Club Lotto is now
a massive £4100
This Saturday’s
draw was in the Anglers Rest
with the numbers drawn by
Barney Mc Cusker and Patsy
Mc Givern. Due to the Camogie
championship win there was
no draw made. There will be
2 weeks results in next week’s
news. This weeks draw will
be in the Gall bog Bar with
the numbers drawn by Martin
Mc Cann and Tom Montgomery.
Club Merchandise
New Ballela club
merchandise is available to
buy from the club. All the
Garments are very reasonably
priced and we urge all players,
members and parents to show
their colours for the club
and avail of this excellent
opportunity to purchase club
merchandise. Please contact
Noel Burns for any further
information.
Junior Championship
Semi-final
Ballela 0-9 Bredagh
2-11
The club was dealt a huge
blow on Friday night as Daniel
Mc Cusker was ruled out for
a while due to cartilage problems.
As the score line suggests
Ballela were beaten by a much
stronger Bredagh side in Darragh
Cross last Sunday. Bredagh
hit the ground running from
the start and also got the
run of the sliotar in the
opening exchanges. Despite
being on the rough end of
some challenges, Ballela did
not get any assistance from
a referee who failed to award
Ballela deserved frees on
some occasions. But to Bredagh
credit, they hurled well and
if they had of taken half
the chances they created the
score line could have been
a lot worse. Ballela were
finding it tough in the first
half against a strong breeze
but they battled hard to keep
within 5 points at Half time.
In the second half, Bredagh
improved and restricted Ballela
to 3 points. The whole team
played hard but it was just
unfortunate that so many of
the players had an off day.
But this will not discourage
this young Ballela team who
will be back again to challenge
for silverware next year.
The experience will stand
them in good stead and there
were encouraging performances
from Donal Mc Cann in the
Back line and Daniel Downey
in the forwards.
Noel Burns (jun) made his
comeback and Joe Cosgrave
is improving match fitness
with every game. In the game
itself the frees were hard
to score due to a swirling
wind which Johnny Mc Cusker
and Malachy Magee could not
master despite their hard
efforts. Paddy Mc Polin and
Noel Burns (sen) fought for
every ball in the full back
line with the Noel going off
injured deep in the second
half with a bad hand injury.
All the players deserve credit
for their performances this
season as they have battled
with a squad of 17 players
on most occasions. This will
maybe encourage some players
to get back into the Club
fold as we all know that there
is more hurling in this squad.
Night at the Races
Ballela GAC are organising
a fund raising night in The
Depot Bar, Rathfriland. This
is a family night and we urge
all members and parishioners
to support this event. Ballela
is a self-sufficient club
and needs to raise money to
keep the club active and to
develop the
facilities we have. Anyone
wishing to contribute or sponsor
a race please contact any
committee member for further
information.
Ballela Under 12’s
Ballela Under 12’s
played host to Ballyvarley
on Saturday in what was a
very competitive game. Ballela
went into this game with having
only lost once in the past
5 games, which was against
Ballyvarley.
The first score was a goal
by James Mc Parland for the
home side, which was followed,
by an exceptional goal by
Ryan Mc Cusker from a sideline
cut. James Mc Parland then
scored his second goal of
the game with a solitary goal
reply from Ballyvarley right
on half time.
HT BALLELA 3.00 BALLYVARLEY
1.00
The first score of the second
half was a point by Ryan Mc
Cusker with Ballyvarley replying
by scoring a goal. Ryan then
scored another excellent point
from a 70 as Ballyvarley pressed
forward and scored a point,
which was the final score
of the game.
Mark Branniff made a few good
saves late on and marshalled
his defence well. Sean Branniff
and Declan Mc Crory played
well in defence with James
Mc Parland playing well up
front. Ryan Cunningham had
his best game of the season
in midfield and covered every
blade of grass on the pitch.
This win was down to good
teamwork.
FT – BALLELA 3.02 BALLYVARLEY
2.01
Ballela Team
M. Branniff: S. Branniff,
D. Mc Crory, C. Heaney, N.
Carberry, C. Burns, R. Mc
Cusker, R. Cunningham, R.
Harrison, J. Mc Parland, C.
Mc Clure, N. Mc Crory, N.
Burns, P. Mc Cusker, C. Mc
Quillan.
Many thanks to the Under 12
sponsor Doral Construction
and to Noel Burns for refereeing.
Next match is on Saturday
2nd September at Pairc Na
Naomh against Clonduff.
Connor Branniff
The club would like
to congratulate Connor Branniff
who competed in the Poc Fada
at the community games on
Saturday. Connor finished
12th out of 30 competitors
who took part.
Ballela Sports Day
Ballela sports day
will be running on Sunday
9th September. More details
in next week’s news.
Ballela Cul-camp
Ballela held a very
successful Cul Camp at Pairc
Na Naomh last week, which
was enjoyed by over 25 children.
There was great skill shown
all week by the boys and girls
as they participated in Hurling,
Camogie and Gaelic and we
were blessed with beautiful
weather in which to use the
fantastic surface at Pairc
Na Naomh.
At the end of the week the
budding sports stars of the
future all received a Cul
Camp pack. The coaches are
a credit to the sort as they
displayed great professionalism
all week in teaching the youngsters
the basic skills of the game.
The Club are hopeful that
this will entice more players
to join the club and use the
skills they developed over
last week. Ballela are hopeful
that many of these youngsters
will be stars of the future
at Pairc Na Naomh.
Many thanks to the Cul camp
organiser Willie Gribben and
to Martin Mc Cann and other
Ballela Committee Members
for making this a success
as the club will be aiming
to make it a bigger and better
spectacle next year.
