On Wednesday August 11th last Ballingarry AFC were guests of the FAI at the official opening of the Lansdowne Road Aviva Stadium and the international friendly fixture Republic of Ireland v Argentina.
Twenty one under 15s boys and girls and four adults traveled to the magnificent new stadium for what was a most enjoyable outing.
The club has re-appointed George Quinlivan as A team manager to replace the departed James Higgins. Quinlivan returns after an absence of just one season. The man who brought unprecedented success to the club during his seven season stint will be immediately charged with returning the club to the Premier Division from where they were relegated last season.
Already he is at an advantage with the return from a season long injury of striker Denis Kelly while Francis Kielys return home from Australia and the recovery from injury of Eoin Kennedy will strengthen the squad from last season considerably. Quinlivan will be assisted by Terence Whelan.
Benji O’Kelly has been confirmed as B team manager while at schoolboy level the following managers have been appointed: Graham Russell U/8; Tom Burke U/10; Ian Hickey U/12; Paul Molloy U/14 and John Clancy at youth. No manager has been appointed at U/16 as yet.
The club held its AGM on Friday last June 25th in the Clubhouse at The Paddocks. A well attended meeting saw Rory Alymer take up the Treasurers position vacated by Seamus Burke and saw newcomers Terence Whelan and Rob Thompstone joining the committee. Committee for the new season 2010-11 are:
Chairman: Paschal Moynihan
Vice- Chairman: John Clancy
Secretary: James Clancy
Treasurer: Rory Alymer
Management Committee: Rob Thompstone, Declan Hartnett, Paul Molloy, Martha O’Connor, Terence Whelan and Darragh O’Grady.
Neither Seamus Burke or Tom Burke sought re-election. A number of presentations were also made at the AGM. A-team player of the year Rory Alymer, B-team player of the year Patrick Keating and Ladies player of the year Mary Shire got their awards as did supporter of the year Terence Whelan.
Before the meeting an inauguration ceremony took place involving the first people to take up the Lifetime Membership. A wine and cheese reception was followed by the members being presented with their commemorative pieces of glass and personalised rule books. They also receive the DVD 25 Years In Pictures of Ballingarry AFC. President Moss Doody did the honours here before the Lifetime Members board was unveiled.
Pictures of this occasion can be viewed on the Lifetime Members page.
Ballingarry 3 (Clancy, O’Donnell, O’Keeffe) NCW 5 AET
With 30 seconds remaining Ballingarry had the under 12 cup won. But a late late strike for NCW sent the game to extra time where NCW hit two goals without reply to record a 5-3 win. It was a classic final with Ballingarry taking the lead through Nathan Clancy after 10 minutes.
NCW equalized only for Davin O’Donnell to restore Ballingarrys lead with a super strike to leave the Division 1 champions ahead at the break. O’Keeffe had a glorious chance to put Ballingarry 3-1 up early in the second period but shot wide before NCW drew level for a second time. Cathal O’Keeffe put Ballingarry back in front from a free with twenty minutes to go and it looked as if Ballingarry would hold out for their first ever 12s cup success but for that late Newcastlewest goal.
Team: Lynch, Fitzgerald, E. Houlihan, Morrissey, Hickey, Smith, O’Keeffe, Murphy, Clancy, O’Donnell, N. Houlihan.
Subs: Storin, Lynch.
Saturday May 22nd 2010
Under 12 Inter League All Ireland Final (Kilternan) – DDSL 3 LDSL 1 (McCarthan)
Sunday May 23rd 2010 – Premier Division – Glin Rovers 2 Ballingarry 4 (Kennedy 2, S. O’Doherty, Alymer)
Monday May 24th 2010 – Under 10 Division 2 – Ballingarry 7 Broadford United 3
It was heartbreak for the Limerick Desmond Schoolboys in the All Ireland final in Dublin last Saturday when the better team won 3-1. The Dublin side went 1 up after just ten minutes, a lead they doubled just after the break. A third was added fifteen minutes from time before the Desmonds got one back ten from time through Liam McCarthan. They thought they had added a second shortly after only to see the effort ruled off side. All four Ballingarry players finished the game with Mikey Morrissey, Mikey Hickey, Nathan Clancy and Cathal O’Keeffe putting in fine performances. Congrats to Brid Hannon on winning the LDSB/GL Under 16 girls player of the year award.
