Ballybay Notes

There was no winner of last weeks Ballybay Pearse Brothers Blotto. Number drawn were as follows: 1, 2, 7 & 14. The following people won €20:

Teresa Connolly, Ballybay

Paul Finlay, Ballybay

Mary McElvaney, Threemilehouse

Sean Ward, Ballybay

Kathleen Farrelly, Balladian

Next weeks jackpot is €1,200

Bingo: Just a quick note to remind everyone that the club’s weekly Bingo takes place every Tuesday night at 9pm in the clubhouse. The bingo is a great opportunity for the community to come together midweek and have a good night while maybe even winning a few bob. This is a fundamental part of the club’s fund raising for day-to-day costs and we would all really appreciate if you, your friends or your family could support this if you can at all. And, don’t forget, there is transport available to the centre. Every week, our volunteers go to great efforts to keep this going so that all of the other voluntary members of the club have a good starting platform. Hope to see some new faces tomorrow night and over the coming weeks!

Results: On Saturday evening last the reserves showed great spirit and determination to come from behind to secure a two points victory in the Platinum Tanks sponsored Reserve League against a tough Donaghmoyne side in winterly conditions at Pearse Park Ballybay. Donaghmoyne started with the strong wind at their back in the opening half. The visitors opened the scoring and would generate a couple of point margin before Ballybay opened their account with a Hugh Malone point. Hugh also struck for goal in the opening quarter with a belter of an effort that struck the crossbar rebounding back out to the 20-meter line, how the crossbar remained in place is still a mystery. Ballybay defended well throughout the first half with James Garraghan, Evan Rutledge & Mark McArdle all winning their personal battles in the full back line. The half back line of Fergal McArdle, debutant Michael Hannon & Cathal Mooney working hard supporting the attack but more importantly putting the Donaghmoyne attack under pressure throughout. James Kerr was a constant outlet for the defenders and his ability to pick out a pass meant that Ballybay kept possession for the large periods of the half. The break Ballybay deserved for all their hard work came half way through the half when Patrick O’Neil run onto a loose ball at pace showing off his full range of skills with an expert chip lift before finishing to the net. This left the sides level at 1-2 to 0-5. Donaghmoyne would go on to open a four-point lead by the end of the half but the Ballybay management where in high spirits at the break given the level of the performance. Donaghmoyne opened the scoring in the second half and indeed went six points clear at one stage. Ballybay to their credit rolled up their sleeves and battled hard to secure ball in the middle third. Cormac Duffy, who looked lively throughout, was causing all sorts of trouble to the Donaghmoyne full back line with his lateral runs and ability to get out in front. Paddy again fired to the back of the net this time using his soccer skills to beat the keeper for a second time. Soon after Danny Gorman slotted a superb effort between the posts and Hugh found the net with a powerful effort that set Ballybay on their way. While the forward where doing it at one end, the defence was constantly shutting the door at the other end of the field through pure pressure and hard work, restricting Donaghmoyne to long high balls into the box that the full back line where able to

deal with. A late Hugh point from a free would put Ballybay in the lead resulting in the first victory of the season for the club. Ballybay team: Niall Duffy, James Garraghan, Evan Rutledge, Mark McArdle, Fergal McArdle, Michal Hannon, Cathal Mooney, Cillian McAviney, Conor Hand, Patrick O’Neil, Hugh Malone, James Kerr, Barry Macklin, Cormac Duffy, Danny Gorman, Barry Lennon, Conor Sherry & Daniel McGregor.

A special mention to both Michael Hannon & Conor Sherry who made their senior Ballybay Pearse Brother debuts against Donaghmoyne on Saturday last. We wish both men a long and distinguished career, full of silverware, with the club.

Fixtures: This evening, Thursday the 31st of March the St Patrick’s U16 team travel to Monaghan Harps to open their campaign, throw in time is 6.30pm. On Saturday the 2nd of April the U12 team travels to near neighbours Doohamlet for football spring league, throw in at 2pm. That evening the reserves host neighbours Aughnamullan in Pearse Park with a throw in time of 6.30pm. On Tuesday the 5th of April the St Patrick minor team travel to Aughanmullan for the second round of the minor league. Throw in at 6.30pm.

Best of luck & well wishes to Dessie Ward to represented the county U21’s last night when they took on Armagh. We hope the result went to in the way Monaghan men.

Congratulations to club member Conor Duffy who completed the world half marathon in Cardiff on Saturday afternoon. This is the first time that Conor competed at this level and finished the course in just over an hour and nine minutes. This is a remarkable achievement given the personal in the race and the times they completed the course in, Conor should be thrilled with his performance. He a credit to the club & community. We wish him and his coaches all the best in the future. Keep up the good work.

Well done to senior team player Ryan Wylie on been selected at corner back on this years Sigerson Cup team of the year. He was selected on his wonderful performances throughout the competition as he helped UCD win the competition for the first time in 20 years. Well done Ryan.

Ballybay Pearse Brothers Club membership for the 2016 season is now available. There are three options available this year.

Gold Membership – which consists of free entry into all senior & reserve home league fixtures, entry into the clubs Blotto each week, entry into the draw for tickets to this years All Ireland Final & general club membership for a fee of €240. (Payment via direct debit is available over a 12 month period)

Silver Membership – which consists of free entry into all senior & reserve home league fixtures, entry into the draw for tickets to this years All Ireland Final & general club membership for a fee of €100.

Bronze membership – which consists of free entry into the draw for tickets to this years All Ireland Final & general club membership for a fee of €30.

Current members will be approached in the hope of resigning as many as possible while continuing to build on previous numbers. So anyone who would like to become a club member please contact any committee member for additional information.

On-Line Blotto: The club’s blotto can now be purchased on-line. Please see the Ballybay Pearse Brothers facebook page for the link that’ll allow you to access the website for more details. Play now so that you don’t miss out on the chance to win the weekly jackpot.

Thank you: The Field Committee would like to thank the additional helpers who were there last weekend to paint the goalposts and repair the ball stoppers, Shane O Neill and Brendan Walshe who did the painting, Evan Rutledge on the high up preparation, and also the Wylie brothers for their input. Special thanks to Gene Duffy and Damien Carragher for the use of their equipment