Feis Sevens Final
Ballela seniors won through to the final of the Feis sevenʼs. They 
beat Kilceif last Thursday in the semi-final and played a very strong 
Liatroim side on Sunday 3rd June in Castlewellan in the final. In a 
rain swept St Malachiʼs park, Ballela got beat by a very well 
organised Liatroim side, but credit must go the two sides for some 
excellent hurling in the poor conditions.
Committee Meetings
Ballela Committee continue to meet every Monday night at 8.00 pm in 
the clubhouse. This is an important period for Ballela GAC as we will 
be announcing a 5 year plan which will outline the plans and 
strategic development that the club will be following. Any 
parishioners or members with any ideas are invited to put their ideas 
forward to the committee.
Cul Camp
Ballela will be hosting a Summer Junior Hurling camp which will take 
place the week beginning Monday 9th July. More information will be on 
the website and in the news reports closer to the time.
Club Trip
Ballela are organising a trip to Croke Park for the Christy Ring cup 
final on Sunday 5th August. There may also be the chance of an 
All-Ireland semi-final match being on this day also, but this has not 
been confirmed yet. Please contact the club if your children wish to 
attend, adults are also welcome.
Senior Hurling News
Training will continue at the field on Thursday nights at 7 pm and on 
Sunday Mornings at 11 am. Matches will continue on Tuesday nights and 
all players are asked to check the Irish News on a Tuesday morning 
for fixtures etc or contact Joe Cosgrave.
New players and ex players are more than welcome to join and rejoin 
the club as members and we would like to see a few more turning up 
for training and the matches in support of the team.
Membership
All players are reminded that Membership is now overdue and must be 
forwarded to Club registrar Noel Burns ASAP.
Camogie Training
Training will continue every Sunday morning @ 9.30 am at the field 
for all senior & minor Camogie players Fixtures are available to view 
on the club website - www.ballela.com or on the notice board at the 
clubhouse.
Under 8, 10 & 12 hurling
Under 8, 10 & 12 hurling training will continue every Monday Night at 
6.30 to 7.30 in Ballela.
Club Lotto
This weeks draw took place in Doyleʼs pub with the numbers drawn by 
John Doyle & Bernard Cosgrave. The numbers were: 1, 3, 16, 17. Donald 
& Susan Mc Cusker matched 3 numbers and won £10.00 and there was no 
jackpot winner and Sean Burns won the sellers draw. Saturday nights 
draw did not take place in The Anglers due to unforeseen 
circumstances so it will take place on Tuesday night, with the 
numbers drawn by Bernard Mc Cusker & Patsy Mc Givern. This weeks 
Jackpot is £3400.
This weeks draw will take place in the Gall Bog with the numbers 
being drawn by Tom Montgomery and Martin Mc Cann.
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.
U-12 Match reports
Ballela U-12 v Newry Shamrocks U-12
This was Ballelaʼs first game in the league at Pairc Na Naomh. This 
was a very competitive and low scoring game. The only score of the 
first half was a point for Ballela.
The second half was just as tight with both teams swapping scores. 
With a few minutes to go Ballela scored a goal to lead by 3 points. 
As the clock ticked down, Shamrocks poured forward and scored a last 
minute goal to share the spoils.
Final score - Ballela 2-01 Shamrocks 2-01
R. Cunningham, C. Branniff, C. Heaney, D. Mc Crory, C. Burns, R. Mc 
Cusker, S. Branniff, N. Mc Greevy, J. Mc Parland, C. Kelly, A. 
Harrison.
Ballela U-10ʼs v Shamrocks U-10ʼs
A second game was played between these 2 sides so the squads could 
all get a game. This was also a very competitive game with some 
excellent ground hurling from both teams. This game gave the younger 
members of the squads a full game.
BALLELA TEAM - M. Branniff, M. Cunningham, C. Mc Clure, M. Heaney, P. 
Mc Evoy, P. Mc Cusker, R. Harrison, N. Mc Crory.
BALLELA U-12ʼS V BALLYVARLEY U-12ʼS
Ballela travelled to Ballyvarley full of confidence after their draw 
against Newry Shamrocks. Ballela were missing seven players from the 
last match and young Lisa Burns came in for her Debut in the Green 
and Gold.
Ballela conceded 3 goals in the first period and failed to score 
despite some goalmouth scrambles.
During the first break of this Go-Games encounter, Ballela made a 
number of positional changes which saw Connor Branniff move to 
midfield and Ryan Mc Cusker and Sean Branniff moving into the back 
line.
Ballela fought for every ball and marked a lot tighter. The young 
sides hard work resulted in a goal for Connor Kelly. Ballyvarley 
replied with a point which left Ballela trailing 3.01 to 1.00.
In the final period Ballela pushed forward and their pressure paid 
off. Connor Kelly got his 2nd goal of the game which was quickly 
followed by an excellent point from Ryan Mc Cusker. With 5 minutes to 
go Ballela made a lot of changes to give the younger players a game. 
James Kelly, Cathal Mc Clure, Niamh Burns, Paul Mc Cusker, Sean Kelly 
and Ciaran Branniff all came on from the U-10 panel.
Ryan Mc Cusker scored a goal which made the scores level.
The game was heading for a draw until James Kelly pulled on the ball 
from midfield and it squeezed between the reds keeper and the post 
and nestled in the bottom corner.
This was the final passage of play in the game which left Ballela the 
winners by a goal.
This was an excellent game between two very young teams and the 
coaches from both sides deserve a lot of credit for the level of 
hurling being played.
FINAL SCORE: Ballyvarley 3.01 Ballela 4.01
Ballela Team: J. Rice, C. Branniff, R. Cunningham, N. Mc Greevy, L. 
