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
Faoi 16
The opening game of the County League takes place this Wednesday evening June 29th with a home game against Fossa. Report of this game will be in next week’s notes. Best of Luck to all the team. Next Wednesday July 6th we play Annascaul in Rd 2 of the County League again at home with throw-in time of 7 30pm.
Faoi 14
Ballymac U-14s play Churchill away in the opening round of the Central Board Region this Friday July 1st with throw-in time of 7 pm. All players to be in attendance 30 minutes before throw-in time. We are hoping for a positive start to the campaign as training has gone well over the past fortnight or so. Round 2 of the League continues on Sunday week next July 10th with a home tie against Laune Rangers.
Faoi 12
Both our “Blue” and “Gold” teams travelled to Churchill on Mon June 20th in our opening round of the Central Board District and both teams acquitted themselves very well on the night. Thankfully the rain stayed away but always threatened and a very high standard of football was in evidence from start to finish from all teams. Our “Gold” team got proceedings underway and led by James Carmody and Cillian Gallagher, Ballymac brought the game to Churchill from the very start. Despite conceding physical disadvantage to the opposition our lads and lasses displayed great nerve and courage and nobody shirked a challenge. Our debutant, David McCarthy excelled in goals with Liam O Brien again proving to be a most capable full-back. Joshua O Keeffe demonstrated an effective block-down on numerous occasions which would put some of our seniors to shame and he also managed to steal forward to score a wonderful point close to the end. Ciarán Nolan-Tighe was most dominant in defence and his never-say-die approach epitomised the approach of the entire squad. Eoghan O Donnell is fast proving to be a skilful player, helped in no small measure by Kieran Coggin who was one of our goalscorers on the night. Alusin Jah, when introduced as goalkeeper kept a clean sheet and pulled off some fine saves in the second half and Rachel Godley proved more than a match for her male counterparts. Christopher Lowe is excelling at mid-field with a great work ethic and played exceptionally well on the night. Colin McDaid showed his knack for scoring goals and did so in the second half and David Rogers was top scorer with five fabulous long-range points. Despite being overcome by a very talented Churchill side, team mentors Tony Silles and Liam Nolan can only be delighted with the effort and application of all involved. Our attention now turns to a home fixture against Milltown/Castlemaine in Rd 2 and a similar performance would be most welcome against our Mid-Kerry rivals.
Team “Blue” was involved in a titanic struggle with Churchill with little quarter being asked or given by both sides. In a fierce and tough contest Ballymac managed to overcome Churchill with a performance full of endeavour. Cathal Dunne at mid-field opened the scoring with a goal which helped Ballymacs cause but Churchill responded with fine long-range points of their own and managed to creep ahead by three. But Darragh Regan netted from the rebound and Daniel Goggin pointed to leave Ballymac ahead by the minimum at half-time. Playing with the aid of the wind for the second period, Ballymac tagged on a few points from Keelan Brosnan and Daire Keane but Churchill grew in confidence and netted a brace to leave little between the sides. Trojan work and admirable defending from Tadhg Brick, Eddie Rogers and Barry Lyons repelled the Churchill onslaught and Brian Lonergan in goals effected some fine saves. However it was the twins of Eoin and Liam O Malley who drove on the lads and saw Ballymac end winners on a scoreline of 4-05 to 2-08. Goals win games and this adage certainly proved correct on this occasion. A game worthy of the highest stage and now Ballymac can look ahead with confidence to the remaining games of the Central League. This Tuesday night just gone we played Milltown/Castlemaine in Rd 2 at haome in Ballymac with report on both games in next weeks notes.
Faoi 10
Fixtures for our U-10s include (a) Sat July 9th U-10 Blitz in Ballyheigue at 10 45am, (b) Sun July 10th at home to Castlegregory at 12 noon, (c) Sat July 16th U-10 Blitz in John Mitchels at 10 am. We travelled to Churchill on Saturday morning last to play the return leg against our rivals. With a depleted team our lads still produced a fine display with outstanding performances from Kyle O Connor, Liam O Brien and Michael Moynihan in defence, Brian Cassidy at mid-field and Eoghan Kenny and Jack Tobin in attack. All players got much needed game time and everybody seems to have enjoyed themselves to the full. We are grateful to Churchill club for hosting us on the day. Foireann : Michelle Lynch, Kyle O Connor, Liam O Brien, Diarmuid Lynch, Michael Moynihan, Darragh Lynch, Brian Cassidy, Tomás Lynch, Aidan O Brien, Eoghan Kenny, Tommy Brosnan, Jack Tobin, Oscar Reidy-Gilroy.
