Ballybay Notes

There was no winner of last weeks Ballybay Pearse Brothers Blotto.
Number drawn were as follows: 5, 19, 26 & 27.
The following people won €20:

Rosemary Carraghar, Annyalla

Cathy McCabe, Ballybay

Teresa McCormill, Ballybay

Jane Hane, Corfad

John Quinn, Ballybay

Colin Malone, Ballybay

Pearse McKeown, Foof-Fare

Sarah Smyth, Carrickmacross,

Felix Granaghan, Rockcorry,

Talbot & Breda Duffy, Ballybay

Next weeks jackpot is €7,300

Lotto Results: For all future Blotto draw there will only be five €20 winners drawn each week. Unfortunately this is a necessary by the club as ticket sales continue to fall and it will bring the results in line with a majority of other club draws within the county, as Ballybay where one of the few offering ten secondary prizes to the jackpot.

Results: On Wednesday night the senior took on Donaghmoyne at Pearse Park Ballybay as the team welcomed back the county contingent for the final preparations for the championship. Ballybay started the brighter and opened the scoring at an early stage to settle the game. Thomas O’Neil and Cillian McAviney took control around the middle of middle of the field by either claiming clean primary possession or by breaking the ball to team mate’s advantage. The long ball to the edge of the square was working for Ballybay and the forwards got the major breakthrough when Colin Malone broke down Thomas O’Neil long diagonal ball to the on rushing Paul Finlay who drew on the  ground to pass the ball past the on the rushing keeper. Ballybay having secured the buffer of scores should have pushed on but in fact it was Donaghmoyne who finished the  half stronger and created a number of goal scoring opportunities but thankfully where unable to convert through a mixture of poor finishing and some great goal keeping from Sean Gorman Ballybay held out. After a number of positional chances at half time, Ballybay regained a foot hold in the game and continued to win the majority of the ball around the middle and the busy Aaron Toner and Pauric Kerr, the latter popping up all over the place, possession wasn’t an issue but the inside forwards struggled to find the space they required and runs where nullified as the ball was slow in coming in. In fact it was Donaghmoyne who carved out the greater opportunities and only for Sean between the sticks who pulled off two top class saves in the second period the result may have been a lot different. In the end Ballybay done enough to secure the victory but the performance left a lot to be desired. Full time score Ballybay 1-9 Donaghmoyne 0-6. Ballybay team: Sean Gorman, Evan Rutledge, Brent Wylie, James Kerr, Ciaran Gallighan, Drew Wylie, Shane McQuillan, Thomas O’Neil, Cillian McAviney, Mark McArdle, Paul Finlay, Aaron Toner, Pauric Kerr, Christopher McGuiness, Colin Malone, Paul Stuart, Ryan Wylie, Fergal McArdle, Patrick O’Neil and Eoin McKearney.

At a sun drenched Pearse Park on Sunday morning Ballybay took on Castleblayney and fielded possibly the strongest team to date in the lad’s last opportunity to claim a starting spot before the championship outing against Latton. Blayney opened the scoring on the day but Ballybay soon settled into the task and took control around the middle of the field and with the accuracy of Paul’s left boot soon opened a few point margin and it was Paul who got Ballybay’s goal after some great work at the back and a strong run out from Ryan. Christopher went close with a 30 yard effort that went marginally wide after his great dispossession. The two Thomas’s continued to dominate the middle sector with Thomas Kerr is particular showing his ability to field the high ball and his strong running throughout was causing problems for the visitors. Paul’s accuracy from the dead ball and one in particular from the side line 13 yards out kept the score board ticking over. Much to the management’s delight Ballybay continued to push on despite the game more or less over as a contest. There was a number of dispossessions throughout the second half as men showed the passion and hunger to claim a starting jersey for next weekend, but had the luxuary to rest a few kep personal and the changes in personal and unsettling of the system allowed the Blayney lads get in for two late goals. But Ballybay finished strongly with Shane McGuiness carving out a few goal chances but ensured that he at least raised the white flag, as did Ryan, Aaron and Danny in the closing stages. Management can be happy with the performance in preparation for the championship in a fine team display. Full time score Ballybay 1-23 Castleblayney 2-9. Ballybay Team: Sean Gorman, James Kerr, Brent Wylie, Drew Wylie, Fergal Smyth, Ryan Wylie, Ciaran Gallighan, Thomas O’Neil, Thomas Kerr, Aaron Toner, Pauric Kerr, Shane McQuillan, Colin Malone, Paul Finaly, Christopher McGuiness, Cillian McAviney, Mark McArdle, Paul Stuart, Fergal McArdle and Danny Gorman.

Disappointingly the St Pats Minor team suffered a defeat in the semi-final of the championship to the hands of Donaghmoyne on Tuesday evening last. The boys put in a massive effort on the night but just struggled in front of goal with the Donaghmoyne getting their scores a little more easily on the night. The team is still in contention in the league and took on Magheracloone on Tuesday evening.

Fixtures: The seniors will take on near neighbours Latton in the first round of the senior championship in Inniskeen at 5.30pm as part of a double header. The St Patricks U16 team take on Inniskeen in the Division 1 Shield Final on Saturday the 29^th of August. Time and venue to be confirmed. The U12 team take on Rockcorry in the League Shield Semi Final at 7pm in Ballybay on Thursday the 20th of August. Please come along and support the boys as it will be greatly welcomed.

Thank you: A special mention to the clubs players and committee members who kindly volunteered their time and efforts on Saturday morning as part of the clubs summer clean up. There was world of work carried out on the day showing what can be done with a bucket of paint, willingness to help out and a squad of people. The day provided a great team bonding day for young and old alike and proves that the community spirt within the club is very much alive and kicking. The morning wouldn’t have been the success it was without the foreman skills of Andy Wylie, all be it aided magnificently by Paul “Babeo” McCabe, who over seen all the efforts of the lads, to John Rutledge who provided the equipment and expertise to ensure all the painting was of the highest standards and to Sean McGuiness who is as green fingered as ever. The club will hope to organise another of these in the coming months to look the internal of the club house. Please keep an eye out for additional info in the club notes and facebook page.

Website: The club are currently working on developing a website to celebrate its colourful past & bright future while using it as an additional means of communication for Pearse Brothers both living in the area and those spread out over all corners of the world. If any club members of indeed members of the public have any info on the history of the club and would like to share it could they please contact Niall on pro.ballybaypearsebrothers.monaghan@gaa.ie or call him on 0871131268.

Bingo: Bingo will continue every Tuesday night at the later time of 9pm for the summer months in the club rooms. If there’s any member of the public, particularly elderly ladies & gentlemen, who would like to attend the night but struggle for transportation there is a free bus run within the local area to bring people to & from the club rooms. If you like to avail of this service please contact any committee member.