SENIOR MATCH REPORT- KILCEIF
V BALLELA
*Ballela made the long trip
to Kilceif on Tuesday night
with a squad of 17 due to
players injured and players
missing due to exams.
Ballela were hoping to carry
on with the second half performance
against Portaferry last week
at Pairc Na Naomh.
The match started with a
lot of possession for Ballela
as they tried to catch Kilceif
cold. This approach worked
as Ballela strolled into a
6-point lead without reply
as the defence held firm and
the forwards made the most
of any chances that came their
way. Despite many decisions
going their way, the home
team were unable to get a
foothold in the game due to
some outstanding defending
from Paddy Mc Polin amongst
others in the back-line.
Daniel Mc Cuskers range of
passing was brilliant as he
found Johnny Mc Cusker time
and time again. Donal Mc Cann
had his usual steady game
and even managed to find himself
in scoring positions as he
stroked two points over in
quick succession to the surprise
of everyone in a Ballela shirt.
Andy Mc Givern who was starting
his first game in the league
had a solid game at half back
as his man struggled to get
into the game. Johnny Mc Cusker
was finding his range from
frees as the half went on.
Just as Ballela were extending
their lead, Kilceif were reduced
to 14 as a player had been
dismissed for two dangerous
and wild challenges on Paddy
Mc Polin. This seemed to spur
Kilceif on as they went to
3 in midfield and 2 half forwards
and 2 full forwards. They
responded well to this as
they knocked over 3 unanswered
points. Just as the half was
drawing to an end, Ballela
won a free just outside the
21 and the referee controversially
blew for half time as Ballela
set the free up
HALF TIME –
KILCEIF 0-06 BALLEA 0-11
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.
At half time, Shane Burns
was taken off and Noel Burns
(jun) was brought on to freshen
up the team. As the second
half began, Kilceif seemed
to have the extra man as they
gained a lot of possession
and scored a succession of
points without reply from
Ballela.
The spare man was doing Ballela
more harm than good as Kilceif
peppered the Ballela goal
with Gary Mc Mullan making
some crucial interventions
again. Malachy Magee, Johnny
Mc Cusker and Mark Cosgrave
added points to Ballela’s
score but Kilceif replied
by netting a goal, which gave
them a two-point lead.
This lead could have been
extended but for some resolute
defending from Noel Burns
(senior and Junior), Donal
Mc Cann, Paddy Mc Polin and
Ronan Mc Conville.
The Kilceif back lines were
marshalling Johnny Mc Cusker
well so the Ballela management
decided to pull him out into
midfield. This worked to immediate
effect as Johnny netted a
superb individual goal and
knocked over a point, which
pushed Ballela into the lead.
Malachy Magee and Dan Mc Cusker
then slotted over scores with
Kilceif replying each time.
The match was evenly poised
as the match entered its closing
stages and Kilceif could sense
victory as they had the home
support and the luck of the
sliotar.
Then, out of nothing, Mark
Cosgrave then scored a superb
solo goal, despite being clearly
fouled twice and this sealed
the win for a jubilant Ballela
team.
This was an excellent team
performance, led by the resilient
Paddy Mc Polin. But it would
be unfair to single out one
player with all players giving
110 % as the youngsters of
the senior team - Niall Mc
Aleenan and Ronan Mc Conville
played with maturity beyond
their years, Danny Doran and
Joe Cosgrave covered a lot
of ground in midfield. This
was an excellent result for
Ballela and the win was justified
for a hard performance put
in by the whole team.
(Apologies to anyone I have
missed, as the match sheet
was lost.)
UNDERAGE MATCH REPORTS
Ballela Under 12's hosted
Ballygalget on Saturday in
the latest round of the league.
The home team were missing
three regulars but still put
up a good performance against
the strongest team in the
section.
The visitors got of to the
best start and a goal and
two points up before Ballela
got on the scoreboard with
a well-taken goal by James
McParland. The Ballygalget
reply was a goal and point
and but for a couple of good
saves by Jack Rice in goals
they could have scored more.
Conor Kelly then got a point
and the final score of the
half was a goal for Ballygalget.
Half Time Ballela 1.01 Ballygalget
3.03
The second half saw the home
team up their performance
with Ryan Cunningham having
a good game in midfield. Ballela
matched the visitors score
for in the second half with
Conor Kelly scoring a goal,
Conor Branniff got a point
from a free and Ryan McCusker
with two points from frees.
This game will help this
young team and if they perform
in the first half this game
could have been closer.
Full Time Ballela 2.04 Ballygalget
4.06
Ballela Team: J Rice, D McCrory,
C Burns, M Cunningham, R McCusker,
C Heaney, S Branniff, R Cunningham,
W Murphy, J McParland, C Branniff,
C Kelly and T Morgan .
Thanks to our sponsor Doral
Construction.
Training continues next Friday
at 7pm in Ballela.
Ballela under 8's played
Ballygalget in a friendly
on Saturday. The visitors
got of to a great start and
scored three goals in the
first ten minutes. Then with
a few positional changes Ballela
started to get into the game.
Cathal McClure's puck outs
were relieving pressure on
the home defence and with
Owen McGreevy winning more
possession in midfield the
home team pushed forward.
This lead to some good scoring
for Niamh Burns, Niamh McCrory
and Aiden Mulgrew but unfortunately
they went wide.
Half Time Ballela 0.00 Ballygalget
3.00.
This young team tried hard
in the second half and put
in a battling performance.
Ballygalget scored another
three goals in the second
half and for some great saves
by Ronan McCrory in goals
there could have been more
conceded. As the game went
into the last minute Ballela
pushed forward and Aiden Mulgrew
pulled on the ball and scored
a goal. This was just reward
for not giving up and playing
to the final whistle.
There were good performances
from Conor Mulgrew and Cathal
McClure in defence, Owen McGreevy
and Niamh McCrory in midfield
and the goal scorer Aiden
Mulgrew.
Full Time Ballela 1.00 Ballygalget
6.00.
Ballela Team: P McCusker,
C Mulgrew, J McGrath, E O'Rourke,
C Branniff, M McGrath, O McGreevy,
N McCrory, S Kelly, C McClure,
N Burns, J McKay, A Mulgrew
and R McCrory.
Thanks to our sponsor O'Rourke
Motors.
The Under 8's are in Portaferry
next Saturday 24 th for a
blitz times to be confirmed.
Training continues next Friday
at 7pm in Ballela.
*Ballela will be running
the Cul Camp from 18 th August
to 22 nd 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.
*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
5 th 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 Mc Cuskers pub on Saturday
night with Noel Burns and
Dermy Mc Cusker drawing the
numbers. The numbers were:
2, 3, 7 and 18. Nan Mc Clure,
Trevor Whitten, Arthur Burns
and Shauna Burns matched 3
numbers and won £10.
Sean Burns won the sellers
draw.
