo arrived in Kerry with a purpose and a panel to compete. Their physicality and strength was greater than ours and we found it difficult to score against a well drilled team.
A second half improvement by us was not enough to reduce the deficit and Mitchels won out.
That completed our Friday night games and we looked forward to a game against our host club Dunshauglin on Saturday morn. This game was an evenly balanced affair. Ballymac had the better opening half and lead 1-2 to 0-1 early on.
However, Dunshauglin kept working away and slowly game back into the game Ballymac 2 pts up at half time Dunshauglin had a breeze at their back in the second half. A high ball into the square was punched to the net. Game on !
Level in the closing minutes it was Dunshauglin who got the breaks and tacked on two points without reply to win this tight battle.
Our quarter final was held in Mitchell’s grounds in Tralee and Fossa our opponents. We had played this team earlier in the year and won comfortably.
It may have lead to some complacency with our boys that whilst on top early on they did not take more of their chances A pretty level game but Fossa began to impose themselves as we went into the second half.
They went ahead with some well taken points and we were chasing the game we tried very hard and went inches close to getting a winning goal at the death but it was not to be and Fossa progressed. There, Ballymac disappointedly had finished their Feile experience. Great credit to all the panel who played and to the way our players conducted themselves on and off the field.
A special mention to Darragh Sweeney who was injured on Friday night and had his Féile curtailed despite this Darragh was in the dugout willing the boys on !
Also to Dunshaughlin GAA Club our visitors – a special word of thanks. You made our Féile experience very memorable.
Panel : Eoghan Kenny, James Bailey, Brian Cassidy, Ciaran Brosnan, Darragh Sweeney, Adam Kelly, Adam Joy, Cian Godley, Dylan Dunne Moriarty Darragh Broderick, Johnathan Lowe, Darragh Leen, Aidan O Brien, Tim Polman-Daamen, Sean Polman-Daamen, Sean Horan, Cathal Culloty, Thomas O’Connor, Denis Brosnan.
Féile U-14 Boys B
Our U-14 B team participated in Feile at the weekend. We were joined in our group by Boston, Warickshire and Athea.
Our lads got of to a great start with a comfortable win over Athea.
However, Warickshire proved a step too far and had too many aces in the pack against a young but skillfull Ballymac outfit.
Against Boston we played quiet well in the first half and we were unlucky to be down by five points.
However, Boston pushed on in the second half and ran out winners.We travelled to Kanturk for our quarter final against Whitescross. The Cork side were too strong for our boys. Well done to all the parents, mentors and volunteers for helping to make this weekend an occasion the boys will hopefully remember for the rest of their lives. They did the club proud.
Kerry Teams
This coming weekend sees three Ballymac Players putting on the Green and Gold jersey in two finals.
On Saturday, Ashling O’Connell is part of the Kerry U-14 panel who play Kildare in the All-Ireland Final.
On Sunday the focus shifts to Fitzgerald Stadium and Munster final day where in the minor game our two club representatives, Micheál Reidy and Tomás O’Connor will hope to contribute to a Kerry victory over Cork.
Both lads have played in the previous two games against Waterford and Clare. Best wishes to all three players and their team mates in these games.
Senior Team
Our Senior team continue their Co. League campaign on Saturday evening next at 7pm when we entertain Renard. We currently occupy third position in the table so all support would be most welcome for the lads on the night.
Minor Central Region, Ballymac 4-8 Castleisland Desmonds 3-16.
An outstanding display by Eoghan O Malley and a fine comeback from ten points down were not enough to win our first central region game in Ballymac on Thursday evening. Desmonds pointed inside the first minute with Eoghan pointing for us.
Immediately Desmonds went upfield and goaled, minutes later Eoghan passed to brother Liam O’ Malley who pointed.
The visitors were in complete control for the next 15 minutes scoring 1-5 without reply. James McDonnell put Dara Reagan through for a goal and Michael Hoare pointed from a Josh O’Keeffe pass. Desmonds got two more points and Dara Reagan replied for us to leave the half time score Ballymac 1-4 Desmonds 2-8.
Desmonds got three early points and a Dara Keane effort came off the crossbar to Eoin O’Malley who finished to the net.
The visitors again pointed while Eoin flicked to the net from close range for us. Dara Reagan got two points with help from Josh O’Keeffe and Liam O Malley. Then Josh O’Keeffe and Eoin O Malley combined to put Dara Keane through for a goal to tie the scores.
Desmonds again pointed and a fine catch by Dara Keane led to a Michael Hoare point.
Our opponents then got a goal and a point, Dara Reagan pointing for us form a Hoare pass. Desmonds then got the final two points to win an entertaining game. Captain Gary Horan, Max O’ Brien, and Liam O’Malley along with those mentioned were in fine form for us on the night.
Team and scorers: B Lyons, E Rodgers,G Horan, C Lowe, E O Malley, 2-1; J O Keeffe, L O Malley, 0-1; K Brosnan, M Hoare, 0-2; M O Brien, J MCDonnell, D Reagan, 1-4; D Keane, 1-0.
Cailiní Faoí 12
Our U-12 girls qualified for the Division 2 Co. League Final with a 1-9 to 1- 2 victory over Beaufort. Our girls were in control from start to finish and now await the winners of Firies and Ballyduff/Beale who meet in the other semi final.
Wedding Bells for Eoin and Trish
Congratulations to former Senior player Eoin “Figo” Sugrue and his bride Trish Breen on their wedding on Friday last. Best wishes from all the Club to Eoin and Trish in their future together.
Sympathy
The club extends its sympathy to U-14 girls’ mentor John McKeown on the death of his brother in Armagh.
Club Lotto Climbs To €3,500
The lotto was held in Ballygarry House on Monday 20th June 2016 for a jackpot of €3,400. Numbers drawn were 3,10,23,25. There was no jackpot winner.
Lucky Dip winners: 1. Aidan Savage, Kielduff; 2. Michael O Shea, c/o Tony Marshall; 3. Mick O’ Connell, Castleisland; 4. Ashling and Mike Keane, Lyrecrompane; 5. Pat Foley, c/o Tony Marshall. Sellers Prize: Tom Leen. The lotto now stands at €3,500 and can be played with a click here: www.ballymacgaa.com
