Saturday January 27th

Munster Youth Cup Round 4 – St Brendans Park 1 Ballingarry 0

Ballingarrys captivating Munster youth cup run ended on the Astro turf in Tralee last Saturday when the only goal of the game, scored five minutes after the restart sent hosts St Brendans Park into the semis. Ballingarry matched their opponents and even bettered them in the opening half without really carving out an opening. The second half was a little different as Park got the upper hand and although they did enjoy a fair slice of luck with the goal they did deserve to win even if just barely.

However it was an experience that Ballingarry will have enjoyed and one that will surely have whetted their appetite for an assault on the competition next season.

Saturday January 20th

Munster Junior Cup Round 4 – Killarney Celtic 7 Ballingarry 2 (Clancy 2)

Ballingarry were well and truly beaten by a superior team to end their Munster Junior cup run in Killarney. It was respectable at the break with just two goals between the sides indeed Ballingarry had a good chance to score when Clancy could have got on the end of a Denis Kelly cross while Fitzgerald had the ball in the net only to see it ruled out for an infringement.

The second half was a different matter as the high tempo game played on the Astro by the hosts finally got the better of Ballingarry. Dean Clancy reduced the deficit twice first when he rounded the keeper to roll the ball home and then from the spot. But there was to be no reprieve as Celtic ran out easy winners.
Team: Kenrick, Ahern, Browne, Fitzgerald, Kiely, Ryan, Kelly, Clancy, J O’Connor, S O’Connor, Quaid.
Used subs: Forde, Hayes, Gallagher, Smith, Healy.

Sunday January 14th

U14 Girls National Cup – Kilmore Celtic 3 Ballingarry 0

Ballingarrys brilliant start to the season ended in Dublin when they went out of the National cup to one of the best sides in the country. Ballingarry were never overawed and it’s safe to say they did the club proud with their skillful and committed performance. Although Kilmore dominated the first half with Ciara Houlihan in fine form in the Ballingarry goal it was Ballingarry that got the best chance of the half when Nicole McNamara broke away and but for a marvelously brave save from the keeper Nicole would have scored.

The game was won in the first ten minutes of the second half when Kilmore got two goals. Ballingarry didn’t give up and were unlucky not to pull one back when Sarah Hayes was just wide from the edge of the box. Sarah had another fine effort saved just before Celtic got their third in the last five minutes. It’s hard to find the words to describe the girls performance on the day suffice to say they were magnificent. Their hosts also must be praised for the manner in which they treated the girls, managers and supporters before and after the game where their hospitality was much appreciated.

Munster Youth Cup Round 4 (Last 16) – Ballingarry 2 (Hayes 2) Clonmel Town 1 aet

Incredibly its six seasons since Ballingarry last fielded a youth team but boy have they returned with a bang. A 100% record was at stake when they faced Clonmel Town in the Munster Youth cup on Sunday last with a place in the last 8 the reward. While Ballingarry were always the better team with an outstanding visiting keeper maintaining Towns interest in the game with some wonderful saves they still had to wait until extra time for Mark Hayes to put them through.

Hayes had already given Ballingarry a first half lead, a lead they maintained until the 89th minutes when the visitors sent the game to extra time. Hayes was both man of the match and hero of the hour with his brace.
So it’s with much excitement that Ballingarry await the draw for the quarter final, a stage that Ballingarry appeared on in the past when they progressed to the last 8 in 2002.

Saturday January 6th

U12 Boys Division 1 – Ballingarry A 2 (Walsh, Forde) Broadford Utd A 2

On a very cold Saturday morning on 6th December, Ballingarry U12 A team played hosts at the Paddocks to Broadford A. Ballingarry got off to a fantastic start with Declan Walsh scoring on 5 minutes following a string of passing play within the oppositions half. Ballingarry continued to play confident attractive football, playing passes across and out from the back led by captain Ronan O’Connor into midfield. This pressure was rewarded through a deserved penalty decision following a handball in the Broadford box which was converted on 15 minutes by striker Jamie Forde. Broadford were a different side in the second half and controlled most of the remaining 30 minutes. Broadford scored two goals from corners to draw level with 10 minutes remaining. Ballingarry Keeper Ami Yadov was in exceptional form and made some crucial saves in the last quarter. Both sides had chances to clinch three valuable points, but a draw in the end was a fair result.

