Minor Football
Central Region Minor Div 1 Semi-Final Result : Ballymac 5-08 Churchill 2-15.
The old adage of goals wins games certainly rang true this evening when our Club Minor team overcame the stern challenge of a gallant Churchill team, to seal a place in the final against Laune Rangers this coming week.
This game ebbed and flowed throughout with both teams enjoying dominance at various times but it was Ballymac’s ability to score goals at important junctures which ultimately proved the difference in the end.
Playing against the strengthening breeze, Ballymac got off to a flyer with full forward Graham West netting for the home side inside five minutes.
Churchill to their credit responded with a major themselves and two further two pointers as they utilised the strong wind to their advantage.
Ballymac stuck to the task with Liam Rahilly and Sean Martin tacking on points and Micheàl Quirke scoring a second goal for the Blue n Gold.
The teams went in at half time level 2-05 to 1-08. Ballymac scored their third goal immediately from the throw in when Micheàl was on hand to score his second.
Churchill responded with four unanswered points to move a point ahead and then stretched their lead with their second goal after fifteen minutes of the second half. Back came our boys with further goals from Graham and Pádraig Reidy to edge ahead nearing the final whistle.
In a tense closing few minutes, Ballymac held firm to close out the game to emerge as deserving winners, just about. Well done to all on reaching the final.
FOIREANN : John Leen, Fionn Enright, Jackson Brosnan, Darragh McMahon, Jamie Tarrant, Pádraig Reidy, Ray Horgan, Eoghan Joy, Ryan Burke, Cian Gilroy, Michael Quirke, Liam Rahilly, Seadhna O Brien, Graham West, Sean Martin. Subs Kyron Boyle, Eric Quirke, Adrian O Connor, Gearóid Joy, Shane Cassidy, Daniel Moriarty,
Minor Girls
Ballymac played Spa Thursday evening 14th May in the Minor Ladies County League final. Ballymac won the toss and opted to play with a significant breeze.
We were slow out of the blocks and conceded an early goal and point. We soon settled to the task and had points from Eva Burke, Michelle O’Connor and Alice Savage. A goal by Eva Burke put us up by 2 points then Spa struck for a fortuitous goal which put them ahead.
The Ballymac girls, needing to take advantage of the strong wind, upped their game and points by Holly O’Neill, Maeve O’Connell and Aideen Healy as well as goals by Jamie Lee and Michelle O’Connor put us ahead 3-9 to 2-3 at half time.
The Ballymac girls were playing into a gale in the second half and the Spa girls quickly cut into the deficit. By the tenth minute the lead was down to 3 points with the Spa girls attacking us in waves and a few referee decisions going against us.
Spa were awarded a penalty which if scored would have levelled the game. The penalty was brilliantly saved by Emma Lynch in goals.
Ballymac started playing with more purpose. Alice Savage goaled to put us 5 points up. Spa responded immediately with a goal but now Ballymac were beginning to get on top. A point by Jamie Lee was followed by a goal by Maeve O’Connell which put us back in control of the game.
Spa poured forward in search of a goal but the Ballymac defence was up to the task. Emma Lynch in goals making some fantastic saves throughout the game. Ballymac had the last say with a point from Tara Slattery to make it a 2 score game. Final score Ballymac 5-12 to Spa 4-9.
A fantastic game of football played by 2 evenly matched sides. Every one of the 20 girls that togged out played their part in a tremendous victory for Ballymac.
Also a special mention to our three helpers Jack, Kara and Zoe who help throughout the league campaign . Congratulations to Ballymac and commiserations to Spa. Panel: Emma lynch, Aiobhean Sheehan, Sorcha Healy , Grace Kelly , Natile Turner , Kate Turner , Michela Murphy , Emily Heffernan, Meave O’Connell , Jamie Lee O’Connor ( Capt) Alice Savage , Fiona McCarthy, Michelle O’Connor ,Tara Slattery, Eva Burke , Amy Roche , Andrea Greer ,Holly O’Neill , Doireann Broderick.
U13 Girls
U13 girls played in Stack Park in Ballybunnion v Beal in the NK league div3 final . Beal started with real intent and bagged a goal from the throw in followed by a point shortly after .
However our girls settled down and a period of good possession resulted in Shona O Neill setting up Jasmine Roche for a goal . Good pressure on Beals kick out saw us add a few points from Katie Anna , Sadie Lynch, and Jasmine before Sadie added another goal to our tally .
Beal added 2pts to leave score at small whistle 2-3 to 1- 4 . We dominated the 2nd half and played some great football as a team . Further goals from Jasmine , Sadie , Ashley Greer & Cliona Brosnan .
A feature of the 2nd half was our defending , our halfback line of Aoife Ireland , Lucy o Connor and Amy o Rourke were outstanding and gave a great platform for our attacks . Sadie Murphy at full back flanked by Aoibheann Joy and Grace Leonard did excellent work too .
Panel : Mille Sheehan , Grace Leonard, Sadie Murphy , Aoibheann Joy . Aoife Ireland , Lucy O Connor , Amy o Rourke , Sadie Lynch , Ruby Sugrue , Cait Murphy, Katie Anna o Connor , Jasmine Roche , Shona o Neill , Caoimhe Leen. Kate Martin, Cliona Brosnan , Ciara Leen ,Ashley Greer, Kate Flaherty & Megan Lyons inj Chloe Foran
Kerry North U16.
Well done to Adrian O Connor, Gearóid Joy and Eric Quirke who lined out for Kerry North u16s against Cork on Sunday. Keep up the great work
