Ballymac U16’s played Ardfert on Monday last in the Division 3 Central District final. This took place in St.Pat’s pitch in Blenerville at 7pm.
The teams had met earlier in April and on that occasion Ardfert emerged victorious by eight points. Ballymac entered the final as complete outsiders , but what a display of courage , grit and never say die attitude did they display.
Ardfert started the game in terrific form and had three points on the board in the first four minutes. Ballymac’s only reply was a point from a free by Daire keane. Ardfert responded with a point from a 45 by their goalkeeper Brian O Regan. Ballymac’s centre forward , David Rogers kicked a point from play. Two more points from play from David Godley and Daragh Courtney put four points between the sides with ten minutes remaining in the first half. Ballymac settled and reduced the margin to two points with scores coming from David Rogers and Daire keane. Ballymac had only 1 more point in the first half while Ardfert went on to kick three more scores. This left the half time score at Ballymac 0.5 Ardfert 0.9 This score was helped by the fact that Brian Lonergan had an excellent save from an Ardfert penalty in the 12th minute.
Ballymac made a few positional switches at the start of the second half and these proved to be decisive . Josh O Keeffe goaled in the third minute , this was followed almost immediately by points from man Of the match Daire Keane and captain Barry Lyons. Daire Keane put ballymac two points ahead with a pointed free in the 10th minute. Two scores from Ardfert’s corner forward Nathan Driscoll left the sides left midway through the second half. Colm Healy and Daire keane exchanged points.In the twentieth minute Daire Keane pointed a free for Ballymac, this was cancelled out with a point from play by Nathan Driscoll. This was to be Ardfert’s last score. Ballymac went on to score two more points , these coming from Cillian Gallagher and Daire Keane.
The final score was Ballymac 1.11 to Ardfert 0.13
This was a very good team performance with all players playing outstanding. Brian Lonergan was excellent in goals, and his penalty save in the first half kept the team in touch when Ardfert were in control. All the backs throughout the game , Eoin Culloty , Cathal Dunne, Kevin Lenihan, Brian Cassidy, Liam O Brien , Tadhg Brick , and Daire Connor Chawke stuck to their task and worked hard to keep their clean sheet. Joshua O Keeffe and James McDonnell had their hands full at midfield, but they really put it up to their much taller opposition. The forwards worked very well as a unit , their running off the ball and their support for the player on the ball was excellent. All forwards , Diarmuid Lynch, Dylan Dunne Moriarty, David Rogers , Cllian Gallagher,Darragh Lynch, Dylan McHugh, Dara Broderick, Barry Lyons, and Daire Keane contributed to the scores.
This was a much cherished victory for this team and great credit is due to the management team of Stephen O’Brien, Derek O’Brien, Padraig Laide and Sean Brosnan for all the time and effort they have put in.