Man of the Match for Ballingarry was right full Cillian McMahon who gave us an attacking option, delivering passes with precision and making some vital tackles in the closing minutes. Well done to all the team, who continue to learn and improve with each game!

U14 Boys Cup – Granagh Utd v Ballingarry (off due to waterlogged pitch)
U16 Girls Cup Round 1 – Ballingarry 0 Abbeyfeale Utd 6
Youth Division 2 – Ballingarry v Pallaskenry (Off)

Sunday January 7th

Premier Division – Glin Rvs 0 Ballingarry 2 (Kiely, Joyce)

A goal in either half from Francis Kiely and a first club goal for Seoirse Joyce sent Ballingarry back to the top of the Premier and sees them remain unbeaten domestically this season.
Team: Forde, Josh O’Connor, Ahern, Fitzgerald, Herlihy, Ryan, Kelly, S O’Connor, Kiely, Clancy, Joyce.
Used Subs: Quaid, D O’Grady

Division 3 – Ballingarry B 3 (O’Kelly, OG, Moore) Broadford Utd B 0
Ladies Premier – Ballingarry v Breska Rvs (Off due to frozen pitch)

Weather Spoils Weekend Football Again

All Limerick Desmond football including junior, ladies and underage was postponed last weekend because of the continuing adverse weather.

The Management of Ballingarry AFC would like to wish all its players, managers, assistants and patrons a happy Christmas and a success filled 2018.

Saturday December 9th

Limerick Desmond Youth Cup Round 1 – Ballingarry 5 (O’Kelly 3, Quille, Hayes) Ferry Rangers 0

The only club game to survive the weekend weather saw Ballingarry progress to the last eight of the Desmond youth cup with a comfortable win against visiting Ferry Rangers. Two goals from Keith O’Kelly and a marvelous strike from Josh Quille had the home side 3 up at the break. Mark Hayes added a fourth in the second half with a delightful chip and O’Kelly completed his hat-trick when he broke through the Ferry defence and drilled past the advancing keeper. David Geary was unlucky not to score when he dribbled past three defenders only to see his effort come back off the post. Best on the day were O’Connor, Shanagher, Quille and O’Kelly.
Team: Molloy, S O’Connor, Storin, Quille, Mulqueen, Shanagher, Flynn, Southgate, O’Kelly, Hayes.
Used Subs: Tagney, Geary.

In the Munster youth cup Ballingarry will host Clonmel Town in the last 16 following their 10-0 win against Bansha on Saturday last.

Ladies receive byes in both cups.
Both Ladies cup draws were made last week and in both Ballingarry received byes in the first round. In the Premier cup they start their defence of the trophy in the semi-final while their defence of the Desmond cup begins at the quarter final stage.

Saturday December 1st

Munster Youth Cup Round 3 – AK United 0 Ballingarry 8 (Hayes 2, Gallagher 2, K O’Kelly 2, J O’Connor 2)
Ballingarry progress into the last 16 of the Munster youth cup thanks to this comfortable win against AK United in The Manor fields on Saturday. The goal fest began as early as the first minute when Keith O’Kelly capitalised on a defensive error to poke home from 6 yards. Six minutes later it was 2 when Hayes swung a left footed shot over the keeper from the edge of the box. Hayes was again on the mark when he neatly rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the empty net. Ballingarry on the day were simply too strong for the Division 1 opponents as they were rampant in every department.

O’Kelly got his second with a superb 25 yard effort. An energetic Josh O’Connor added the fourth and sixth the latter from the spot while Pa Gallagher headed home the fifth after some neat play from Shanagher resulting in a half time score of 7-0. Flynn, Tagney, Geary and Southgate were all introduced at this point and while Ballingarrys dominance continued it wasn’t reflected on the score board although Gallagher did add an 8th with his second goal of the game when he rifled home from close in. The squad can now start to prepare as they look forward with a certain degree of confidence to a last 16 home tie against either three times winners Clonmel Town or Bansha of Tipperary.
Team: Molloy, Long, Storin, O’Connor, Mulqueen, Shanagher, Quill, J O’Connor, O’Kelly, Gallagher, Hayes.
Used Subs: Southgate, Tagney, Geary, Flynn.

