Ballymac U-12 Girls Fight all the Way in Final with Firies

Ballymac U12 Girls who went down to Firies in their recent Division 2 Co. Final played recently in Connolly Park. Photograph: Tom O'Donoghue / Kingdom Photography
Ballymac U-12 Girls who went down to Firies in their recent Division 2 Co. Final played recently in Connolly Park. Photograph: Tom O’Donoghue / Kingdom Photography

Firies celebrate at Connolly Park meeting with Ballymac

Our U-12 girls travelled to Connolly Park on Tuesday evening last to take on Firies in the Co. League Division 2 Final.  

Our opponents playing with the aid of a strong breeze dominated the early exchanges and led by 3 – 4 to 0 – 0 after 15 minutes.  However, our girls then settled and scored two points from Eimear Curran and Rachel Creedon which saw us down by 11 points at half time.  At the start of the second half Ballymac showed great character and despite a constant downpour for most of the half we had reduced the deficit to five points 3 – 4 to 1 – 5 with 10 minutes remaining.

Come-back Hopes Dashed

Alyssa Leen being the Ballymac goal scorer.  However, our hopes of a spectacular comeback were dashed when in a rare attack Firies struck for a goal which was to be their only score of the half.  Our girls never gave up and a goal by Roisin Rahilly gave us renewed hope but time ran out on our girls and it was Firies who were celebrating at the final whistle. Final score Firies 4 – 4 Ballymac 2 – 5.  While our girls were disappointed they did themselves and the Club proud on the night especially the way they fought back after a sluggish start.  Well done to coaches Jer Lynch, Siobhan Leen, Anthony Curran and Mike Quirke who had the girls well prepared for the night.

Thanks to Travelling Supporters

Many thanks also to the large number of supporters who travelled on the night to cheer on the girls.

Panel : Shona Griffin, Kerry Hennessy, Ciara Palmer, Bridget Sheehan, Lorna Daly, Cathy Palmer, Emma Leen, Alyssa Leen, Grainne Galvin, Kate Collins, Roisin Rahilly, Ella Quirke, Eimear Curran, Niamh Lynch, Roisin Raggett, Abby Leahy, Charlotte Geary. Rachel Griffin, Orla O Connor, Alli Tarrant, Kate Feeney, Rachel Creedon, Jill Quirke. Unavailable : Yvonne Hurley, Alexa Weiss, Geraldynn Cassidy.

Sympathy To The Kerins Family

The Club extends its sympathy to the Kerins Family, The Kerries on the death of Mrs. Finula Kerins.

Lotto Heading for €4,000 Jackpot

The lotto was held in Glenduff House on Monday, 25th July for a jackpot of €3,800.  Numbers drawn were 10.12.14.26 There was no jackpot winner. Lucky Dip winners: 1. Johnny Leen, Kilquane; 2. Bridget Leen, Kilquane; 3. Kevin Leen, Tralee; 4. T. McCarthy, Ballymac; 5. Willie Costelloe, Kielduff; Sellers Prize : Chris Leen. The lotto now stands at €3.900 and can be played at www.ballymacgaa.com 

Minors in Central Region win Over Castlegregory

Castlegregory 1-9 Ballymac 2-8..

We picked up our second win in this competition last Thursday evening in Castlegregory. This was a very physical and highly charged game with lots of stoppages throughout. As usual it was our second half (which lasted 40 minutes ) performance that gave us a narrow victory.Castle got off to a fine start getting 3 points inside the first 5 minutes. Eoin O’Malley, who made a number of blockdowns, worked his way through for a goal for us.Josh 0 Keeffe put ML Hoare through for a point.It was all Castle for the next 15 minutes scoring four points without reply. Liam 0 Malley pointed for us , Max 0 Brien won possession in midfield, send in a high ball. With Chris Lowe bearing down on goal, the ball finished in the Castle net. The home side won the kickout went upfield and goaled to leave the half time score Castlegregory 1-7 Ballymac 2-2

Keelan and Dara Reagan got our first points on the restart with help from Eoin and Chris Lowe. Dara Reagan converted from a free after Dara Keane was fouled, while Barry Lyons brought off a fine save. James McDonnell flicked a kickout to Michael Hoare who raced through and pointed to put us two points up after six minutes. Ten minutes later came Castle’s first point of the half. When the game resumed after various stoppages Tadhg Brick and Liam O’Malley pointed for us. The home side pressed hard for a goal but fine defending by David Long, Eddie Rodgers, and Gary Horan kept them at bay and they had to settle for an injury time point. We extend best wishes for a speedy recovery to Dara Reagan and Josh O’ Keeffe who were injured during the game.
Team and Scorers:  B Lyons, K Brosnan, (0-1) T Brick (0-1) G Horan, E Rodgers,J O Keeffe,D Long, E O Malley,(1-0) M O Brien (1-0) L O Malley (0-2) C Lowe, M Hoare (0-2) J MCDonnell, D Reagan (0-2) D Keane. Subs D Chawke, P O Donnell.

