Ballela GAC Notes –
Monday 25th February
*Betsey Gray Cup. Ballela
played Castlewellan on Sunday
at Pairc Na Naomh in the first
match of the season. Ballela
fielded a young and inexperienced
team with a few making their
debuts for the Senior Team,
as there are a number of players
ineligible for the Betsey
Gray due to County Commitments.
The match started slowly as
it took the lads a while to
get used to match pace. Niall
Burns had a solid first game
in Goals and made some vital
saves at vital times. The
long pucking out was of a
high standard and was a good
get out for Ballela. The experienced
Noel Burns (sen) at Full back
kept the forwards away from
the goal as Noel had his usual
consistent game. Connor Rodgers
made his comeback alongside
Noel and played like he had
never been away with tireless
running and committed tackles.
Donal Mc Cann, Malachy Magee
and Steven Mc Cusker were
full of running and provided
the forward line with plenty
of scoring chances. Donal
went close on a few occasions
and was unlucky to finish
the game without a score to
his name. Malachy scored 4
points with 2 coming from
frees and once again Malachy
could have had a few more
with a bit of luck. Stevie
played his usual game and
was involved in everything.
Joe Cosgrave and Noel Burns
(jun) made their comebacks
in midfield after a few years
out for different reasons.
Joe scored an excellent point
before being sent off along
with a Castlewellan player
for confronting each other.
Both sending offs were harsh
but it is something that both
clubs will learn in the future.
Noel scored 3 points with
2 from frees and could of
reached double figures with
a bit more accuracy. Niall
Mc Aleenan, Ryan Haughey and
Mick Doyle had a hard game
against a fair but uncompromising
half back line. Niall was
also making his senior debut
for Ballela. Mick finished
the game with 1 goal and 1
point. Ryan done a lot of
running and played well against
a very experienced marker.
Mark Cosgrave and Dan Downey
were in full forward and ‘wire’
grabbed himself a point. Dan
made a lot of runs, which
created space for the forwards
to get into. Andy Mc Givern
came on in the 2nd half in
place of Niall Mc Aleenan
who done well on his senior
debut. Andy once again displayed
his passion with tireless
running in the last 20 minutes.
Castlewellan played very well
and were rusty like Ballela,
but this will make way in
the coming weeks as training
intensifies. The players were
committed and gave 120% and
we will hopefully see everyone
at training on Wednesday night.
The players can be very proud
of themselves as there were
a few who had never played
senior hurling before and
a few also making their comeback
after several years out. It
is also great to see Joe Cosgrave
back in a Ballela shirt after
a serious operation last year
and the club is also delighted
that there are players coming
back to play for the club.
Final Score: Ballela 1-10
Castlewellan 1-05
*Senior Hurling Training continues
on Wednesdays (7pm) at Pairc
Na Naomh. Please contact Marty
Mc Cusker for further information.
Any new players are welcome.
It is important that all players
attend these training sessions.
Would all under 16 and minor
players please attend the
senior training sessions as
the leagues are all due to
start soon.
*Camogie Training. Camogie
training continues every Sunday
morning at Pairc Na Naomh
at 9 am. New players are welcome;
please contact Bernard Mc
Cusker for more information.
*Club Committee. Meetings
continue on a weekly basis
and the club would like to
emphasise that we are still
3-4 people short on the committee
and any help would be greatly
appreciated.
*Forthcoming Events. The club
committee is currently planning
events for the year ahead.
If anyone would like to help
or any suggestions for events
please do not hesitate to
come along to the meetings
or contact any committee member.
* Club membership is now due.
All membership must be paid
to club registrar Noel Burns
ASAP. The prices for membership
are the same as last season
so there has been no increase
again.
*Club Lotto. The jackpot is
now £5000. If you wish
to contribute toward the club
lotto please contact any committee
member. A yearly subscription
can be arranged so you never
miss out on a week!
Saturday night’s jackpot
remained at £5000 and
the draw was in Mc Cuskers.
The winning numbers for Saturday
16th February were 6, 17 and
21. Kathleen Doyle and Karen
Makin won £10 by matching
3 numbers. Gary Mc Mullan
won the sellers draw.
Saturday nights draw will
be in Doyle’s.
