Ballycumber GAA Club.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior B Football Semi Final.

Tubber 1—12. Ballycumber 2---7.

An outstanding display of accuracy by County player Bernard Allen proved too much for Ballycumber in Bord na Mona O’Connor Park on Saturday. He scored nine points in total including five in the first half when Ballycumber were assisted by the wind. The sides finished level at half time 1—4 to 0—7 with Nigel Grennan scoring a goal and three points from Adrian Kelly and a point from play by Cormac Quinn. The second half had just started when Cormac got a clear run on goal and he drove the ball to the net. Tubber responded with two points from play and a goal after a turnover in midfield. Chris McDonald kicked a good point and Ethan Keena was unlucky to see his well hit shot flash past the post. Tubber added two more points before Cormac Quinn pointed a free. Ballycumber had two good goal scoring chances with the ball coming off the goalpost to safety. At the other end Tubber also struck the crossbar and completed their scoring with a point from play to extend their lead to three points. Ballycumber tried in vain to get an equaliser and their only reward was point from a free by Cormac.

Tubber will now face Shamrocks in the final and Ballycumber’s season is over.

Team. Leo Guinan, Ethan Keena, Alan Flanagan, Emmet Kelly, John Egan, Jack Quinn, Clive Keena, Tom Corcoran, Michael Egan, John Corcoran, Sean Hackett, Luke Gavin Mangan, Cormac Quinn, Nigel Grennan, Adrian Kelly, Chris McDonald, Karl Daly, Ritchie Dunne, Conrad Casey.

Under 17 Football Final.

St Manchan Gaels produced an amazing comeback to snatch a draw with Shamrocks on Saturday. Trailing 1—5 to 0—7 at half time St Manchan Gaels were rocked by two goals from Shamrocks and fell into arrears on a score of 3—5 to 0—8 after 45 minutes. In the remaining minutes “ The Gaels” scored a goal and three points without reply to live to fight another day.

Dinner Dance.

Tickets are on sale for the Dinner Dance to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of winning the Offaly Senior Football Championship in 1968. Contact Anne Creevy 0876514394, Vincent Minnock 0879150510 or committee members.

Club History.

On the 24th August 1946 Ballycumber had a 0—11 to 0—0 win over Durrow No 1. team with points from W. Kelly 0—4, P. O’Reilly 0—3, J. Daly 0—2. J. Horan 0—1,P. Dunne 0—1. Team. J. Clancy, J. Murray, A. Lowry, K. Buckley, P. Dunne, J. Lowry, D. King, P. O’Reilly, Jos. Horan, J, Concannon, J, Daly, P, Hanamey, P. Murray, W. Kelly, P Clancy, Sub. John Horan.

In the second round on Sept 7th they were defeated by Durrow No 1 team, who scored 2—5 to Ballycumber’s 0---4. Ballycumber played very well against the wind in the first half and were expected to win the game in the second half, but they only scored one point in this half. Durrow got two goals soon after the interval and ran out convincing winners. The Ballycumber team were listed in Irish in the “ Midland Tribiune” of that week.

Ballycumber. Seosamh  Mac Fhlannchadha, Seosamh O Muireadhaigh, Art O Labhraidhe, Padraig Mac Fhlainnchadha, Liam O Buachalla, Seosamh O Labhraidhe,  Donchadh Mac an Riodh, Padraig O Raghallaigh, Padraigh O Liathain,   Padraig O Fionnlain, Seosamh  O hOrain, Padraigh O Duinn, Tadhg O Buachalla, Seosamh O Coinceannain. Padraig O h Anamaigh, Padraig O Muireadhaigh.

The Durrow team were listed in English as follows. P Geraghty, C Murray, P Molloy, P Flynn, G Connaughton,P Connaughton, D Brien,  PJ Brien, D Egan, M Brien, J Gavagan, D Gavagan, M Scully, Ml Scully, P Molyneax, P Murray.

)n the 29th March 1947 players from Ballycumber together with players from Clara and Tullamore played a challenge match against a star studded  team from the Army Curragh Command, which included the Ulster Railway Cup and Cavan star Captain John Joe O’ Reilly and Lieuts. Jack Gallagher, Minogue and Donovan. A fast open game of football was won by the Army 1—10 to 1—2. The following Ballycumber  players. J.Murray, P Clancy, J Horan, P O’ Reilly, D King, P Lehane, P Dunne and F Gilligan lined out.                                                         The following officers were elected at 1947 AGM.  President.  Rev. J. Donlon.C.C.  Chairman. C. Lehane N.T. Vice Chairman. J. Byrne, Sec. P. O’Reilly, Treasurer. W. Kelly, Finance Committee. J. Daly, P Clancy, W. Kelly, Committee. E. Larkin, Jas. Lowry, R. Fenlon, J. Daly,  Captain P. O’Reilly,  Hopes of achieving success in the coming year were expressed.

In April Pat O’Reilly and Pat Lehane were chosen on the Offaly Junior Football team to play Dublin in Edenderry in the first round of the Leinster championship and Paddy Geraghty and Paddy Fenlon were members of the first Offaly minor football team to win a Leinster title in 1947. Both were members of the Doon minor team who won the county title in 1946.

Ballycumber overcame a depleted Kilcormac side in the first round of the Junior Football Championship at the Blueball in August with good performances from P. O’Reilly, F Gilligan, F. Currams, P. Clancy, D. Kelly, K. Flattery.