Kerry Minor Team

Congratulations to the Kerry minor squad who qualified for the All Ireland semi final with a good win over Derry on Sunday last. They now face Kildare on August 28th which will mean another trip to Croke Park for our two minors, Micheál Reidy and Thomas O’Connor.

The club took a coach load of supporters to Croke Park on Sunday last to cheer on the Kerry teams. A great day out was had by all.  Many thanks to Jeremiah Lynch for his organisation of this trip.

Faoi16
Ballymac played host to Na Gaeil last Wednesday evening in the third round of the county league. Na Gaeil started the brighter and had the ball in the back of the net in the third minute. They followed this with a point from play in the fifth minute. Ballymac settled when Dylan Dunne Moriarty kicked a point from play. This was quickly followed with a great goal from Daire Keane. The home side took the lead with another point from Dylan Dunne Moriarty. The lead was short lived as the full forward from Na Gaeil scored their second goal. Ballymac went on to score three more points, two from Daire Keane and one from David Rogers before the half time whistle. Na Gaeil scored five more points leaving the half-time score Ballymacelligott 1-05 Na Gaeil 2-06. Na Gaeil took control of the game in the first few minutes of the second half, scoring 1-01 without reply from Ballymac . This left the home side eight points in arrears. Ballymac tried hard to fight back and were unlucky on three occasions when they hit the crossbar twice and the upright once. A point from Dara Broderick, a goal and a point from Daire Keane, and a point from David Rogers left Ballymac’s final score at 2-08. Na Gaeil scored 2.7 in the second half and this left their final score at 4-13.
Ballymacelligott Team: Cian Godley, Eoin Cullotty, Cathal Dunne, Liam O’ Brien, Diarmuid Lynch, Josh O’ Keeffe, Dara Chawke, Tadgh Brick, James MacDonald, Daire Keane, David Rogers, Dylan Dunne Moriarty, Dylan McHugh, Barry Lyons, Dara Lynch. Subs used: Dara Broderick, Dean Linehan, Aiden O’ Brien, Jonathan Lowe.

Faoi12 Blue  Team

Our Blue Team following 2 good victories over Currow and Scartaglen will now meet Knock/Brosna in the Castleisland District A Final.

Gold Team

Our U-12 Gold team played Castleisland Desmonds at home on Thursday the 28th of July. This was an entertaining game and we ended up winning the game on a score line of Ballymac 5-17 to Castleisland Desmonds 5-06.  Our goalkeeper Tommy Palmer made some outstanding saves on the night and could not be faulted for any of the goals that went in.  Our defensive quartet of Jack O Connor, Padraic Heffernan, Cian McCarthy and Luke Horgan made the Desmonds work hard for their scores.  At mid field Diarmuid Galvin and Sean Rice’s domination ensured a plentiful supply of ball to our forwards where Micheal Cullotty, Niall Collins, Sam Mansfield and Raymond Lowe chalked up the scores to ensure a Ballymac victory.  Substitues Michael Prendergast and Aidan Horgan added greatly to the teams when introduced. This game was videoed for coaching purposes and the lads will benefit from an analysis of their performance.  The Gold teams next outing in the Castleisland District League on Thursday 4th August next at 7.30pm away to Cordal.

Faoi 10

The academy was cancelled last Sunday the 31st of July due to the Kerry games. Training was also cancelled on Wednesday as the Cul Camp was running in the club all week. The Milltown Castlemaine Blitz takes place on Sunday the 21st of August and we will be entering a team in this competition. The academy for our U-10 panel continues next Sunday morning, August 7th. at the usual time.

Cailini Faoi 10

Training continued on Sunday morning last for U-10 girls.  Among those improving with every passing week are: Jill Quirke, Laura Kelly, Debra O Connor and Kate Collins.

Faoi 8
The Academy for our U-8 panel was cancelled last Sunday the 31st of July due to the Kerry Senior game. The academy for our U-8 panel continues next Sunday morning August 7th at the usual time.

Faoi 6
Academy continues next Sunday, August 7th on the main pitch so come along and bring your water and gum shield.

Cailini Faoi 10

Training continued on Sunday morning last for U-10 girls.  Amongst those improving with every passing week are: Jill Quirke, Laura Kelly, Debra O’Connor and Kate Collins.