Ballybay Notes

There was no winner of last weeks Ballybay Pearse Brothers Blotto. Number drawn were as follows: 3, 14 20 & 28. The following people won €20:

Hugh & Andrea Malone, 47 Main St Ballybay

Danica & David Boylan, Wylies Hill Ballybay

Geraldine Sweeney, Connolly Pk, Monaghan

Niave Connolly, c/o Liam Smyths

Tony Byrne, Lakeview Castleblayney

Next weeks jackpot is €2,200

Results: On Saturday evening last Ballybay Pearse Brothers hosted neighbours Doohamlet in the latest round of fixtures in the Monaghan Credit Union Senior Football league. The home started the brighter opening a two point advantage in the opening exchanges on a perfect evening for football. Slowly the visitors started to get a foot hold in the game and went on to have the better of the half as their strong running from deep caused Ballybay problems. However, for the amount of ball that the visitors had they weren’t making it show on the scoreboard. The full back line of Mantas Paninakos, Evan Rutledge & Mark McArdle where in superb form throughout the hour. On repeated occasions the back three intercepted on numerous occasions with Sean Gorman mopping up any long ball that went over the top. At the other end Shane McGuiness was causing problems with his ability to win the ball out in front and set up attacking plays. His free from right brought the teams level with three points apiece after twenty minutes of play. Ciaran Gallighan’s strong running from the middle of the park created a great opportunity which he duly converted with half time approaching. As stated, Doohamlet had the better of the half but struggled in front of goal with Ballybay lucky to go in just two points down at half time. The second half took on a similar pattern to the first with Ballybay starting the brighter. Danny Gorman got the first score of the half with a good effort on his right before Shane McGuiness superbly finished to the net for a wonderfully taken goal. Gallighan second point of the day cancelled the latest Doohamlet effort but after the home sides bright opening to the half, it was beginning to take a similar pattern to the opening period with Doohamlet having the majority of possession, this time having more success in front of goal hitting the next two points unanswered. But saying this, there was never more than a few points between the teams with Aaron Toner, Shane McQuillan & Michael Hannon getting on top and driving the men forward while our full back line was again on top throughout the half. As we approached the full time whistle there was nothing to separate the teams. Up step Shane McGuiness who grabbed 1-1 in injury time to secure victory for the home, the goal coming off the back off a great team move that started in our own full back line. The management team can be happy with the result and another two points on the board. Ballybay team: Sean Gorman, Mantas Paninakos, Evan Rutledge, Mark McArdle, Dessie Ward, Michael Hannon, Shane McQuillan, Ciaran Galligan, Thomas O’Neil, Cormac Duffy, Christopher McGuiness, Aaron Toner, Danny Gorman, Hugh Malone, Shane McGuiness & Shane Monaghan.

Fixtures: The reserves take on Cermartin in Ballybay at 7pm this Saturday evening. In the U14 league Ballybay travel to Sean McDermotts on Saturday afternoon, throw in at 12pm. On Friday the 10th of June the seniors take on Monaghan Harps in Ballybay. Throw up at 8pm.

Community Games: Tullycorbet U-10 Gaelic football lost their semi-final against Carrickmacross in Blackhill on Monday evening. Like all good teams they saved their performance for the big day. In a trilling end to end affair, Tullycorbet came out the wrong side of the score but in every respect they can be justifiably proud of themselves. Over the last two months the team from the parish has gelled together to produce superb football and it bodies well for the future of Ballybay and Drumhowan football clubs to see so many wonderful young footballers playing the game. A big thanks you to the parents for their help in transporting the children to training and games. A special mention to Sharon Carraher and Moira Durkan for their assistance in the administrative end of things. Finally, congratulations to the team itself for all their hard work and effort that they invested over the last two months and hopefully they sooner rather than later manage to win the trophy that they richly deserve. The squad was as follows: Eoin Brady, Eoin Sheridan, Dara McElmeel, Finnian O’Neil, Francis Conlon, Stephen Duffy, Jerome Lavelle, Martin Quinn, Sean Ward, Andrew Mullen,Caolan Treanor, Simon DuPlessis, Oisin Quinn, Peter Byrne & Eanna Curran.

Best of Luck: Best wishes to club representatives Thomas Kerr, Paul Finlay, Drew & Ryan Wylie, the rest of senior Monaghan squad, management and backroom team who take on Down in the quarter final on the Ulster Championship in Clones this Sunday coming. Best wishes from all involved with the Ballybay Pearse Brothers club.

Well done to Colm Lennon who starred in the full back line for the County Minors against Down on Sunday evening last. Colm continued the clubs great tradition at this level and it was great to see him do so well.

Congratulations to Dessie Ward who was selected on the Eirgrid U21 team of year. This is a wonderful personal achievement for Dessie and is fully deserving after some wonderful performance for Monaghan throughout Ulster and the All Ireland series.

Best wishes to all club members who will be sitting both leaving and junior certificate exams over the next number of weeks. Best of luck to you all from everyone involved with the club.

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 year 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 year 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 year All Ireland Final & general club membership for a fee of €30.

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!