Saturday – Under 12 Division 1 – Ballingarry 3 (O’Donnell, Hickey, O’Keeffe) Old Mill 0 Youth Division 1 – Ballingarry 0 NCW 5

Sunday – Junior Premier – Ballingarry 5 (O’Grady 2, Alymer 2, C. Doherty 1) NCW Rovers 2
Junior Division 3 – Rathkeale B 4 Ballingarry B 1 (Condron)

The junior A team finally got their first win of the season with a well deserved 5-2 success at home to NCW Rovers. Rory Alymers two first half strikes had them 2-1 up at the break before three second half strikes from Darragh O’Grady (2) and a first club goal for Colin Doherty secured three much needed points. Team: Kenrick, N. Cahill, Kiely, Corrigan, E. Cahill, S. Doherty, Ryan, C. Doherty, Alymer, O’Grady, Clancy. Sub used: Fitzgerald.
The B team however were unable to repeat the feat in the afternoon where Michael Condrons lone strike proved no more than a consolation in a 4-1 defeat.

On Saturday the under 12 A team kept their title push on course with a fine 3-0 home success against basement club Old Mill. Three fine strikes, two in the fist half, from Davin O’Donnell, Mikey Hickey and Cathal O’Keeffe saw them ease through while Nathan Clancy hit the crossbar late in the second half.

The youth team went under 5-0 to visitors NCW with all the goals coming in the second half. Ballingarry were the better side in the first period when there was little evidence of what was to come however once the first NCW goal materialised it was all down hill from there for Ballingarry.

You can now listen to the “From the Supper Room to the Paddocks” West Limerick 102fm radio documentary on the 25th Anniversary page.

Saturday Under 11 Cup Round 1 – Ballingarry 2 (N. Houlihan 2) Creeves 0 aet
Under 14 Division 2 – Ballingarry 0 Creeves 2
The under 11s progressed to the quarter final of the cup and a meeting against either NCW or Abbeyfeale United, who drew on Saturday, thanks to two extra time goals from Niall Houlihan. The game was even throughout with Ballingarry shading it. Both keepers made saves to send the game to extra time for Ballingarry to get the deciding goals.
The under 14s put up a brave performance against the champions elect going down to two late goals. Even though the visitors were the better side it was Ballingarry that got the better chances to score. In the finish it was two Ballingarry mistakes that told.
The Division 2 game between Ballingarry B and Ballysteen fixed for Sunday was off due to weather.

The LDFL inter league team in which Ballingarrys Shane Doherty is a part of had a fine win against their LDMC opponents on Saturday (2-0) and progress to the knockout stages.
On Sunday the LDFL under 12s with Mikey Hickey and Cathal O’Keeffe on board recorded their second win in as many games against LCSL (0-2) in Charleville and are well placed to reach the Munster final.
No such luck for the under 16 inter league team who went down 6-2 in Clonreask. Danny Neville was the only Ballingarry representative on the side.

Ballingarry put pressure on leaders Abbeyfeale with a fine 2-1 victory at home to a spirited Newcastle West side.
Both teams started well and a tough contest ensued. Some excellent defending from Aoibhlinn O’Connor and Zara O’Kelly set the tone early on. It took until just after the half hour mark for Ballingarry to take the lead. Some great work down the left from Aimee McCarthy found Fiona Hickey free in the box. Her shot was well blocked but the rebound fell straight to Marion Neville who made no mistake. Ballingarry nearly doubled their lead when Hickey was again denied after being put through from a fine Jane Hickey ball. Shortly after NCW had their best chance of the 1st half after their striker broke free but a fantastic covering block from centre half O’Grady diverted the ball for a corner. The corner count for NCW grew as half-time neared but Mary Shire and Emer Hickey defended well.
The second half saw Ballingarry take control and but for the NCW goal keeper saving bravely at Fiona Hickeys feet Ballingarry would have doubled their lead.

