Saturday November 30th

U/14 Boys Div 2 – Rathkeale 1 Ballingarry 5 (Kelliher 2, Horgan, McMahon, Picard)
The title race went right to the wire with the winner of this clash claiming the laurels. In fact Ballingarry needed just to draw to finish top but that was never going to be an option as Ballingarry ran out easy winners at the finish. Two goals from Billy Kelliher and one each from Cathal McMahon; Adam Picard and Eoin Horgan saw Ballingarry finish with a flourish. Congratulations to Anthony McMahon and his squad.

FAI Youth Cup Round 3 – Ballingarry 0 Douglas Hall (CDSL) 3
Set pieces were Ballingarrys undoing as the better team went through on the day. An own goal after just five minutes had Ballingarry reeling when the ball was delivered from the left. Two good saves from Molloy kept Ballingarry in the game however two goals within minutes on either side of halftime sealed their fate.
The first on the stroke of the break was bundled over form a corner and the third five minutes after the restart from another dead ball this time from the right which was powerfully headed home from the edge of the box.
Ballingarry had two really good chances to force themselves back into the game however Mike Molloy touch deserted him at the vital moment and David Geary missed from six yards.

Sunday, December 1st

U/16 Girls Cup Final – Ballingarry 6 (Mullane 3, Madden, Hayes, Lawlee) Askeaton 0 (Mick Hanley Park)

Ballingarrys trophy crop continues to thrive with this the eight gong of a highly successful season. And with it an unprecedented underage girls clean sweep with this U16 cup now residing with the U12, U14 and now U16 girls doubles. Simply incredible.
Ballingarry were always red hot favourites to lift the cup but still they found it difficult to break down a committed and organised Askeaton defence. Donna Kenny had the ball in the net after five minutes but was ruled offside. However Ballingarry went ahead after 7 minutes. The goal all about powerful running form Amy Madden who after being put away by Ashling Daltons fine pass, finished in the tightest on angles at the keepers right post. In fairness to Askeaton they did threaten on the break and on more than one occasion O Shea, McMahon and Moran had to be at their best to divert the very real danger and even then Houlihan had to come from her line to clear when a goal looked a possibility.
Ballingarry would get the comfort of a second goal 26 minutes. Hannah Morans superb pass out from the back found Anna Mullane and after a neat interchange with Amy O Keeffe she slipped the centre half to drive home. It was the first of her three.
The second half was just six minutes in when Ballingarry got their third. Some beautiful passing from Nessa Markham, voted player of the match for her tireless running and intelligent play throughout, and Molly McCarthy sent Sarah Hayes away down the left to finish beautifully to the far corner. Hayes the scorer became provider seven minutes later when her deft touch put Anna Mullane in to for her second.
Katie Lawlee was introduced and in the space of fifteen minutes managed to hit the post twice and score a real cracker when in her trade mark manner cut in from the left to strike. Mullane was the instigator of this Lawlee goal. At that point it was left to Captain Mullane to complete the scoring and indeed her hat trick with Ballingarrys sixth on the stroke of full time.
This was not a vintage Ballingarry performance but still impressive. The back four of O Shea, McMahon, Moran and Dalton and later O Shaughnessy, while not always in control were always prepared to regain control and this they did at all times. Their willingness and bravery to play out from the back had to be admired. The engine room, mid field, is exactly that. Mullanes runs yielded 3 goals while the same feature lies within Amy Madden, remember the first goal? Markham’s energy and vision makes her a player of the match contender in most games, today was one of those days when her quality was recognised. The wide players Amy O Keeffe and Donna Kenny give most full backs enough to do to stop them doing anything other than defend and then Katie Lawlee arrives to torment further. Sarah Hayes finished and created a goal, there is no more can be expected from a number 9. On the day the cover released from the bench would be starters in every team in our league, Chloe O Keeffe, Emily Flynn, Dawn O Shaughnessy, Molly McCarthy and Katie Lawlee, a flawless squad.
Quite a few of these girls have already won the double with the U14s however special mention to Katie Lawlee who has won the lot from U12 to U16 in her first season with the club.
Congratulations also to Micky Mac and Shane Markham and Martha O Connor for the many hours put into the preparation that have the rest looking on in wonder.

Premier Division – Glin Rovers 2 Ballingarry 0
Team: O Grady; Long; Flynn; Quinlivan; Fitzgerald; Lenihan; Ryan; R O Shea; S O Shea; Clancy; Meade.
Used subs: J O Connor; A O Connor; Tagney; Forde.