Burns, R. Mc Cusker, J. Mc Parland, P. Mc Cusker, M. Branniff, C. Mc 
Clure, S. Branniff, C. Kelly, J. Kelly, S. Kelly, N. Burns, M. 
Cunningham.
Many thanks to the sponsors, Doral Construction.

Under 14 Hurling Championship Final: Clonduff Vs Ballyvarley/Ballela
St Patrickʼs under 14 hurlers came out on top in a very competitive 
Down Hurling Championship Final against Clonduff, with joint captains 
Tony Hegarty and Michael Downey lifting the first underage trophy of 
the season. The game played in Annsborough was played in the correct 
spirit with some excellent play and skills on display from both 
sides, with the game in the balance until late into the second half.
St Patrickʼs wearing the red jersies started nervously with Clonduff 
enjoying a lot of early possession and coming close to goaling after 
a few goalmouth scrambles in the St Pats goalmouth. Resiliently the 
Redsʼ rerarguard, aided by Conor Strain, Darragh Brady and Thomas 
McKernan kept the Hilltown lads scoreless, and then got the first 
score of the match with a great solo from Owen Magee around midfield 
ending with him flicking it over the bar from close in.This spurred 
the locals on with Patrick Mackin asserting his physical presence to 
break through the Clonduff defence and slot over from wide on the 
left and on the right before Tony Hegarty added a fourth.
Clonduff despite being four points down were well in the game and 
they quickly showed this with a well worked goal. Niall McPolin and 
Shay Murnin were getting the upper hand in midfield for the Hilltown 
boys with Rian Branagan showing well in their forward-line. A pointed 
free soon after saw the teams level and the impetus with the yellow 
shirted Clonduff side.
The next ten minutes were tight with players throwing their bodies 
into tackles with a tremendous amount of commitment from both sets of 
players doing their clubs proud. By this stage some of the St 
Patrickʼs boys stepped up with Christopher Martin having a tremendous 
game at half-back. The next score was going to be crucial and 
fortunately it came the way of the Reds. The St Patrickʼs forwards 
won a free 50 yards out and Christopher Martin was sent up to take 
it. Christopher sent a high lofting ball into the penalty area and it 
dipped suddenly to hit the net. This spurred on St Pats to grab two 
more points through Patrick Mackin, the second from an almost 
impossible angle wide on the right. With that the half-time whistle 
went with the Reds in the ascendancy and leading by five points.
HALF-TIME: Clonduff 1-1 Ballyvarley/Ballela 1-6
 From the throw in Clonduff were determined to get back in the game 
and did so getting the first score of the half with a quickly pointed 
free from 30 yards out. A point from play from Niall McPolin reduced 
the deficit to a single goal. For a five minute spell St Patrickʼs 
defence were under severe pressure. Thomas McKernan and Christopher 
Martin rose to the occasion with some excellent long range clearances 
to relieve the St Patʼs defence. Darragh Brady, Paul Colgan and 
Cathal McGrath aided the cause with their best displays of the season.
The St Patrickʼs defence needed some relieve and Tony Hegarty and 
Michael Downey provided it by winning some frees, allowing the 
back-line to reorganise and have a breather and the opportunity to 
attack. From 70 yards out and the wind at his back Christopher Martin 
gave the Reds some breathing space with an excellent pointed free and 
a carbon copy was added minutes later.
Then came the killer score that was to decide the contest. Patrick 
Mackin won the ball at half-forward and soloed through and despite 
being under tremendous pressure he somehow found space to shorten his 
grip and flick the sliothar to the net. Clonduff battled back with 
another spell of sustained pressure and moved Shay Murnin to 
full-forward in search of goals, but with Thomas McKernan on Murnin 
and Conor Strain sweeping up behind they frantically cleared the ball 
away from the danger area time after time.
Eventually the Reds reasserted themselves on the game and after good 
play from Owen Magee the sliothar found its way to Patrick Mackin to 
bat a lobbed ball to the net. The Hilltown boys replied with two 
pointed frees, but St Patrickʼs were well in control with Jonathan 
Lennon emphasising this with a well taken point out on the left. The 
final say in the game went to Patrick Mackin who capped a good 
display with another three pointer at the death.
FULL-TIME: Clonduff 1-5 Ballyvarley/Ballela 4-9
After the game the two teams shook hands after a good clean game of 
competitive hurling. All that was left was for Gerard McShane from 
the Down Hurling Board to present the Under 14 Hurling Championship 
Cup to St Patrickʼs Joint Captainʼs Tony Hegarty and Michael Downey 
to the applause of the sizeable crowd.
It was a brilliant display of hurling from Clonduff and St Patrickʼs. 
Best for Clonduff were Rian Brannigan, Shay Murnin and Niall McPolin; 
while for St Patrickʼs Thomas McKernan and Patrick Mackin were 
excellent, Michael Downey and Tony Hegarty were competitive and 
Christopher Martin was superb at the back.
The Reds now have a few weeks break from matches until 20th June when 
the next league starts. Training will continue with sessions on 
Saturday 9th June at 4pm and Monday 11th June at 6pm in Ballyvarley.
Ballyvarley/Ballela Team
Michael McAllister, Conor Strain, Thomas McKernan, Darragh Brady, 
Cathal McGrath, Christopher Martin (1-2), Paul Colgan, Michael 
Downey, Tony Hegarty (0-1), Michael McKay, Patrick Mackin (3-4), 
Jonathan Lennon (0-1), Ciaran Heaney, Peter Verhoven, Owen Magee 
(0-1). Subs: Aidan McKernan, Ciaron Davis, Ciaran Heaney, Peter 
Lavery, Rory McShane, James OʼMeara, Liam Stewart, Ryan McCusker, 
Jack Kearns, Stephen Caruthers, Cathal Bingham.