Ballymac
LOTTO
Ballymac GAA Club lotto was held in O Riadas on Monday 17th August for a jackpot of €7,900. Numbers drawn were 19,21,22,24. There was no winner.
Lucky Dips
1. Ellen Lynch, Rathanny
2. Pat McDonnell, Rathanny
3. Katie Leen, Chutehall
4. Brigid Leen, Kilquane
5. Diarmuid Casey, Gortatlea
Sellers Prize : Sean Lynch. The lotto now stands at €8,000 and can be played at www.ballymacgaa.com
SENIOR TEAM
Our Senior Team resume their Co. League campaign on Saturday evening next when they travel to take on Listry in a back Co. League game. This game is due to throw in at 6.30pm. Following our excellent win in our previous game against Skellig Rangers hopefully we can replicate that performance and come away with 2 points to move us up the Division table.
GOLF CLASSIC
On Saturday 3rd October 2015 Ballymac GAA Club are holding a golf classic. All monies raised from this event will go towards the continued development cost of our new training field. The Club can now proudly boast to having 2 full size all weather playing pitches. The second field has been of enormous benefit to the Club and has greatly eased the pressure on our main pitch.
The Club are appealing to as many people as possible to support this fundraiser especially parents of our underage players who are using the facilities. A team of four costs €160 wile sponsorship is also required for greens and tees.
First prize is a four ball in the Old Head of Kinsale thanks to the Blasket of Tralee for their sponsorship of this prize. 2nd and 3rd prizes are a four ball in Barrow and a four ball in Beaufort. Any queries can be forwarded to Geoff Riordan 0866015165 or Dave Slattery 087 2201042 or Bernard Cassidy 087 7973818 or email treasurer Joanne Riordan on treasurer.ballymacelligott.kerry@gaa.ie
ALL IRELAND FINAL
Congratulations to our Senior and Minor teams on reaching their respective All Ireland Finals with 2 very good victories over Ulster opposition in Croke Park on Sunday last. Ballymac had 2 bus loads of supporters cheering on the teams.
The scramble for tickets for the All Ireland final now begins. Only fully paid up Club members are entitled to enter a draw for All Ireland tickets. Membership is now closed. Any members wishing to have their name entered into the draw please contact Club Secretary Fionnan Fitzgerald on 087 9860441.
KERRY LADIES
Best wishes to Maria Quirke, Barakilla and her Kerry ladies team mates as they seek to qualify for an All Ireland Final as they take on Cork in Limerick on Saturday next .
ROSE OF TRALEE
At the recent Rose of Tralee festival two ex Ballymac players were prominent in the TV Coverage of the event. Diarmuid Casey featured as his partner Denise Lynch was the Perth Rose.
Diarmuid was a prominent of our Senior team prior to his emigration to Australia. Sarah Hogan representing Boston is a daughter of former Ballymac player Frank Hogan who is a prominent figure in the Boston GAA scene.
FAOI 13
On Saturday 15th August our u 13 team took part in the annual Rose Cup held at Healy Park Ballyrickard Tralee , We were part of a group which included St Maurs Dublin. Kerins O Rahillys and Ballyduff.
First up the Dubs. We got off to a flying start with Brian Cassidy
leading from midfield and cracked a goal within a minute of the throw in. In fairness the Dubliners were quite off the pace and our lads closed out the game before the final whistle. The game saw us give our extended panel game time.
After a break we played Rahillys.
The boys were in for a much tougher game now. This game had everything , end to end good link play high fielding great defending and score taking. We got off to a good start and led 1-1 to 0-2 going to half time.
Our goal by Aidan O Brien However Rahillys were fighting back and but for some great defending which included a ball of the line clearance by Ciaran Brosnan we
would have been under more pressure.
Rahillys kept coming and we led by one point at half time. Second half Rahillys took the lead however our switch of Cian Godley onto the Rahillys main threat saw the game turn in our favour We were now dominating possession and we drove on with some lovely point taking by
Maurice O Connell James Kenny and Darragh Broderick.
Goals from brothers Cian and Bryan Godley saw us close the game in rampant style. Two wins from two secured and a place in semifinal of cup or shield the prize in our final group game v Ballyduff.
The previous game had taught our boys that you get nothing without a fight and so it was against the North Kerry lads Ballyduff were robust in every challenge which made our boys tackle harder for every ball.