On Sunday the juniors had a massive win at Glin to keep alive their survival hopes to the last day of the season. Goals from Eoin Kennedy (2) – 1 a penalty, Rory Alymer and Shane Doherty secured the points.
On Monday evening the 10s finished their programme with a 7-3 home win against Broadford United. Amongst the goals were Claire Goherey with a hat-trick and Mark O’Kelly with 2.
The next big occasion in the club calender is the Underage Presentation Night at the Rathkeale House Hotel on Friday June 18th 2010.
Both the under 8 side and the 12s will play in their respective finals following victories over the past week. On Monday last (May 10 2010) the 8s got the win they needed to progress into the Division 1 shield final. Goals from Grace Mullane, Keith O’Kelly and Luke Flynn saw them leap frog both opponents NCW Rovers and Kildimo United to secure a final berth against NCW.
On Tuesday (May 11 2010) the 12s won their cup semi final against Adare United (3-6) to book a first ever cup final at this level for the club. A club first hat-trick for Cathal O’Keeffe and further strikes from Davin O’Donnell, Jason Murphy and Mikey Hickey saw them keep alive the chances of a league and cup double having already claimed the Division 1 title. Their opponents will be NCW who dispensed of Granagh United in the other semi (5-0) and so ended the chance of a local derby for Ballingarry in the final.
Under 8 Division 1 – Ballingarry 3 (G. Mullane, K. O’Kelly, L. Flynn) NCW Rvs 1
Under 10 Division 2 – Killeaney 1 Ballingarry 1 (N. Houlihan)
Under 16 Cup Semi-Final – Ballingarry 2 (Doherty, Hogan) Breska Rvs 2 AET
Junior – Ballingarry B 0 Breska Rvs 4
Division 2 League Cup 1/4 Final – Kilcolman Rvs 0 Ballingarry B 0 AET (4-2 on penalties)
Premier Division – Ballingarry 3 (Condron, Moore, Alymer) Shannonside 1
Under 12 Interleague All Ireland Semi-Final – Limerick Desmond 2 Galway SL 1
A bad weekend for the B team saw them relegated to division 3 and bowing out of the league cup on penalties on Sunday. The A team are hanging on by the skin of their teeth to their Premier status following a 3-1 win against Shannonside on Sunday while the under 16s will have to travel to Clarina to replay their cup semi final following a 2-2 draw on Saturday. The under 10s chances of appearing in the division 2 shield final disappeared in Killeaney with a 1-1 draw while the 8s recorded a 3-1 success against NCW Rovers.
In the inter league the Desmonds under 12 side will make a first ever All Ireland appearance when they face the DDSL on May 23rd having defeated their Galway counterparts in Clounreask on Sunday (May 9th 2010). Ballingarry’s Mikey Hickey, Mikey Morrissey, Cathal O’Keeffe and Nathan Clancy all saw action during the historic win.
Ballingarrys under 12 side won the Division 1 for the first time in their history when they collected the three points required for the historic success with a 3-0 win at Shannonside. Ballingarry set the pace from the start in what developed into one of the most exciting title races ever with Ballingarry, NCW, Abbeyfeale United and Shannonside all in the mix right to the end. Ballingarry however are worthy champions with the goals from Davin O’Donnell, Cathal O’Keeffe and Mikey Hickey in their last game securing the title.
The under 16 side progressed into their cup semi final with a hard earned win against NCW (28/4/10) Goals from Chris Lane and Damien O’Donoghue saw Ballingarry maintain their quest to retain the trophy.
