SENIOR MATCH REPORT- BALLELA
V PORTAFERRY
*Ballela Hosted Portaferry
at a sunshine blessed Pairc
Na Naomh on Tuesday night
on a pitch that was perfect
for ground hurling.
Despite having a few players
injured and at University,
Ballela still felt they could
match Portaferry who are considered
among the favourites for division
one this year.
The match started with a
lot of ground hurling and
mixed possession and was scoreless
for the first few minutes
until a foul by the Ballela
back line, which led to an
easy point for Portaferry.
Paddy Mc Polin held the full
back line together as Ballela
had to weather an early storm
as they raced into a 4-point
lead. Gary Mc Mullan also
thwarted several attempts
on the home goal as it led
a charmed life. The match
continued to be scrappy as
it was interrupted with free
after free and the two teams
could not get a rhythm together.
Johnny Mc Cusker then knocked
a free over as he started
a personal run of 8 consecutive
scores, which included 4 frees.
Just leading up to half time
Portaferry scored a lucky
kicked goal from just outside
the square and this seemed
to knock Ballela out of their
stride. Ballela were struggling
to contain the Portaferry
forwards as the half continued
but were still creating chances
and missed a few frees from
score able positions. Ronan
Mc Conville was moved into
half forward as Niall Burns
dropped back and Andy Mc Givern
approaching half time replaced
Shane Burns in the full back
line. Portaferry knocked over
two more points and ended
the half leading 1-08 to 0-06.
As the second half began
Marty made a few positional
changes as he moved the excellent
Donal Mc Cann into halfback,
Joe Cosgrave into midfield
and Daniel Mc Cusker into
half forward.
The changes seem to work
as Ballela started to make
Portaferry chase and work
for the first time in the
match, Johnny knocked over
two excellent points and was
closely followed by Dan Mc
Cusker getting his first score
of the match.
This seemed to kick Portaferry
into action as they hit back
straight away with two points
of their own. Connor Rodgers,
Noel Burns, and Niall Burns
fought hard in the backs and
this was echoed the whole
way throughout the team. Danny
Doran was full of running
from midfield to help the
forwards out which left Joe
with a lot of defensive work
to do, which he coped with
admirably.
Mick Doyle caused a lot of
problems with his constant
movement along with Niall
Mc Aleenan and Mark Cosgrave,
with ‘wire’ adding
his usual point to the score.
The game was getting tight
with ten minutes to go as
Ballela were only two points
behind.
With the home support roaring
them on, Ballela attacked
but were repelled time after
time. Portaferry made a quick
break and punished Ballela
with a 2nd goal, which won
the match for them. Johnny
then knocked over a few more
points with Portaferry replying
each time.
Gary Mc Mullan made some
crucial interventions when
called upon and the defence
was excellent in the second
half. The last ten minutes
told a tale of fitness as
the visitors stretched a tired
Ballela team and despite the
valiant effort of the whole
team they could not find the
crucial goal, which would
of, made it an exciting ending.
The match ended with Portaferry
as victors with a score line
of
Ballela 0-15 Portaferry 2-16.
Ballela matched their opponents
for most of the second half
and showed what they can do
against very strong opponents.
Ballela will take heart from
this and when the walking
wounded get back to fitness
and players return to the
squad, Ballela may surprise
some teams in this division.
UNDERAGE MATCH REPORTS
Ballela under 8's travelled
to Ballyvarley on Friday night
for a friendly game.
Ballyvarley started the stronger
and were camped in the Ballela
half but the visitor’s
defence off Conor Mulgrew,
James McGrath and Oran Hughes
held strong and didn't allow
the home to score. Ballela
midfield pair of Owen McGreevy
and Cathal McClure started
to win more procession and
moved the ball into the forwards.
This led to the only score
of the first half a goal by
Ciaran Branniff.
Half Time Ballyvarley 0.00
Ballela 1.00
The second half saw a change
in the Ballela team with Ronan
McCrory replacing Aiden Mulgrew.
Ballela started the stronger
and the opening score of the
second half was a goal from
Cathal McClure with a strike
from about 15 metres out.
This was quickly followed
by two goals from Owen McGreevy.
Ballela were now in total
control and not allowing Ballyvarley
out of their half. This lead
to another goal from Ciaran
Branniff and two goals from
Ronan Mc Crory which were
set up by Michael McGrath.
Paul McCusker had a quite
game in goals for Ballela
in the second half.
