SENIORS
Our Senior team travelled to Churchill on Sunday afternoon last for Round 2 Co. League game which was played in near perfect conditions. Ballymac started the better and were fully deserving of their 1 – 5 to 0 – 1 lead mid way through the first half with Vincent Horan 0 – 2, Jonathan Keane 0 – 2 and Shane O Reilly 0 – 1 pointing while wing back Luke Sweeney got forward to find the net. Ballymac continued to dominate and at half time were fully value for their 1 – 7 to 0 – 4 lead. Aidan Breen and Vincent Horan adding the extra scores. The lead was further extended with points from defenders Luke Sweeney and Mikey Leen and we seemed set for victory.
However, in the complete turn around Churchill were to out score us 2 – 6 to 0 – 3 in the time remaining, their winning point coming at the last kick of the game.
Final score Churchill 2 – 10 Ballymac 1 – 12.
Our lads will be very disappointed to lose this game which they controlled for 40 minutes, they have a chance to get their season back on track on Saturday evening next when we host Moyvane at 6.30 pm. Please come and support the lads.
Team : P Laide, L Dunne, M Leen, T J Casey, C. Counihan, C Reynolds, L Sweeney, M Galvin, S Dowling, S O Reilly, J Keane, E Reidy, P McCarthy, A Breen, V Horan,
Subs : C Leen
MINORS
BALLYMAC 2-10 CASTLEISLAND DESMONDS 2-08
We are through to a County Final after this victory over local rivals Desmonds in Castleisland. An outstanding display by centre back Micháel Reidy and a fine contribution from our subs helped us to this narrow victory. Once more we got off to a poor start and were 2-03 to 0-01 down midway through the half. Darragh Regan our only scorer. Robert O Dowd and Darragh Regan combined and put Tomás O Connor through for a goal to begin our revival. A fine block by James Mc Donnell led to a Liam O Malley point. Micheal Hoare pointed from a pass by Tomás and Desmonds also pointed to leave the half time score Ballymac 1-03 Desmonds 2-04.
Josh O Keeffe, Daire Keane and Tadhg Brick were introduced at half time and each helped turn the game in our favour. Desmonds pointed on the restart and Darragh Regan pointed from a free after Liam was fouled. Daire Keane somehow worked his way through a group of players and goaled. Desmonds again pointed and Darragh Regan pointed from a free. Desmonds got two more points and did not score after that. Micháel Reidy, Daire Keane and Liam O Malley all pointed to tie the game with ten minutes remaining. With only a few minutes left Max O Brien soloed from his own half took a return pass from Robert O Dowd and pointed, an inspirational score from the captain. Micheal Hoare was fouled and Darragh Regan converted the free and Ballymac had won four games in a row. A fantastic win but plenty to work on before the final .
TEAM & SCORERS; Barry Lyons, Kevin O Connor, Eddie Rogers, Max O Brien(0-1), Gary Horan, Micháel Reidy(0-1), Chris Lowe, Keelan Brosnan, David Long, Liam O Malley (0-2), Micheal Hoare(0-1), James Mc Donnell, Robert O Dowd, Darragh Regan(0-4), Tomás O Connor(1-0). Subs Josh O Keeffe, Daire Keane(1-1), Tadgh Brick, Ross Mansfield, Paddy O Donnell.
MEMBERSHIP
Thanks to everyone who recently paid their membership fee for the year 2016. Your support for the club is genuinely appreciated. Your membership entitles you to a say in the running of our club especially at our AGM later in the year. Your membership allows you to put forward ideas on how our sports are organised and ran on both a club and county level.
Expenses for running a club are many including insurance for each team within the club, jersey’s, equipment, subscription to our county board and various regional boards, medical expenses, travel expenses, pitch maintenance and development to name but a few.
Your membership really helps in the offset of these expenses & Míle Buíochas to everyone who has paid to date.
Membership of our club is always open and this can be paid online through our website or by contacting any officer within the club. Your support for Ballymac GAA helps the club to allow all our players to participate in as many of our games as possible. Míle Buíochas do Chách !!
BWILDERED
As the date of Bwildered the 30th April moves ever closer those hoping to participate are reminded that an early bird fee of €35 per person or a group of 4 for €120 is available until 11th April. Please check website and facebook for full details.
DAVID CLIFFORD
Congratulations to St. Brendan’s Killarney on their great victory on the Hogan Cup final on Saturday last. A special mention must go to man of the match David Clifford who has strong Ballymac connections. His mother Ellen is a member of the O’Shea family from Gortatlea many of whom have given sterling service to the Ballymac Club. While on his father Dermot’s side his cousins Tadgh, Brian and Eoghan Sugrue also played for many years on Ballymac teams. Well done to David on what will hopefully be the first of many big days in Croke Park for him.