The under 8s went out of their cup to Creeves in extra 3-2 with Keith O’Kelly and Luke Flynn on the score sheet.
Under 8 Division 1 – Broadford United 1 Ballingarry 1 (K. O’Kelly)
Ballingarry 1 (K. O’ Kelly 1) NCW 3
Under 8 Cup Round 1 – Ballingarry 2 (B. Mulqueen, K. O’Kelly) Creeves 2 aet
Under 10 Division 2 – Kildimo United 3 Ballingarry 5 (J. Hartnett 3, N. Houlihan 2)
Under 10 Cup Round 1 – Ballingarry 1 (J. Storan) Killeaney 2
Under 12 Division 1 – Broadford United 0 Ballingarry 3 (D. O’ Donnell 2, M. Hickey) Abbeyfeale United 4 Ballingarry 1 (M. Hickey)
Junior Premier – Ballingarry 2 (S. Doherty, Alymer) Carrig Celtic 2
Abbeyfeale United 0 Ballingarry 0
Junior Division 2 League Cup – Knockaderry 2 Ballingarry B 3 (Doyle 2, Keating)
Junior Divsion 2 Ballingarry B 1 (Doyle) Mountcollins 3
Under 16 Division 1 – Ballingarry 1 (K. Moynihan) Athea United 1
April 16th 2010 – Youth Division 1 League Cup Final (Clounreask) NCW 6 Ballingarry 4 aet (Forde, Moore, Snow, J. Doherty)
April 23rd 2010 – Desmond Youth Cup Final (Clounreask) NCW 3 Ballingarry 2 (Forde, Hannon)
Youth Division 1 Ballingarry 1 (Moynihan) Rathkeale 3
Friday last (April 23rd) ended a week of heartbreak for the youths as it saw defeat in their second cup final in a week. The previous week NCW inflicted a 6-4 extra time defeat in what was a titanic struggle in the first ever division 1 cup final. NCW were well worth their 2-0 halftime lead with Kevin Forde scoring for Ballingarry early in the second half. NCW restored their 2 goal advantage but goals from Moore and Snow drew the sides level. NCW hit what looked to be a fourth and winning goal late on but with almost the last kick of the game sub Jeff Doherty sent the game to extra time. However two second period goals from NCW saw them lift the cup.
On Friday last it was back to Clounreask for the second installment in the Desmond youth cup with the same pairing. In an almost identical first half NCW took a two goal lead only for Forde again to reduce the deficit in the seaond period. Then in the first minute of added time Rob Hannon scored a second for Ballingarry but two minutes later Ballingarry conceded a corner from which NCW got the winner.
Saturday – Youth Division 1 – Ballingarry 1 (Moynihan) Rathkeale 3
Sunday – Junior Premier Carrig Celtic 2 Ballingarry 2 (Doherty pen, Alymer)
Under 12 Inter-League Munster Final – Limerick Desmond 2 (Flanagan, Kelly) Waterford SL 0
On Saturday the youths rounded up their league season with a 3-1 defeat at home to Rathkeale. This ends a disappointing league campaign that sees them finish 3rd from bottom in division 1 with a total of six points from the six games played. However all is far from lost as they have both youth cup finals to look forward to. This Friday they will face NCW in the division 1 cup final and the following Friday its the same opponents in the Desmond youth cup final. Both games are on at Clounreask.
On Sunday the junior A side drew at Carrig and took another step towards the first division. Goals from Shane Doherty and Rory Alymer secured the point. Also on Sunday the LDSL won the Munster final in the under 12 inter league with Mikey Morrissey and Mikey Hickey playing a full part while Cathal O’Keeffe was introduced in the second half. Nathan Clancy and Davin O’Donnell were on the bench. The side will now face DDSL in the all Ireland semi final on Sunday 25th April at Clounreask.