With fifteen minutes remaining some quick thinking from a Mary Shire throw in set Olivia O’Keeffe through and she squared perfectly for substitute Eleanor Gaffney to score her second in two games. This proved to be the match winner.
Despite the best efforts of Orla Keating and Rachel Cronin chasing every ball NCW finally beat Catherine Murphy through an excellent individual goal for NCW set up a nervy finish but Ballingarry held out.
This was an excellent team win and puts Ballingarry back in the title mix.
Team: Catherine Murphy, Aoibhlinn O’Connor, Zara O’Kelly, Emma O’Grady (Orla Keating), Emer hickey, Mary Shire, Jane Hickey, Aimee McCarthy, Marion Neville (Eleanor Gaffney), Fiona Hickey, Olivia O’Keeffe (Rachel Cronin).
Training continues on Fridays over the Christmas break, details via text.

Saturday – Youths Division 1 – Askeaton 0 Ballingarry 3 (Clancy, A. Cronin, Moore) Under 12 Division 4 – Glin Rovers 5 Ballingarry B 1 (Gohery)
Sunday – Junior Division 2 – Breska Rovers 4 Ballingarry B 0

The youths left Askeaton with all three points, a result that puts them in pole position with three games, two of which are at home, left to play. All three Ballingarry goals, from Dean Clancy, Alan Cronin and Marcus Moore, came in the first half.
The under 12 B side were in Glin but were on the receiving end of a 5-1 defeat with their consolation coming through Claire Gohery.
On Sunday the junior B team went down in Mungret to Breska on a 4-0 scoreline.

All the domestic cup draws were made with some interesting pairings involving Ballingarrys teams pulled out. The under sixteens will defend their title against the team they beat in the final last with Broadford the visitors in the second round of the competition while the under 10s received a bye into the second round for their first defence of the cup they won last term. The under 11s will hope to go one step further than beaten finalists but first they will have to get over Creeves at home with the winners away to NCW / Abbeyfeale United in the second round.

The full draw is:
Under 8 v Creeves / Kildimo Rd.2 (a)
Under 10 v A Bye Rd.1
Under 11 v Creeves (h) Rd. 1 winners v NCW / Abbeyfeale United Rd.2 (a).
Under 12 A v Kilcornan (h) Rd.2
Under 12 B v Glantine Rovers (a) Rd.1
Under 13 v Athea / NCW (h) 1/4 Final
Under 14 v Creeves (a) Rd.1 winners v Bally Rovers (a) Rd.2.
Under 15 v Athea United (a) 1/4 Final.
Under 16 v Broadford United (h) Rd.2.

The under 11 academy played their first friendly of the season against Athea United on Sunday last with both Ballingarry players Edward Houlihan and Mark Storin performing well for the academy. Unfortunately they ended up on the losing side.

In the under 12 inter league last Sunday (Dec 6th) the LDSL side played The Clare League in Athea. They got their season off to a great start beating their visitors 6-0. Ballingarry had three players on the squad for the game with all three, Nathan Clancy, Mikey Hickey and Mikey Morrissey making an appearance.

Munster Youth Cup Round 1 – NCW 1 Ballingarry 0
Under 14 Division 2 – Ballingarry 1 (Murphy) St Itas 1

The youths bowed out of the Munster youth cup following a 1-0 reversal in NCW. It what was a fine game of end to end football. Ballingarry can only blame themselves for not progressing to the third round having missed a host a chances. Jeff Doherty and Kevin Forde both had just the keeper to beat but failed. The wastage finally told ten minutes from time when the home side got what proved to be the winner.

The under 14s were unlucky not to collect all three points from a fine performance in another fine game. Itas took the lead after just five minutes from some sloppy home defending, a goal that saw Itas froce further pressure on the Ballingarry defence. However once Ballingarry settled they began to play some wonderful football which resulted in an equaliser from Jason Murphy, his fourth of the season in all competitions. Nathan Clancy won the throw and beat three players down the left before crossing for Murphy to apply the finishing touch to leave the sides level at the break. The second half saw Ballingarry apply all the presssure, hitting the crossbar and having a goal disallowed. However it was Itas who went closest to grabbing all three points when Mikey Hickey cleared off the line.

The under 10s and 8s season has now entered their Winter break and will resume in Feb for the 10s and March for the 8s. At this stage it appears that both will struggle to make their finals with the 8s having one point from four games and the 10s with six from five games.