Our U-16s are continuing with their preparations for the County League which is to begin next Wed June 29th with a home fixture against Fossa. Throw-in time is 7 30pm but we ask all players to be in attendance at 6 45pm. Training has gone well in recent weeks and we hope that this will continue into the remaining week before the County League begins. Team management are hoping for a positive start to the campaign. U-16 panel is as follows; Danny Pierce, Maurice Leen, Jack Scanlon, Patrick O Connor, Scott O Brien, Dylan Goggin, Casey Donovan, Graham Breen, Sean Doyle, Gerard Browne, CianLonergan, Jonathan Brick, Stephen Bermimgham, Sean Savage, Vincent Horan, Neil Sullivan, Aaron Dunne, CillianBrosnan, Chris Leen,Jerdie O Shea, Morgan Quirke, Jack O Shea, Chris Rogers, Eoin Lyons.
Faoi 14
After suffering a heavy defeat to CastleislandDesmonds in the opening round of the District League our U-14s put in a sterling performance against Scart/Cordal on Friday night last to get our League campaign up and running. Returning back to the fold were Chris Rogers, Chris Leen, Jerdie O Shea and Jack O Shea and all four proved instrumental in Ballymacs fine victory over the combination side. Aided by the very strong breeze in the first half Ballymac raced into an unassailable lead with goals from the two Chris’ and fine points from Jack, Jerdie, Morgan Quirke and MicheálReidy. Scart/Cordal found it difficult to find their form with two games inside three days not helping their cause and the Blue n Gold led at half-time 5-06 to 1-03. We were put under tremendous pressure at the start of the second half with Scart/Cordal scoring 1-02 inside the first five minutes of the restart and a fight-back seemed to be on the cards but Ballymac upped the tempo once again with Robert Dowd, Eoin Lyons and Kevin O Connor tightening the last line of defence. Max O Brien was in imperious form at half-back as was Tomás O Connor who popped up with a point of his own in the dying moments of the game. David Long attacked from deep on numerous occasions and Garry Sheehy performed admirably in attack. Paddy O Donnell made his introduction in the second half with a fine point from distance and both Eddie Rogers and Daniel Goggin appeared late in the game also. All in all a competent all-round performance from Ballymac and team management were pleased with the display. Final Result: Ballymac 6-13 Scart/Cordal 2-06. And then, on Sunday morning last, we continued with our impressive form with a comprehensive victory over Knock/Brosna in Round 3. With many positional changes to the team everybody contributed to the win with good performances from Garry Sheehy in goals, CillianBrosnan and Jerdie O Shea in attack and Morgan Quirke in mid-field. KeelanBrosnan from the U-14 team also gave an impressive display. Our next game is away to Currow next week with details to be given to all in due course. Keep in touch with management re. training times and venues.
Faoi 10
Our U-10s had a very busy week of it with two games played on Tuesday and on Saturday morning last.Firstly, we travelled to West Kerry outfit Castlegregory and in a torrential downpour managed to secure a one point victory on a scoreline of 2-03 to 0-08. Great credit to both sets of players who tried so hard to play constructive football in monsoon like conditions and players like goalscorers, Jonathan Lowe and Dylan Dunne Moriarty played their heart out. Liam O Brien was again a colossus at full-back, helped in no small measure by Eoghan Leahy, EoinCulloty, Diarmuid Lynch and Kyle O Connor. David Rogers and Darragh Broderick brought the game to Castle’ and in attack Eoghan Kenny, Darragh Leen and Tommy Brosnan excelled.
And on Saturday morning we hosted our friends and near-neighbours Churchill when we played two 10-a-side games simultaneously on a blustery morning for football. Again all four teams showed off their newly acquired footballing skills with little between the sides. CiaránBrosnan and Kieran Coggin were to the fore with great assistance from Brian Cassidy, Cian Godley and Aidan O Brien. Tomás Lynch put in a much improved display against Churchill and Oscar Reidy Gilroy netted his first goal of the season with a fine strike. Jack Tobin and Michael Moynihan proved a match for their immediate opponents as was DarraghBrosnan in defence. Namesake Darragh Lynchis quickly proving to be a handful for the opposition and great improvement and progress is being made by all involved. Our next fixture is this Saturday June 25th with a return fixture against Churchill with throw-in time set for 11am. We ask that all players be present in Churchill at 10 45am sharp.
Peil na gCailíní
Ballymac U-10s and U-8 girls played Austin Stacks in Connolly Park last Sunday morning and both teams served up some spellbinding football for the large gallery that was in attendance. It is encouraging to see that the club are able to field a 11-a-side team at both age groups, due to no small work from team mentors Kieran Savage, Siobhán Griffin, Anthony Curran and Donal Rahilly. Our 10s team put it up to the Black and Amber and were more than a match for our town rivals. Those to impress for the 10s were Aine Rice, Emily O Donoghue and Rachel Godley. Niamh Rahilly was a revelation in goals, helped in no small measure by Heather Jones, Milly Luck and Eve Creedon in defence. Our forward line proved very difficult to hold with Cora Savage, Caroline Hurley, Lisa Curran and Róisín Long serving notice. Aoife Galvin, when introduced showed deft touches and contributed to Ballymacs display. It was a tremendous performance by all and both management and parents are well pleased. Our U-8 girls, coached by Siobhan Griffin, also demonstrated their footballing skills against Stacks. Despite being under pressure at times our noble girls stuck to their task and gave it their all. Players such as Cathy and Ciara Palmer, Róisín Reidy and Kerry Hennessy put in storming performances as did Niamh Lynch and Ellie Lenihan. Others to impress for our U-8s included Eimear Curran, Róisín Rahilly, Shonagh and Rachel Griffin. Alyssa Leen, Yvonne Hurley, Aideen Lynch and Gráinne Galvin and Emily O Brien also contributed to a fine game of football. It is very evident that great strides and progress have been made over the past number of weeks and we encourage all juvenile girls to attend training on a regular basis. We are hoping that Austin Stacks Girls will visit Ballymac this coming Sunday June 26th at 11 am. Players will be notified via text with confirmation of details close to the day. Well done to all girls involved on Sunday morning last.
Ballymac Academy
Our U-6s had the GAA grounds all to themselves last Sunday morning and made full use of the field with great endeavour and commitment being shown. Guided by team coaches Martin Lowe, Ger Collins and Liam Joy our budding young stars show tremendous promise and potential for the future.Their interest in the game and application to it is unquestionable and it is no surprise that they are all acquiring the skills very quickly indeed. Those present last Sunday morning included Shane Gilroy, Raymond Lowe, Callum Priestly, Cormac Costello, Jack and Kieran Slattery, Niall Collins, Diarmuid Galvin, Aidan Horgan, Pádraic Heffernan, Jack O Connor, Evan O Brien, Garry Lynch, Adam Joy, Adam Wharton, Padraig O Sullivan, Evan Boyle, and new recruits Peter Stein and “will-o-the –wisp” Jack Joy. All players should be proud of their efforts and remember to keep practising those skills at home. Be careful not to break the kitchen window however !! See ye all again next Sunday June 26th at 11 am.
VHI Cúl Camps
The GAA Cúl Camps will run again at Ballymac GAA club this coming summer from Monday Aug 1st to Fri Aug 5th and we are encouraging all juveniles aged between 7 and 14 years of age to sign up to the Cúl Camps. After very successful football camps over the past two years, we are hoping that as many youngsters as possible will attend again this year. You can register on line at www.gaa.ie or you can complete an application form and send it with the appropriate fee to County Co-ordinator, Dónal Daly at Austin Stacks Park, Tralee.