Under 16 Cup Final (Carrigkerry) – Ballingarry 2 (O’Connell, S. Doherty) Broadford United 1

For so long it looked as if the season would be one to forget but it is now proving to be one of the most successful in the clubs history. Last evening in Carrig the under 16s won their cup for the first time in the clubs history.

Broadford United proved capable opponents and took the lead after 25 minutes when a right wing cross was volleyed home from 12 yards. Dean Clancy was fouled in the box to provide Barry O’Connell with the opportunity to restore parity which he did although it took two attempts after the keeper saved his first effort with the rebound falling kindly for him to stroke home. Ballingarry were now in control as the half time whistle was sounded.
The second half was all Ballingarry with Shane Dohertys strike proving decisive but hardly enough reward for their dominance. So the under 16 cup is added to the Division 3 title, the under 17 cup and the Division 1 league cup won by the ladies and with the under 10s to play their Division 1 shield final against NCW and also an under 10 cup semi to come, it could yet prove to be Ballingarrys greatest season ever.

Thursday – Under 16 Cup Semi-Final – Ballingarry 2 (Clancy, O’Connell) NCW 2 aet
Friday – Under 10 Cup 2nd Round – Ballingarry 5 NCW Rvs 1

Ballingarry will have to travel to Newcastlewest and do it all again after letting a two goal slip in their under 16 cup semi last Thursday. Goals from Dean Clancy and Barry O’Connell had Ballingarry coasting that was until NCW pulled one back just before the break. NCW were probably the better team during the second half but still had to rely on a somewhat soft penalty to send the game to extra time where they could well have won through to play Broadford United in the final.
On Friday the 10s had to come from a goal down before easing through to the quarter final against Granagh United. Mikey Hickey and Mark O’ Kelly were amongst the goals.

On Sunday the 8s finished their season with a resounding 7-1 win at home to NCW Rovers. Sean O’Connor with 4 and Cathal Kavanagh with 2 before Brian Mulqueen with 1 were the Ballingarry scorers.
Ballingarry AFC will hold their second annual underage presentation night on Friday night May 29th next. Proceedings will get underway at 7pm.
Ballingarry AFC will hold its AGM on Friday June 12th next in the clubhouse. All nominations and motions must be in writing and with the secretary James Clancy on or before Friday May 29th next.

Ballingarry had three players amongst the player of the year recipients. Anthony Forde was voted Under 16 Division 1 Player of the Year. Mikey Hickey was voted Under 12 Division 2 and Killian Begley got the under 10 Division 4 award. Its the first occasion that the club had so many winners in the one season. Congratulations to all three on their fine achievement.

The B team completed their league campaign (May 8th 2009) on a losing note when visitors Askeaton B defeated them 2-1 in what was only their second league defeat of a highly successful first season in football. It didn’t dampen the celebrations though as League representative PJ Hogan presented the Division 3 trophy to captain Brian Fitzgerald following the game. Ballingarrys scorer on the night was Joe Condron which in fact was his first goal for the club.

In what was a glorious weekend for the club the junior B team won their first ever trophy while the under 17s became the first team in the clubs history to retain a trophy.

On Sunday (May 3rd 2009) the B team needed just a point from their penultimate league game to secure the title. As it transpired they went all the way and collected all three points from Shannonside B to make absolutely certain of the division 3 championship. A goal up at the break from David O’Hanlon settled the nerves for the second half where further goals from Mike Condron and Kristian Doyle made it safe. Congratulations to Benji O’Kelly and James Higgins on leading the team to a club first.

On Monday the under 17s wrote themselves into the clubs record books with an emphatic 5-2 cup success against Carrig Celtic at Clonreask. They had to come from two goals down in the first fifteen minutes to lift the cup. A goal from Shane Doherty just before the break set the stage for a second half bombardment where further goals from Doherty again, man of the match Anthony Forde, a superb strike from Alan Cronin and a thunderous header from captain Marcus Moore sealed the victory. Well done to the managers John Clancy, Pascal Moynihan and Rory Alymer.
Also on Sunday the A team secured their premier division status with an easy 4-1 win at Old Mill. Goals from Darragh O’Grady, Eoin Kennedy and a Rory Alymer brace guaranteed Premier football for Ballingarry next season.
Also on Sunday the under 11 team were in action in the international Danone cup at Rathkeale. A draw against Moneypoint of Clare saw them progress to the semi final on pens against Charleville where another draw saw another penalty shoot out but sadly they went under 5-4 in sudden death.

On Tuesday last the under 8s went out of their cup at Old Mill 4-3 where goals from Keith Kelly and Cathal Kavanagh (2) were not enough. Then on Thursday the under 10 A team made light work of Shannonside as they progressed on a 5-0 scoreline in their cup. Richard O’Keeffe was amongst the goals.

