SENIOR FOOTBALL: Ballymac 1-5; Austin Stacks 5-13.
After a break of eleven weeks from competitive action over the Christmas and New Year period our Seniors got the Centenary Season underway with a good win in round 1 of the Town League played in Ballymac yesterday afternoon (29th Jan).
Both teams had opportunities early on before the home side opened the scoring in the 8th minute. But within a minute we went into the lead from a well-taken David O’Sullivan goal and we were never overtaken after that. By half time we had added a further three goals (with David again on target, as well as Darragh O’Brien and Fiachna Mangan) and three points – one from Shane Carroll and two by Shane O’Callaghan. This left us ahead at the break by 4-3 to 0-2.
We continued to dominate the opening quarter of the second half scoring five points without reply (Darragh O’Brien on target twice – one from a free – and one each by Shane O’Callaghan, Alan Duggan and Wayne Guthrie). Ballymac’s first score of this half came in the 47thminute but the home side played their best football during this final quarter, scoring 1-3 in total. However we still had the upper hand, if only, adding a further 1-5 and the man that really shone here was new-man, Cian O’Sullivan. Cian was just on the pitch (49th m) when he pointed, and seven minutes later he was at the end of a brilliant Stacks move to score our 5th goal. Our other four points in this final quarter came from Shane Carroll, Wayne Guthrie, Jack O’Shea and Pa McCarthy.
As well as Cian O’Sullivan it was also good to see former Minor, Darragh Scanlon making his Senior debut and Darragh gave a very solid performance as an attacking corner back.
It was also good to see Shane Carroll back in action again after missing the latter half of last season. Two men who didn’t play Senior last season – Alan Duggan and Paul Galvin – did very well, as did Pa Fitzgibbon and Seamus Bastible who both had just one Senior game last year.
And there was a great welcome back for Denis Costello whose last game for the Club was in November 2012. Denis missed the last four seasons while abroad on work assignment. He was still a Minor when he made his Senior debut in August 2006 and was a regular on the team for those seven seasons (2006-2012).
Team: Pa Fitzgibbon, Darragh Scanlon, Barry Walsh, Denis Costello, Denis O’Neill, Pa McCarthy (0-1), Ciarán O’Connell, Wayne Guthrie (Capt) (0-2), Alan Duggan (0-1), Shane Carroll (0-2), Shane O’Callaghan (0-3), Fiachna Mangan (1-0), David O’Sullivan (2-0), Darragh O’Brien (1-2 – one free), Seamus Bastible.
Subs Used: Paul Galvin (44m), Jack O’Shea (49m) (0-1), Cian O’Sullivan (49m) (1-1).
So a very satisfactory start for Pat Flanagan in his first game as Team Manager and he and his Management Team (Wayne Murphy, John Joe Sugrue, John Walsh, Brian Cuthbert and their backroom staff which include Tommy Naughton, Ger Mannix, John Tobin and Fionan Hallinan) will have a lot to look forward to for the rest of the season.
Round 2 of the Town League (at home to John Mitchels) is due to go on ahead next Sunday (5th Feb) with also a 12.30pm throw-in.
BON VOYAGE: We are sorry to relate that Alan Nestor has transferred back to his native Meath after spending a very industrious season (in 2016) with the Club. He made his debut on a very damp March night (Fri., 4th) in the Mitchels pitch with a winning start in round 1 of the Town League. In all, during the season, he lined out with the Seniors on 17 occasions and a further 6 times with the B team.
Alan has penned a very sincere and heartfelt email (see Club Website) outlining his period with the Club and insisting that the talent is there within the current squad to achieve ultimate success in the very near future.
We wish you and your home Club (Blackhall Gaels) all the best Alan for the coming season.
MINOR FOOTBALL: With our round 1 game against Na Gaeil postponed to 22nd February our Minors’ first outing of the season is due to go ahead in Connolly Park on next Sunday (5th Feb) with a game against Ballymac in round 2 of the Town League. Throw-in at 3pm (please note fixture change).
WELL DONE: to Glenbeigh/Glencar on their All Ireland JF Club Championship semi final win over Louisburg (Mayo) in Ennis last Sunday (29th Jan) and hard luck on Kenmare who barely lost their Intermediate semi final bout to Westport after the game went to extra time.
SENIOR SCÓR: Oifigeach Scór, Brian Caball informs us that the Bordcheantar Thrá Lí Senior Scór competitions takes place on this Thursday (nd Feb) at Na Gaeil Club. The County Finals of Senior Scór will be held in Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál (Presentation Primary), Oileán Ciarraí, on Saturday February 18th (8pm). The Senior Quiz County Final will be held at the same venue on the same day but at 6pm sharp. We are looking for 4 volunteers for a table quiz team.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: He is, and has been for many years, involved in so many activities within the Club, from the Field Committee, the Bar, the Cards, the Bingo and of course the Lee Strand U13 Tournament since its inception in 1986, to name but a few. So it’s great to be able to wish Denis O’Connor and his wife Nora a very happy 50th Wedding Anniversary which they celebrate on this coming Saturday, 4thFebruary.
All in the Club and in the local community will also wish Denny all the best as he presently undergoes treatment for his current health issue.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. For Bookings, phone Maurice McNamara at 086 3747 642.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse on every Monday and Thursday nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last week’s (23rd Jan) Jackpot, worth €5,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 9, 11, 12, 30. The €20 winners were: Fr. Pádraig Walsh and Liam O’Connor, both c/o The Club; Maureen McCarthy, c/o Rock Street PO; Terry Healy, c/o Club Rockies; and Betty Moriarty, c/o Richard Healy.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – John McCarthy, Ballybunion and late of Ballyduff (brother of former Club Hurler, Richie); Celine Daly, Racecourse Lawn; Anna Cronin (nee Milward), Highfield Grove and late of Ballyegan; and Bill Horgan, Cloondara, Oakpark and late of Mountcollins and Killarney.
