BALLELA CLUB NOTES –
MONDAY 28th APRIL
ACHL DIVISION 1 – BALLELA
V BREDAGH
*Ballela played their opening
match in Division One last
Tuesday night in Ballela at
Pairc Na Naomh against a much-fancied
Bredagh side that have a wealth
of experience in their squad
with players from all over
Ireland who have played at
various levels. This game
was seen as a learning curve
for a very young Ballela side
that have players who have
benefited from a season with
the Down Junior squad.
The match got underway with
a Johnny Mc Cusker goal that
got Ballela of to a flyer.
Bredagh showed their experience,
immediately hitting back with
2 points in quick succession.
This was going to set the
tone for the remainder of
the game with both teams matching
each other, almost score for
score. The game was frantic
but Dan Mc Cusker managed
to escape the clutches of
Danny Hughes and scored an
excellent goal to leave Ballela
2-0 to 0-3 in the lead.
Johnny Mc Cusker then pointed
a free but Bredagh responded
immediately with 2 quick fire
points. Johnny then maintained
Ballela’s 3-point advantage
with another pointed free.
Ballela produced a determined
and battling performance and
this was epitomised by Donal
Mc Cann who was outstanding
at centre half back along
with Stevie Mc Cusker and
Mal Magee (jun). Paddy Mc
Polin was making his comeback
from injury and played well
alongside Connor Rodgers and
Noel Burns (sen) in the full
back line.
Bredagh started to dominate
possession, which made Danny
Doran and Joe Cosgrave work
very hard in midfield to keep
the game in Ballela’s
advantage. Ballela only conceded
one more point in the remainder
of the first half, with ‘wire’
replying with his usual point
for Ballela. As halftime approached,
Ballela started to stroke
the sliotar around with a
bit of confidence, which enabled
the younger players to show
their pace. This resulted
in Bredagh conceding a few
frees with one of these getting
put over by the dangerous
Dan Mc Cusker who followed
up with an excellent 65’.
Ballela then picked up a few
injuries so Ryan Haughey replaced
Stevie Mc Cusker and Mick
Doyle came on for Ronan Mc
Conville. Johnny mc Cusker
rounded things off in the
first half with another excellent
point. Ballela knew it might
be a different story in the
2nd half with Bredagh playing
with the wind advantage.
HALF TIME SCORE - Ballela
2-6 Bredagh 1-7
Malachy Magee ensured Ballela
got off to a good start in
the 2nd half by scoring an
excellent point from half
back. But, once again and
to their credit Bredagh responded
with a point which cut the
deficit to 2 points again.
The teams continued to trade
points with Joe Cosgrave,
Dan Mc Cusker and Johnny Mc
Cusker scoring for Ballela.
Ballela held firm and coped
with the expected Bredagh
onslaught until they conceded
a goal that put Bredagh in
front for the first time.
They followed this up with
a point and the Bredagh players
were sensing victory as this
had knocked Ballela back on
their heels. Noel Burns (jun)
was creating havoc in the
forward line, which was making
space for the others.
To this young sides credit
they never gave up. They got
stuck in and didn’t
give their opponents a second
on the ball. Niall Burns then
scored a goal, which put Ballela
in the lead by a solitary
point with the score now –
3-10 to 2-12 in Ballela’s
favour. Johnny Mc Cusker then
netted another goal, which
was quickly followed by a
point. Mal Magee then sealed
the win with a further point
just before the final whistle
blew, much to the delight
of the Ballela support and
bench at Pairc Na Naomh.
FULL TIME SCORE – BALLELA
4-12 BREDAGH 2-12
This was as tough a game
as Ballela expected and much
credit must go to both teams
who turned in a fine display
of hard but fair Hurley. This
was an excellent win for a
young Ballela side against
one of the stronger teams
in Division One and shows
what can be achieved with
training and teamwork.
The management team expects
a full show out at training
on Thursday nights.
UNDERAGE FRIENDLY REPORTS
Ballela Under 8 and 12 teams
travelled to Clonduff for
two friendly games on Saturday.
The Under 12 game was a very
competitive with only two
points separating the teams
at the finish. Ballela had
the better of the first half
with Conor Branniff scoring
all three of Ballela's points
in reply to the home team's
one.
The second was closer with
both teams scoring two points
apiece, Ryan McCusker the
Ballela scorer. This was a
good team performance with
Jack Rice in goals (second
Half) Conor Burns in defence,
Sean Branniff and Ryan Cunningham
in midfield and both scorers.
Final Score Clonduff 0.03
Ballela 0.05
Team R McCusker, C Branniff,
D McCrory, C Burns, N McGreevy,
S Branniff, R Cunningham,
J Rice, M Cunningham, A Harrison,
M Branniff, C Hughes, N Burns,
T Morgan and W Murphy.
The under 8's played travelled
with fourteen players and
so as very one got a game
three played for Clonduff.
This was an enjoyable game,
which finished a draw with
all the scores being goals.
The goal scorers for Ballela
were Niamh McCrory, Cathal
McClure and Aidan Mulgrew.
The game was played over four
quarters so all players played
in different positions. This
was a big improvement after
the Newry game.
Team M McGrath, J McGrath,
D McGrath, C Mulgrew, A Mulgrew,
C Branniff, P McCusker, N
McCrory, R McCrory, J O'Rourke,
E O'Rourke, K Cosgrave, C
McClure and R Harrison.
Thanks to our sponsors U12
Doral Construction and U8
O'Rourke Motors and parents
for their continued support.
Training continues on Friday
nights from 7pm for under
8, 10 and 12s
Match for next Saturday to
be confirmed.
Next league game away to
Ballyvarley 10 th May.
* Ballela Hurling and Camogie
coaching academy will continue
on Friday nights at Ballela
GAC grounds at 7pm. This is
for all under 8’s, 10’s,
12’s and 14’s.
All the coaches have child
protection certificates, which
are essential for coaching
children. The coaches have
also the foundation and Level
one coaching badges. Whether
or not your child has played
hurling or Camogie before
or is already playing for
one of the teams, all children
are welcome to come to the
academy. This is a good chance
to develop their playing skills
with qualified coaches in
attendance. For further information
please contact Marty Mc Cusker.
*The Schedule has been set
out for the forthcoming season.
· Monday Night –
Senior Camogie.
· Tuesday Night –
Senior Hurling.
· Wednesday Night
– Camogie training.
· Thursday Night –
Hurling training.
· Friday Night –
Juvenile hurling and Camogie
training academy.
· Saturday –
Juvenile matches.
The club would like to ask
everyone to come and support
the club at matches, as its
important to show your support
especially at the home matches
at Pairc Na Naomh.
* Ballela played their opening
match in Division One last
Tuesday night in Ballela at
Pairc Na Naomh against the
much-fancied Bredagh. The
match started evenly enough
with hard but fair hitting
with both teams giving all
that was expected in this
game.
*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.
*Ballela are running a Night
to Dundalk Racing stadium
on Saturday 14th 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. 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 lotto news was not
received in time for going
to press. Two weeks news in
next weeks notes.
* The club would like to
take this opportunity to thank
everyone who nominated the
club via their Phone provider
– Gaelic Telecom.
* 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
.