U8 Boys – AK Utd v Ballingarry – AK won well.
U10 Girls – Askeaton v Ballingarry – Ballingarry won in Askeaton.
U12 Boys Division 1 – Ballingarry A 0 AK Utd A 0
U12 Boys Division 6 – Ballingarry B v Askeaton B (Ballingarry received W/O)
U14 Girls Cup – Ballingarry 7 (Clancy 3, McNamara 2, Hayes 2) Kildimo Utd 0
Ballingarry opened the scoring after just 20 seconds through Nicole McNamara and that set the tone as Ballingarry eased through to the semi-final. Another from Nicole, two from Sarah Hayes before a first ever hat-trick for Abbie Clancy saw another high scoring victory.
In other news involving this team the draw for the last 16 of the National cup have pitted them against Kilmore Celtic with the game to take place in Dublin in January.

Sunday December 3rd

Premier Division – Ballingarry 0 Shannonside 0
Team: Kenrick, Fitzgerald, N Cahill, Ahern, S O’Connor, Forde, Kiely, J O’Grady, Kelly, Joyce, Smith.
Used Subs: Hayes, Gallagher.

Division 3 – Athea United B 1 Ballingarry B 1 (K O’Kelly)
Desmond Ladies Premier Division – Ballingarry / Rathkeale (Game postponed as referee no show)

The draw for the 4th round of the Munster Junior Cup has given Ballingarry a trip to Kerry to play either Killarney Celtic or Dingle Bay Rovers for a place in the last 16. Neither club will be a stranger to Ballingarry with the Green and Gold having played against both in competition in recent times.

Meanwhile the youths were handed a home draw in the Munster Youth cup where they will face either Bansha Celtic or Clonmel Town for a place in the last 8. However they will first have to over come the considerable obstacle that is AK United.

Youth Inter League – LDFL 0 Wexford FL 3
Ballingarrys Mark Hayes, Adam Shanagher and Pa Gallagher all started while Sean O’Connor was introduced in the second half as the LDFL suffered their second successive 3-0 defeat in the competition.

Sunday November 26th

FAI Junior Cup Round 4 – Ballingarry 0 Shannon Town 4
The only club game that survived the weekend weather and that was because it was moved to Clounreask saw Ballingarrys unbeaten start to the season end. The best side that Ballingarry faced so far opened the scoring inside ten minutes and never looked back after that. Both Clancy and Forde had chances to test the keeper before Town went two up from a corner before the break. Ahern blazed over just on half time. The second half saw an improvement from Ballingarry but it was the visitors who would increase their lead and put the game out of reach before a fourth crowned a good display.
Team: Kenrick, Ahern, Shanagher, Cahill, Ryan, Clancy, Kiely, Smith, Quaid, Forde, J O’Connor.
Used subs: J O’Grady, S O’Connor, Healy, Hayes, A O’Connor.

Saturday November 18th

U8 Boys Group 2 Dual – Ballingarry v Creeves Celtic
Creeves Celtic won.

U10 Girls – Shannonside v Ballingarry
A win for the homeside here.

U12 Boys Cup – AK Utd C 1 Ballingarry A 10 (Walsh 4, McMahon 2, Forde 2, R O’Connor 2)
AK Utd B 10 Ballingarry B 0
Youth Division 2 – Shauntrade v Ballingarry. (Off, pitch unplayable)

Sunday November 19th

Munster Junior Cup Round 3 – Ballingarry 1 (Forde) NCW Rvs 0
Team: O’Grady; Fitzgerald, Ahern, N Cahill, J O’Connor, S O’Connor, Ryan, Kiely, Healy, Forde, Smith.
Used Subs: Hayes, Gallagher, Brown, Kelly, A O’Connor.