Overall a disappointing weekend that saw several of the clubs teams season end in disappointment, the beacon being the youths progress in the FAI Youth cup.

Saturday Nov 10th 2018 – 12 As season ends

U12 Boys Div 2 Shield Semi Finals – Kildimo Utd 2 Ballingarry A 0
Ballingarrys season ended here with this 2-0 defeat. They were very much the dominant force throughout but unfortunately could not transfer their superiority into goals.

Ballingarry left disappointed – U/14 Girls Div 1 League Final (Rathkeale) – Ballingarry 1 (McNamara) Abbeyfeale Utd 3

Ballingarry went under in the U14 Girls division 1 league final when they found old rivals Abbeyfeale United just too good for them on the day. Ballingarry got off to the perfect start when after just two minutes Nicole McNamara gave them the lead. The ball was fed down the right where Donna Kenny took control, her square pass was collected by Nessa Markham and she put Nicole McNamara in on goal where her first effort was stopped by the keeper however she failed to hold the ball and Nicole made certain from close in.

Sarah Hayes was just wide with a chip after eight minutes with United drawing level four minutes later when their mid fielder drove the ball high over Ciara Houlihan to the roof of the net. The winners keeper made a fine save to deny McNamara after Markham had created the opening, while a long range effort from Walsh was easily held.
The second half was difficult for Ballingarry with Abbeyfeale the better side.

Two set piece goals proved to be Ballingarrys undoing the first from a corner from the right after fifty minutes and the second five minutes later this too from a corner from the left. Both awards were questionable as it appeared that an Abbeyfeale played got the final touch. They found the Blues keeper in fine form who never put a foot wrong through the second half.
Ballingarry will be disappointed not to have restored their lead just after the break when McNamara was put through but was pulled for offside, however as the ball and come off a defenders head it surely was not offside. A poor call indeed.

U14 Boys Div. 2 Playoff – Ballingarry must settle for shield – Killeaney 4 Ballingarry 2
A win here would have put Ballingarry in the league final however they must now settle for a shield semi-final.

Youths in last 32 – FAI Youth Cup Rd. 2 – Ballingarry 3 (Quille 2, Sparling) Tralee Dynamos 0

A truly superb by a fine Ballingarry youth side saw them into the last 16 of the FAI youth cup at the expense of visiting Tralee Dynamos last Saturday. Ballingarry were the dominant team throughout with their first half display simply marvellous.

Ballingarry could have been three up before they opened the scoring in the eighteenth minute. Hayes was denied after two minutes by the keeper after six minutes the same player headed wide from a corner. Andrew Meade cross from the left was met by right full Kirwan but the shot was off target. The deserved lead goal arrived following fine work from Hayes and O Kelly who laid the ball to Quille who stroked home form the edge of the box.

Meade and Hayes were again involved with the latter seeing his effort blocked and just before the break Jack Molloy in goal was called into action when he dropped a free kick but luckily the danger was cleared. The half time whistle sounded without the opposition having a serious incursion into the Ballingarry half. Ballingarry started the second period where they left off with Mark Hayes just shooting over following inspirational work from Quille in midfield.

A fine tackle from Flynn led to a corner when the outcome could have been much worse just before O Kelly’s powerful effort was just off target. Tangney’s quick restart from a throw put Hayes into the box only for the keeper to make a good save at the expense of a corner. Ballingarry doubled their lead on 76 minutes with a second from Josh Quill. It was a beautiful finish from a great pass form Mark Hayes.

Ballingarry s third two minutes later was the icing on the cake. The Dynamos were awarded a free down the right, the ball was delivered into the box, cleared just outside the box where Mark Hayes took control and took the ball to the edge of the box before putting it on a plate for Sparling to score. It was the pace of the counter and the desire to get another that impressed. The last chance of the game fell to the visitors but a firm header found the side netting.

Sunday November 11th – 16s In playoff

U16 Div 1 League Playoff – Broadford Utd 2 Ballingarry 0
A win here would have put Ballingarry straight into the league final, as it is now Ballingarry will have to meet Broadford in the semi-final.

Ballingarry in League final – U/16 Girls Div 1 – Newcastle West Town 1 Ballingarry 1 (Dalton)
A game of little significance saw NCW snatch a draw after Ballingarry had taken the lead. Ballingarry were already in the league final.

Ballingarry bow out of National cup – U14 Gls Nat Cup Rd. 2 – Ashling-Annacotty 3 Ballingarry 2 (Clancy 2)
A fabulous game saw Ballngarry lose out by the odd goal in five. Two evenly matched teams offered up a fine game with all that is good about football on display. The home side went ahead midway through the half. In truth the goal should not have stood as when the player received the ball she was well offside, however the ref on the day way too far behind play to see.

Kelsy Quinn in goals made two quiet magnificent saves to keep Ballingarry in the game while both Emma McNamara and Abbie Clancy had chances to restore parity before the break but both girls were off target.

The second half was as exciting as the first however the wind was somewhat taken from Ballingarry with a second Ashling goal. A scrambled effort from Abbie Clancy gave Ballingarry great hope before a long range effort from the home sides midfielder found the net. Abbie Clancy’s second on the stroke of time was a consolation. This was a fine display from all the girls and one both managers and players can feel proud of.

Points shared in Granagh – Premier Divsion – Granagh Utd 2 Ballingarry 2 (Laffan, O’Kelly)
The scenes at the end told their own story, wild celebrations from the home side, Ballingarry heads bowed. It was a game Ballingarry should have wrapped up long before the end. Pa Healy headed over in the first half to leave the sides level. Kevin Laffan put Ballingarry a goal to the good early in the second half before substitute Keith O’Kelly headed home a corner with twenty to go. Granagh pulled a goal back with a well struck free kick fifteen minutes from time before Keith O’Kelly saw David Condron saw a one v one that would surely have given Ballingarry all three points. With the last kick of the ball Granagh equalised from a scramble after the ball was delivered from a free. Cue unbridled celebrations for the home side.
Team: O’Grady, Cahill; Fitzgerald; Flynn; Laffan; Meade; A O’Connor; Healy; Long; Hanley; Hartnett.
Used subs: Danvers; O’Kelly.