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.