The Kerry Petroleum: Premier Junior Football Club Championship Quarter Final.Ballymacelligott V Annascaul
Date: Sunday 1st September 2024.
Venue: John Mitchel’s.
Halfway through the first half, Annascaul had all the momentum, scoring three points on the trot, reducing Ballymac’s lead. They were bearing down on goal when Christy Leen made a crucial point-blank save that gave Ballymac the initiative. Had Annascaul scored that goal, it could have changed the course of the game. This save by Leen was a game-changer, preventing Annascaul from taking the lead and potentially altering the game’s dynamics.
On Sunday, Ballymac a wind in the first half at John Mitchel’s GAA grounds. Annascaul’s Jason Hickson opened the scoring with a point from a free. Vinnie Horan opened the home side scoring, and following a turnover from Josh O’Keeffe, Donal Daly scored Ballymac’s second point. Annascaul added two points from Jason Hickson (F) and Killian Falvey. In the 7th minute, Niall Collins got a great pass from Vinnie Horan and hit the back of the net. Then, Niall Collins dispossessed Annascaul and passed the ball to Daire Keane, who scored a point, followed by another from Ballymac’s Micheál Reidy. The score was 1-04 to 0-3 to Ballymac.
Undeterred, the men from the West launched a spirited attack, scoring three points in quick succession. However, Christy Leen’s heroic save on goal, which would have put Annascaul in the lead, was a testament to Ballymac’s resilience. Aidan Breen’s successful free point further solidified their lead, with the score standing at Ballymac 1-05 Annascaul 0-6. This sequence of events underscored the unwavering teamwork and camaraderie within the Ballymac team, inspiring their ability to win and turn the game in their favour.
Undeterred, the men from the West launched a spirited attack, scoring three points in quick succession. However, Christy Leen’s heroic save on goal, which would have put Annascaul in the lead, was a testament to Ballymac’s resilience. Aidan Breen’s successful free point further solidified their lead, with the score standing at Ballymac 1-05 Annascaul 0-6. This sequence of events underscored the unwavering teamwork and camaraderie within the Ballymac team, inspiring their ability to win and turn the game in their favour.
Josh O’Keeffe turned over a ball in front of the Ballymac Goal, and Vinnie had a great goal chance that was saved by Tommy Pierce in the Annascaul goal and resulted in a 45. Annascaul added a point and had a ball cleared off the Ballymac full forward line by two great blocks, first from Daragh Sweeney and then by Josh O’Keeffe, and Micheál Reidy scored a point as a result. Both sides pointed for frees from Aidan Breen and Jason Hickson before the halftime whistle blew.
The Half Time score: Ballymacelligott 1-05 Annascaul 0-06.
Six minutes into the second half, Ballymac had notched up five more points from Aidan Breen(F), Vinnie Horan, Donal Daly, Niall Collins and Daire Keane. Annascaul was trailing by 7 points. David Smith scored the first point of the half for the lads from the West, and Donal Daly scored a point for Ballymac.
Tommy Pierce, in goal for Annascaul, made a massive save that rebounded, and the ball was cleared. This save gave Annascaul a second wind, and Jason Hickson scored a point from a free. Shortly afterwards, they hit the back of the Ballymac net. There were three points between the teams with a quarter of an hour to go to full-time.
It was a display of sheer teamwork as Ballymac went on the offensive and scored two points from frees from Vinnie Horan and Aidan Breen. Annascaul added one of their own from a free. Micheál Reidy and Vinnie Horan added two from the play. Annascaul scored their last game point before Dara Regan and Aidan Breen scored one each for Ballymac. The final whistle blew. It was a hard-won game for Ballymac to secure a place in the semi-final. Annascaul proved to be a formidable opponent and never gave up.
The match concluded with a final score of Ballymacelligott 1-19 Annascaul 1-12, securing Ballymac’s place in the semi-final.
Ballymacelligott Team & Scorers.
Christy Leen, Josh O’Keeffe, Daniel O’Shea ,Eoin Creedon, Michéal Reidy (0-3), Tadhg Brick, Daragh Sweeney, Aidan Breen (0-5F) , Adam Sheehy, Niall Collins (1-1), Vinnie Horan,Captain (0-4- 1F), James Kenny, Donal Daly (0-3),Brian Lonergan, Daire Keane (0-2),
Christy Leen, Josh O’Keeffe, Daniel O’Shea ,Eoin Creedon, Michéal Reidy (0-3), Tadhg Brick, Daragh Sweeney, Aidan Breen (0-5F) , Adam Sheehy, Niall Collins (1-1), Vinnie Horan,Captain (0-4- 1F), James Kenny, Donal Daly (0-3),Brian Lonergan, Daire Keane (0-2),
Ballymacelligott Substitutes Introduced: Sean Rice, Michael Herlihy, Cian Counihan, Daragh Regan (0-1).
Manager: Ian Blake
Selectors: Tony Silles, Gene O’Keeffe, Mike Broderick & Padráig Laide.
Selectors: Tony Silles, Gene O’Keeffe, Mike Broderick & Padráig Laide.
Physical Trainer: Anthony O’Leary. Physio: Mark Thompson
Stats/Logistics: Aidan Savage and Bridget Leen.
Stats/Logistics: Aidan Savage and Bridget Leen.
We wish to thank The John Mitchel’s Club for the use of their pitch today to facilitate a home venue when our own pitch is not playable. It is very much appreciated.
Our Sincere Congratulations to our Captain Vinnie Horan on his engagement this week to Roisín. We wish you both every happiness in your life together. Our squad is rallying behind Cathal Dunne, injured at training during the week, and Adam Sheehy, sustained an injury today. We wish them both a speedy recovery and look forward to their return to the field.
A few facts
1. Cian Counihan made his championship debut at V Listowel Emmett’s in 2008 under Manager Kieran Scanlon and scored 1-1 on the day.
2. Captain Vinnie Horan made his championship debut, V Ballyduff, in 2014 under Manager Stephen O’Brien.
3. Michéal Reidy made his championship debut in 2015 V Listry, also under Manager Stephen O’Brien.
Thank You from the Lotto Committee
The Ballymacelligott GAA Lotto Committee wishes to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported our lotto sales at all our home games in 2024. Your support at every game is genuinely appreciated, and we sincerely thank you for your generosity.
The Lotto is the backbone of our income for the year, and it helps us have an income every week. The sales at home games and neutral games at our pitch boost sales every year and make a big difference to our balance sheet at the end of the year.
Our pitch is being closed for necessary remedial work. We will miss the lottery income from our game sales. Anyone who wishes to support our lotto going forward can do so online here or by contacting any member of the lotto committee. We look forward to seeing you all in 2025 on our own top-class playing pitch. Go mara sibh céad.