Clara were their opponents in the next round and the least said about that match the better. Suffice to say that a couple of “free for alls” occurred and the game was abandoned and both teams were eliminated from the Championship. Teams. Ballycumber. J. Murray, R, Fenlon, F. Currams, K. Buckley, P. O’Reilly, J. Lowry, D. King. P. Lehane, F. Gilligan, P. Dunne, J. Daly, J. Horan, P. Fenlon, P. Clancy. D. King, P. Murray.

Clara. T. Dunne, E. Recks, P. Naughton, P. Robbins. C. Flanagan, A. McLoughlin, J. Doyle, J. Shrahan, T. Moyna, D. Goode, J. Mullins. V. Cowan, T. Naughton, F. Scanlon, P. Shrahan.

Meanwhile back on the playing fields Tom Maguire and Tommy Flynn played on the St Mels, Longford side which lost to St. Finians, Mullingar in the Colleges Championship. 

The 1948 season was approached with renewed vigour and enthusiasm. This reawakening was helped in no small way by the influence of Garda Tom Woods and Dinny Kelly a shop assistant in D.E. Williams. A tough campaign was encountered on the way to the final, which included a game against Clara, which was described as the game of the championship. A game in which both teams put everything they had into it. Ballycumber were the better team throughout and playing with the slope and wind advantage opened up an early lead . A point by Tom Woods and a goal each from Barney Duignam and Tom Maguire, followed by another Tom Woods point gave Ballycumber an interval lead of 2---2 to 0—0.Clara scored two points through Rickard and Kinahan before Tom Woods scored another point and Tom Maguire scored a great goal after a move involving Dinny Kelly and Paddy Murray to give Ballycumber a comfortable lead of 3---3 to 0—2. But Clara fought back with two goals from Joe Shrahan. Ballycumber had enough in reserve and finished strongly with points from Paddy Dunne and Tom Woods.

The match was timed to start at 3.00 but eventually got underway at 5.00 because the referee could not get to the pitch until that time. Team. O. Murray, P, Flynn, F. Currams. J. Murray, P. Clancy, P. O’ Reilly. M. Gordon. T. Woods. P. Lehane. P. Dunne. F.Gilligan, J, Daly, B. Duignam. T Maguire, D Kelly, Subs, P Murray, T, Buckley,

Rahan were their opponents in the next round. Ballycumber led at half time 0---4 to 0---1. and unusually both teams got the same score in the second half to finish Ballycumber 0---8 Rahan 0—2. There was a big attendance and excitement was at fever pitch throughout.

Ballycumber O. Murray, P. Clancy, F, Currams, J, Murray, E Lowry, P. O’ Reilly, M Gordon, T. Woods, P, Lehane, P Dunne, J, Daly, F, Gilligan, P Murray, P Flynn, D Kelly.

Rahan, J Meacle, J Mooney, J Condron, F Condron, P Condron, J Minnock,  Jos. Minnock, John Minnock, W Donoghue, P Donoghue, K Carroll, T Gaffney, E Sweeney, P J Leonard, J Hanlon.

Ballycumber beat St Marys in the North Offaly final in Tullamore on the 3rd October and the County Final was against Belmont in O’ Connor Park Tullamore on November 20th.

Ballycumber 1—6 Belmont 1—4.

This match was played in atrocious weather, but still contained some passages of good play. Ballycumber won because their forwards had slightly more accuracy, as well as considerably more luck in their scoring attempts. Ballycumber had 3 points and then a goal before Belmont replied with two quick points just before the interval. Half time.Ballycumber 1—3  Belmont 0—2.

When Ballycumber’s lead was stretched with a further point a few minutes after the resumption of play it looked “ odds on” for the Ballycumber men who were wearing red jerseys. But for the next 10 or 12 minutes Belmont seemed to gain a new lease of life and kept up a constant attack on the Ballycumber goal. Scores, however were slow in coming, but, when they started they certainly came in a rush. Two points in quick succession were followed almost immediately by a smashing goal, and the West Offaly lads were on the crest of a wave that seemed destined to bear them to victory. With excitement at fever pitch, the Ballycumber players weathered the storm and putting the last remaining ounce of reserve energy into the fray, worked up a rally which brought a brace of points and a narrow, though dangerous lead.It was still anybody’s game as Belmont swarmed into attack and earned a 14yds free. All out for “a goal or nothing” the Belmont men were keenly disappointed when the ball was blazed wide of the posts.

Ballycumber were “out of the woods” only when the final whistle blew.

Ballycumber; Joe Murray, Paddy Clancy, Joe Lowry, Frank Currams, Peter Flynn, Paddy O’Reilly, Martin Gordon, Pat Lehane, Tom Woods, Paddy Dunne, Joe Daly, Frank Gilligan, Dinny Kelly, Johnny Horan, Paddy Murray. Subs, Owen Murray, Jimmy Murray, Joe Clancy, Neddie Lowry.

The team repaid the tremendous effort put into their training by the legendary Bill Kelly in “ Guinan’s Field”.

Ballycumber Dance Class.

Learn how to Jive, Waltz, Quickstep, Foxtrot and Line dance. Dance Classes every Monday night from 8pm in Ballycumber Community Centre.  Beginners class 8 - 9, Improvers from 9 - 10 and dancing for all from 10 - 11pm.  Great exercise and good fun, no partners requir

Lotto.

The numbers drawn this week were 7,14,24,30. No jackpot winner, two match three winners. Next week’s draw will be held in Stewarts on Monday night at 10 o’clock for a jackpot of 9100euros.

Play lotto on line at https://www.locallotto.ie/localhome.asp?LL_ID=415 until 8pm on Monday or buy tickets from local shops, pubs and from usual lotto sellers.

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