Results Week Ending April 1st 2018 – Juniors back in title race. Youths pick up first silverware. Ladies in cup semi final. U12 Girls go top.

Monday March 26th

U12 Boys Division 1 – Broadford Utd A 6 Ballingarry A 0
A much under strength Ballingarry gave a good account of themselves and even dominated the early stages before being finally beaten at Broadford.

Tuesday March 27th

U12 Girls Division 1 – Ballingarry A 1 Abbeyfeale Utd A 0
Ballingarry moved to the top of the table with this 1-0 win against visiting Abbeyfeale United. Lucy Fitzgibbon with the only goal of the game early in the first half secured pole position for the squad with five games remaining.

U13 Boys League Cup – Kildimo Utd 6 Ballingarry 2
U16 Boys Division 2 – Granagh Utd 2 Ballingarry 2
Ballingarry saw a two goal lead slip in controversial fashion as the league title was taken out of their hands at neighbours Granagh United.

Wednesday March 28th

U12 Girls Division 2 – Broadford Utd B 1 Ballingarry B 3 (Frawley 2, Storin)
A brilliant game of football saw Ballingarry pick up all three points.

Thursday March 29th

U14 Boys Division 1 – Ballingarry 0 Kildimo Utd A 2

Friday March 30th

U16 Boys Division 2 – Ballingarry 6 (Leahy 2, Quill 2, Casey, Southgate) Newcastle West Town 2

Saturday March 31st

Youth Division 2 – Pallaskenry 0 Ballingarry 1 (O’Kelly)

Ballingarrys decision to re-enter the youths league has proved to be a successful one with the youths team lifting the youths division 2 league trophy last Saturday in Pallaskenry defeating the home side 1-0 in an eagerly contested game. The permutations where simple – it was must win for Pallas to keep alive their hopes of winning the league, the visitors however could afford a slip up and still hold the upper hand. It’s been 7 years since Ballingarry last entered a youth team. That team of course went on to win the Division 1 and Desmond youth cup double. This youth team is managed by Dean Clancy and assisted by John Clancy and Gary Shanahan. Dean himself was top scorer for that double winning team  scoring many crucial goals that including the cup final winner 5 minutes from time. The young manager had a selection dilemma to deal with before kick-off with the unavailability of 3 starters, keeper Jack Molloy and Josh O’Connor unavailable and Seanie O’Connor ruled out with an ankle injury.

But such is the depth and strength of the squad he was able to call on Keith Kelly former LDSL Kennedy cup keeper to step in for the day. Kelly who had been mostly operating as a centre forward for the team all season and with 13 goals to his credit coming into the game would be an obvious loss out field, but the scoring potential of the team would still be a serious one with Hayes and Gallagher up front who themselves have 25 goals between so far this season. Pallas showed their intentions and started very brightly with a high tempo and intensity to their game, but Ballingarry stuck to their game plan of keeping things tight at the back a defensive display lead by captain Long who was impeccable throughout as were  all the other 4 defenders used on the day. All though the surface was difficult it didn’t deter Shanagher and Quille in middle of the park from keeping the ball on the ground and constantly providing  probing balls through the Pallas defence for Gallagher and Hayes to latch onto. On the 24th minute it was from one of these probing through balls that Ballingarry won a corner their 5th of the half that provided the visitors best chance when Gallagher’s header came back off the post from Meads delivery with the ball being cleared off the line by a Pallas defender. Pallas’s best chance came when Kelly misjudged a cross and he was relieved to see the ball clip the cross bar and go over for a corner.

Ballingarry were happy to start the 2nd half still on level terms and with a formation change with included switching keeper Kelly to centre forward proved to be a master stroke as Kelly went on to hit the winner on 73 minutes when he latched onto Meads  back post cross after the winger had made a brilliant run down the left wing beating 3 Pallas players in the process. Pallas threw everything at the visitors in the last 15 minutes causing one moment of concern when replacement keeper Tagney needed two attempts to deal with a good strike from the Pallas forward. With the league title now in the bag the team and management can focus on a possible league and cup double as they await the winners of Kilcolman Rovers and Granagh United in the league cup semi final.

Team: K Kelly C Tagney A Long C Fitzgerald L Flynn A Shanagher J Quille M Southgate A Meade M Hayes P Gallagher. Subs used: B Mulqueen and K Storin.
Manager Dean Clancy assisted by John Clancy and Gary Shanahan.

U12 Boys Division 1 – Abbeyfeale Utd A 2 Ballingarry A 1
Ballingarry were unlucky to return home empty handed as a string of fine saves by the homew keeper denied the visitors form turning over ahead. Ami Yadav kept United at bay as they started the second half strongly. Ballingarry conceded form a corner mid way through the second. Ballingarry got a deserved equaliser through Jack McMahon and came close to going ahead as they pushed forward. However with just two minutes remaining Abbeyfeale got what proved to be the winning goal.

U12 Boys Division 6 – Ballingarry B 0 Feenagh 0
This was Ballingarry football at its best as the young boys played all the football but just could not find the net.

U15 Boys Cup – Broadford Utd 3 Ballingarry 0
Ballingarry bowed out of the cup at the first hurdle.

Sunday April 1st

Premier Division – Ballingarry 1 (Ahern) Abbeyfeale Utd 0
With seven games remaining Ballingarry find themselves right back in the title race following this fantastic if unlikely win against table toppers Abbeyfeale United. A very under strength Ballingarry weathered the storm that the visitors blew up almost from the off and when the opportunity presented itself they took it gleefully.
For all their effort United hardly created a clear cup chance until five minutes from time. Then when it seemed they must score up popped veteran Mike Ahern with an impossible clearance from under the crossbar after keeper Shanaghan had been lobbed. By then Ballingarry were a goal to the good and what a strike it was. Ballingarry were a awarded a free twenty five yards out, down the right. Ahern stepped up to send a sensational effort to the far corner of the net. The strike was worthy of the 11 man celebration that it triggered.
United had been warned. Dean Clancy had already brought a fine save from Quirke while Mark Hayes should really have scored from the spill. Ahern went close when his corner was a foot away from the net while Hayes had threatened in the first half. All this before the Ballingarry winner.
Ballingarry are the first club to inflict defeat on Abbeyfeale this season and with seven games to go and just four points behind surely if there is a will in the Ballingarry management and players they will find a way.
Team: Shanaghan, Ahern, Fitz, Cahill, O’Grady, Clancy, Moore, Kiely, Hayes, P Ryan, Browne.
Sub Used: Hartnett.

Division 3 – Carrig Celtic B 0 Ballingarry B 2 (Walsh 2)
Ladies Desmond Cup – Ballingarry 1 (Condron) Rathkeale 0