Thursday 12th May
U-14 Division 3 – Ballingarry 6 (Moran 2, Clancy, O’Donnell, O’Keeffe, O’Connor) Ferry Rangers 1
Friday 13th May
Junior Division 1 – Ballingarry 1 (D. Alymer) Old Mill 1
Saturday 14th May
Limerick Desmond Youth Cup Final, Clounreask – Ballingarry 1 (Clancy) Abbeyfeale United 0
Ballingarry have hit a rich vein of silver over the past week collecting no fewer than four trophies to bring their tally for the season to six and so equaling their best ever season, and with a 13s cup final, a 14s semi final, the 8s still in two competitions and the junior A team in the league cup it may even get better.
On Thursday the 14s set the ball rolling when they hit visiting Ferry Rangers for six to seal the under 14 division 3 title. It is their second under 14 title and their first since 1994 when they won the division 1 title. Nathan Clancy opened the scoring after three minutes with a fine effort from outside the box. Davin O’Donnell finished well to make it 2-0 before Rangers reduced the deficit but Aaron O’Connor restored Ballingarrys 2 goal advantage before the break. The second half saw two Sean Moran goals and a late Cathal O’Keeffe effort confirm their superiority. This was their last game and it sees them complete their programme unbeaten in the league. Following the game captain Mikey Morrissey received the cup from league registrar Ger Costello.
On Friday the junior captain Pat Kenrick received the Division 1 trophy from fixtures secretary PJ Hogan following their 1-1 draw with visiting Old Mill. They fell behind in the first half with Darren Alymers first goal of the season preserving their unbeaten league record this team, the first time in the clubs history that a junior side have gone an entire league campaign unbeaten. They will now take their place in the Premier next season.
Then finally on Saturday the youths made up for the disappointment of last seasons cup defeat with victory over Abbeyfeale United at Clounreask. It was a game of few chances for Ballingarry with Abbeyfeale making most of the running. A brilliant save from a free by David Condron kept it scoreless at the break coupled with an outstanding display from left full Richard O’Kelly kept Ballingarry in the game. Then with the game in the last minute of normal time out and a replay looking likely O’Kelly picked out Dean Clancy with an inch perfect cross from the right for Clancy to brilliantly head home. It sealed an historic double for Ballingarry having already won the division 1 title and when Tim O’Connell presented the cup to Sean Linehan it confirmed the second time that Ballingarry had won the Desmond Youth cup.
In more club related news Brenda O’Keeffe and Stephanie Anderson have been voted LDS/GL under 12 and under 14 players of the year respectively. Congratulations to both.
Anthony Forde has been named on the Republic of Ireland UEFA U-19 squad to compete in the elite group phase in Poland this month May 2011.
Another Ballingarry player making international news is who played for the Irish schools in the Centenary shield in England. Minogue played in all four games including the final against England while he scored three goals from midfield during his four games. A more comprehensive report will appear here shortly.