Full Time Ballyvarley 0.00
Ballela 7.00
This was the best team performance
this year and hopeful it will
continue when this team go
to Portaferry on the 24 May
for a blitz tournament.
Thanks to our sponsor O'Rourke
Motors and parents for their
continued support.
Ballela Team: P McCusker,
O Hughes, C Mulgrew, J McGrath,
O McGreevy (2.00), C McClure
(1.00), A Mulgrew, M McGrath,
C Branniff (2.00) and R McCrory
(2.00).
Ballela under 12's travelled
to Ballyvarley on Friday night
for a league game. Ballela
started the strongest with
Conor Kelly, playing his first
game of the year, scoring
two goals and a point and
Ryan McCusker scoring a point
before Ballyvarley scored
two goals. Ballela's reply
was a goal scored by Ryan
McCusker from a side line
cut.
Half Time - Ballyvarley 2.00
Ballela 3.02.
As the first half Ballela
started the strongest and
put the Ballyvarley defence
under pressure. Ballela missed
five scoring chances early
on but then started to find
scores. Two points each from
Ryan McCusker and Conor Branniff
and a goal from James McParland
put Ballela in total control.
A free given away lead to
a Ballyvarley a goal. Ballela's
reply was quick with Sean
Branniff scoring a great point
from midfield. A point followed
this from a free by Ryan McCusker
and the final score of the
game was a point from Conor
Branniff.
Final Score Ballyvarley 3.00
Ballela 5.09
The benefit of the two friendly
games against Clonduff during
the league break was visible
during the game. This was
a great team performance with
some good ground stroking
moving the ball out of defence
and leading to scoring chances.
Thanks to our sponsor Doral
Construction and parents for
their continued support.
Ballela Team: J Rice, D McCrory,
C Burns, R Harrison, R McCusker,(2.04)
N McGreevy, S Branniff(0.01),
R Cunningham, M Branniff,
C Branniff(0.03), M Cunningham,
J McParland(1.00), C Kelly(2.01),
W Murphy, N McCrory, N Burns
and C Hughes.
Training continues next Friday
night at 7pm. Next match at
home to Ballygalget on Saturday
17th May at 2pm.
*Ballela will be running
the Cul Camp from 18th August
to 22nd August, please contact
any committee member for further
information or ask any of
the coaches at the Coaching
academy on Friday nights.
Application packs will be
available shortly for the
Cul Camp.
*Ballela are running a Night
to Dundalk Racing stadium
on Saturday 14 th June. Places
are limited and we need to
have firm numbers and deposits
paid to make this a viable
evening. Sponsorship is available
for the evening and anyone
wishing to sponsor a race
at the fundraising night can
contact Tom Montgomery –07834345114
or a committee member for
further information.
Sponsorship options
¤1000
This will entitle the sponsor
to have advertising on track,
stadium announcement, advertising
in the programme and also
to present the trophy on track.
¤500
This will entitle the sponsor
to have advertising in the
programme and have a stadium
announcement also made.
For anyone wishing to attend
the event the costing has
been set as follows.
¤60 – This includes:
Return travel, 4-course meal,
race entrance and evening
entertainment.
¤20 – This includes:
Return travel and race entrance.
If anyone wishes to put his
or her name down please contact
any committee member.
*Senior Hurling Training
continues at Pairc Na Naomh
every Thursday night at 7pm,
would all players please attend
including minor and under
16’s.
* Ballela GAC Golf day has
been organised for Friday
5th September at Banbridge
Golf Club. Please contact
any committee member for further
information.
*If anyone wishes to avail
of Pitch side advertising
at Pairc Na Naomh, please
contact a committee member
for further information. With
a lot of matches being played
at Pairc Na Naomh this season,
this is an ideal opportunity
to get your advertising across
to a wide range of people
from all over the country.
Please contact any committee
member for details.
* The club would like to
invite sponsors for a new
scoreboard. Ballela will be
hosting various inter county
matches this year at Pairc
Na Naomh. This is an ideal
opportunity for various sponsors
to get their advertising across
and reach a broad range of
people from all over Ireland.
*The lotto draw was made
in Doyle’s on Saturday
4 th May with John Doyle and
Barney Cosgrave drawing the
numbers. The winning numbers
were: 7, 13, 15 and 21. Maggie
Mc Polin, Karen Clegg, Mary
Hanratty and Liam Mc Corry
all matched 3 numbers and
won £10 each. Sean Burns
won the sellers draw. The
massive jackpot is now £5000.
Please contact a committee
member to buy a ticket or
to set up your yearly subscription
so you never miss a weekly
draw.