Wedsneday 22nd April: Under 16 Division 1 – Ballingarry 0 Broadford Utd 6
Thursday 23rd April: Under 12 Cup Semi final – Ballingarry 0 NCW 4
Under 8 Division 1 – Abbeyfeale Utd 4 Ballingarry 0
Sunday 26th April: Premier Division – Broadford Utd 2 Ballingarry 2 (Dunworth, O’Grady)
Junior Division 3 – NCW Rvs B 0 Ballingarry 5 (Doyle 2, O’Hanlon 2, O’Keeffe)
Under 10 Division 1 – Askeaton A 4 Ballingarry A 1 (A. Smith)

Last week saw a hive of activity on the pitch. On the Wednesday a vastly under strength under 16 side were hammered 6-0 by visiting Broadford while on Thursday the under 12 side were well and truly beaten by NCW in the cup semi final while at the same time the under 8s fell in Abbeyfeale by an identical scoreline 4-0.
On Sunday the junior A team drew in Broadford in a meaningless game with Darragh O’Grady and a first ever goal for Neil Dunworth sealing a 2-2 draw. The B team took another step towards the Division 3 title with a massive 5-0 defeat of NCW Rovers B with goals from David O’ Hanlon (2) Kristian Doyle (2) and Thomas O’Keeffe. The result now means they can clinch the title at home to Askeaton B on Friday next.
The under 10 A side rounded off their league programme with a 4-1 loss in Askeaton where Aaron Smith was the Ballingarry scorer. However they can look forward to a Division 1 shield final against NCW following their third place finishing position.

Friday: Premier Division – Rathkeale 1 Ballingarry 2 (Kelly 2 (1 pen))
Sunday: Carrig Celtic 0 Ballingarry 0

The A side were the only team in action over the weekend collecting four points from the six on offer to all but secure their Premier Division survival. On Friday Denis Kelly was the scorer of both goals, one from the spot, to collect three points in Rathkeale while on Sunday they returned from Carrig with a point from a no score draw.
The B team are now just five points from the division 3 title after Thursdays results that saw Granagh United defeat Rockhill Rovers 2-0.

Saturday: Under 12 Division 2 – Broadford United 6 Ballingarry 0
Under 17 Cup Semi final – NCW 2 Ballingarry 2 (O’Connell, Snow) Ballingarry win 4-2 on pens

Sunday: Junior Premier Division – Killeaney 0 Ballingarry 1 (Forde)
Junior Division 3 – Ballingarry B 1 Ferry Rangers 0 (Fitzgerald)
Monday April 13th: Under 11 Cup Final (Athea) – Abbeyfeale United 1 Ballingarry 0

The highlight of the weekend was the under 11 cup final but sadly for Ballingarry they went under by the only goal of the game played in Athea. A keenly contested game throughout where there was little between the teams was decided by a harshly awarded penalty after just five minutes. The Abbey striker fell under a challenge from Keith Murphy and referee John Roche was quick to point to the spot.
On Saturday the under 17s booked a final date with Carrig Celtic as they try to become the first team from the club to retain a trophy. This cup semi final was a cracker throughout with Ballingarry coming from behind twice to level with NCW. First Barry O’Connell and then Mark Snow equalised for the holders to see Ballingarry finally go through on penalties.
Both junior teams enjoyed wins on Sunday with first the A yeam winning in Killeaney thanks to a Kevin Forde goal and then in the evening the B team kept right on course for a historic league success with captain Brian Fitzgeraldss headed goal proving decisive at home to Ferry Rangers. Finally the under 12 side became the first team to finish out their league campaign when they were well beaten in Broadford.

Under 11 Cup Semi-final NCW 0 Ballingarry 4 (N. Clancy, J. Murphy 2, E. Houlihan)
Under 14 Division 1 – Kilcornan 1 Ballingarry 0

Ballingarry made it through to their first under 11 cup final since 2006 and a meeting with Abbeyfeale United following a comprehensive 4-0 drubbing of NCW in Newcastle West last Saturday. Ballingarry started the brighter and took the lead after fifteen minutes when Nathan Clancy fired home from Edward Houlihans through ball. Ballingarry made chances to increase their lead when Clancy fired wide and both Jason Murphy and Jack Banks wasted good opportunities.
The second half was just five minutes old when Murphy got the first of his two when Cathal O’Keeffe put a fine ball behind the home defence for Murphy to fire home and he added his second mid way through the half when he got on the end of O’ Keeffes cross to score from close in. Ballingarry rounded off the scoring five from time when Edward Houlihan picked his spot from the edge of the box.
Team: O’ Donnell; Fitzgerald; Hickey; K Murphy; Morrissey; Duffy (McMahon); Clancy; O’Keeffe; Houlihan; Banks (S. Murphy); J. Murphy (Smith).

The under 14s travelled to Kilcornan to return home empty handed thanks to a 1-0 defeat by the local side.

Friday Under 16 Cup Round 2 – Abbeyfeale United 3 Ballingarry 3 aet (Forde pen, S. O’Doherty, O’Connell)
Saturday Under 8 Division 1 – Athea United 2 Ballingarry 2 (K. O’Kelly, C. Kavanagh)
Sunday Desmond Cup Round 2 – Ballingarry A 0 Adare United 1
Rathkeale A 1 Ballingarry 0 aet.

The Under 16s served up a cracker on Friday under lights in Abbeyfeale where the home side went up 2-0 at the break. Doherty pulled one back only for Abbey to restore their two goal advantage. However a storming performance from Ballingarry saw goals from Barry O’Connell and a penalty from Anthony Forde send the game to extra time. The replay will now be in Ballingarry where the home side should be slight favourites.

The under 8s recorded a fine 2-2 draw at Athea with goals from Keith O’ Kelly and Cathal Kavanagh.
On Sunday both Junior teams went out of the Desmond cup. The A team fell to Division 2 side Adare by the only goal of the game a result that effectively ends their season while the B team probably gave the performance of the season taking Rathkeale A all the way to the last minute of extra time before going out by the smallest of margins. Indeed they probably should have won the game with David O’Hanlon and Pardaig Forde spurning the two best chances of the game.