We were doing very well as we played as a team not individuals John Lowe was getting on a lot of ball and feeding it inside with great effect.
We went into a 1-2 to 0-2 lead nearing half time however a lapse in concentration saw Ballyduff strike a goal and the momentum swung their way as they tacked on a couple of points to see us chasing the game.
The second half saw Ballyduff get the break We were down 6 points and saw our goal effort by James Kenny come of the cross bar a late goal by Darragh Broderick on the final whistle saw us put some respectability on the scoreline to reflect the efforts of the boys
That result saw us play Dr Crokes in the shield semi final. The Killarney outfit play division 1 football and so we’re going to be a tough opponent for the boys. Our lads were not deterred by that and took the game to Crokes.
We were going very well and lead by 4 points some good play by Tim and Sean Polman Daamen and by our back line with Darragh Sweeney Adam Kelly and Denis Brosnan putting in big shifts.
However our discipline was being tested and the lads through tiredness were resorting to some poor tackling which resulted in Crokes punishing us with the placed ball. End to end stuff in this game and we were all tied at full time 3 minutes a half extra time.
We put in a mighty shift here after going 2 points behind however a poachers goal by Maurice o connel followed up by a James Kenny point lead us to victory in this game and a FINAL place. The boys had exerted a huge amount of energy to get to this stage and credit must go to them as they punched well above their status. The final saw us take on a well fancied Austin Stacks side.
The Tralee outfit had a very strong panel of players and got on top of our lads early in the final and due to fatigue our boys were unable to respond. The Stacks boys took full advantage and went into an unassailable lead as our heads dropped.
Stacks took the spoils and the shield. Our boys can certainly take great credit for their efforts all players showed great determination and effort in their five games. A special mention must go to Eoghan Kenny our goalkeeper for his fine display in goals during this tournament he certainly saved his best display of the year for these games well done Eoghan.
This group of players will have bigger days ahead and all went home after the tournament knowing that Ballymac U 13 finished a very respectable 4th out of 16 teams taking part in the tournament. Well done all.
Team Eoghan Kenny Ciaran Brosnan Adam Kelly Adam Joy Cian Godley, Denis Brosnan Brian Cassidy Darragh Broderick Darragh Leen John Lowe Darragh Sweeney Aidan O Brien Andy Rogers Maurice O Connell James Kenny James Bailey Bryan Godley Sean Horan Tim Polman Daamen Sean Polman Daamen Adam O Keeffe
FAOI 12
Ballymac U12 Gold Team got off to a winning start for the Central Region in their match against Austin Stacks. An early point from Mark O Connor and 2 goals from James Kenny and another point by Jared O Briain contributed to a Ballymac half time lead of Ballymac 3 – 6 Stacks 1 – 3.
The Stacks tried to mount a come back in the second half but strong performances from Luke O Connell and Gary Lynch in mid field and great defending from Oisin Shanahan, Eoin Creedon and Mossie Brennan ensured Ballymac kept them out.
Two goals from Adam Walker and Mark O Connor ensured a Ballymac win on a scoreline of 5 – 19 to 4 – 8. In the corresponding game our U12 Blue Team lost the game to Austin Stacks. Our next game in this competition is away to Na Gaeil on Monday night next 24th August 2015.
Friday night saw both U12 teams start their Castleisland District Campaign. Scartaglen played the Gold team.
The first half was nip and tuck but Ballymac got the better of the second half exchanges to eventually win 4 – 8 to 1 – 7. The Blue team played against Currow in one of the most competitive games seen in Ballymac in quite some time.
Ballymac were eventually ran out winners 4 – 12 to 4 – 8. The U12 team visited Fitzgerald stadium on Tuesday 18th August. The players played 3 games and showed great skill in winning all three games.
FAOI 11
Our U11 team play in the Annual Firies Blitz next Saturday morning starting at 10.00am.
FAOI 10
Our U10 continue to improve with the extra mid week session proving of great benefit. Amongst those showing great promise are Tom Long, William O Donoghue, Michael Prendergast, Aidan Horgan and Jack Slattery.
COMMUNITY GAMES
Well done to Roisin Rahilly and Debra O Connor who came home with Silver medals from the National Community Games held in Athlone last weekend. Roisin won her silver with in the U10 100m while Debra got her silver in the Judo 25kg category. Congratulations to both girls on their magnificent achievement