Faoi 8
Our U-8s were also in action on Saturday morning with a home fixture against Castlegregory. It was a rip-roaring contest between two evenly matched teams and everybody excelled with their football. Ballymac are steadily putting together a fine team due to the fine work being done by mentors, Liam Joy, Don Brosnan, Martin Lowe, Eddie O Connell, Ger Collins and Fintan Kelly. Players to shine on the day were Cormac Costello at wing-forward, Adam Wharton on the other wing, Garry Lynch at corner back and Darren Breen at top of the left. Sean and Tim Pollman Daaman also put in fine displays as did James Kenny. So, a narrow victory to the Blue ‘n Gold and now we look forward to the John Mitchels Blitz which will take place in Chamfers on Saturday July 16th. Lets all be ready for it !! Foireann : Isaak Reidy-Gilroy, Andy Rogers, Adam Joy, Garry Lynch, Maurice O Connell, Sean Pollman, Mark O Connor, Tim Pollman, Adam Kelly, Cormac Costello, Padraig O Sullivan, Adam Wharton, James Kenny, Sean Rice, Darren Breen, Jared O Briain, Kieran Slattery, Jack Dowd, Adam Walker, Sean Horan
Munster Football Final
The club will be bringing a group of Juveniles to Killarney next Sunday July 3rd to see the Kingdom take on the All-Ireland champions, Cork. We have U-8s and U-10s heading with ample supervision in the way of 10 mentors and it is hoped that all will have a most enjoyable day out in Killarney. The Bus will be departing from Ballymac Senior pitch at 12 noon as throw-in time for the big game is 2 pm. We will be returning immediately after the match and expect to return to Ballymac in the region of 5 30pm. We ask that all juveniles wear their Ballymac jerseys on the day and to bring a packed lunch with drink. There may also be a short stop at the shop so perhaps the children bring some “airgead póca”. Children should also wear appropriate and suitable clothing on the day and if the day is sunny, le cúnamh Dé, to wear sun crème and hats. The total cost of the trip is €12 which includes bus fare and match ticket and this will be collected prior to boarding the bus. See ye all next Sunday ! Ciarraí Abú !
Juvenile Training
Due to Kerry’s involvement in the Munster Senior Football final this coming Sunday July 3rd, there will be NO juvenile training that morning, as has been common practice over the past number of years when Kerry play in championship football. So, a well- earned “sos” for all U-6s, U-8s, U-10s and Girls and we expect all to be ready to go again the following Sunday July 10th at 11 am.
Annual U-13 Rose Cup
It is envisaged that Ballymac U-13s will participate once again in the Rose of Tralee Annual Rose Cup during the Festival of Kerry in August. The competition is expected to be expanded this year with further teams from different counties in Ireland taking part and the organisers are hoping that each local team in and about Tralee would become a “host” club for one of the visiting clubs. Each host club would welcome and host a visiting team and provide hospitality and accommodation for one player each from that club on the Saturday night of the Rose of Tralee festival. As planning and arrangements are in their infancy, Ballymac Club are making initial enquiries to all families within the club to see if they would be willing to host a visiting player on that Saturday night. There is no obligation on any family whatsoever but Ballymac GAA club would appreciate any help or advice in relation to the matter. We do understand that this is a new departure and we hope to make it possible and achievable. Thus, it is hoped that a new friendship would be established and nurtured with another club in the country and who knows what possibilities would lie ahead. If you are willing to help, please contact either Club secretary, Kieran Savage or Liam Goggin. Let’s make a go of this !!
Breithlá Shona !
Ballymac Coiste ne nÓg would like to wish the following members a very Happy Birthday, Cian Lonergan U-16, Jerdie O Shea U-14, David Long U-14, Aoife Cassidy U-1o, Oscar Reidy Gilroy U-10, Theresa Keane U-10, Michelle Lynach U-12 and Jack Slattery U-6, all of whom celebrate their birthdays in recent weeks.