There are some interesting developments taking place in Ballinagh at the moment , 'Breffni Blue 2005' caught up with club chairman Jim Smith and his committee to discuss the astonishing progress being made by the club. Ballinagh are busy sowing the seeds for what should prove a very productive future. Ongoing developments on the club's grounds will step up another gear in 2005, while the phenomenal success the Saffrons have been experiencing at underage level seems destined to continue unabated. Last year, Ballinagh captured the headlines with a magnificent triple of U14, U16 and U21 successes. Belturbet were beaten in the U16 Division Two decider at Breffni Park in June and the Ballinagh boys followed up with an excellent victory over Killinkere in the U14 Roinn C final at Kilnaleck. Further success followed in December with a win over Lavey in Breffni Park in the U21 div 2 decider , all in all a very successful year. The club's ambitious grounds development continued in 2004 with the completion of a new covered stand .The club looks forward to 2005 with further developments commencing on a new fully serviced training pitch and running track, a welcome addition to the growing community in Ballinagh. The club is fronted by a strong, visionary committee, which has seen little or no change in personal over the past five years or so. Jim Smith, who is in his second year as chairman, is happy with the progress being made: "The development work started about 20 years ago when we developed a new pitch at the bottom of town. A couple of years later, we developed new dressing rooms. From 1999, we started to put serious thought into our underage section and the whole thing has just taken off from there. "We have developed the underage gradually each year. We started with an U13 win and we got to an U12 final the same year. The following year we won an U16 and reached an U14 final. We progressed to win three minors and last year topped the lot with U14, U16 and U21 titles. "We also completed the development of our €75,000 stand, which was carried out with the help of the local community and the club lotto. "We've now gone a step further and are in the process of developing a second pitch, with a running track and lighting. Once complete, the entire development, including both pitches, will have a walkway around it, catering for all age groups in the town." "On the field of play, Ballinagh have much cause for optimism as the 2005 season gets into swing. Through the dedication of the outgoing management team of Padraig Brady and Robbie McDermott and their selectors an excellent base has being put in place over the last 2 years and can only stand to us in the future " "We also got to the junior B league and championship finals last year and will be hoping to do well in those competitions again in 2005. "At U21 level, we still have all bar two of last year's team. Four of them were on the county U21 team last year - [county senior] Anthony Gaynor, Alan Durkin, Damien McInerney and [former Ireland U17 international rules player] Padraig Reilly. Padraig was captain of the county minor team but missed the championship due to injury. Terry Smith was also with the county minors. "We had four lads with the county U16s - Terry Smith, Niall Reilly, Seanie Kane and David Finnegan - and six representatives on the St Pats senior team - Michael Higgins, Terry Smith, Niall Reilly, David Finnegan, Seanie Kane and Derek Hatchet. We have three, including the team captain, on the St Pats Corn na nOg team this year - Niall McDermott, Alan Smith and Thomas Moore." Huge work is being invested at underage level this was commenced a number of years ago by the dedication of Paddy Smith who laid an excellent foundation, this work has being continued by Paddy Gaffney (vice chairman) and his team who have responsibility for juvenile development. At U10 level, Padraig McCabe, John Keating, Padraig Kellegher and Maura Bogue are doing fantastic work developing players, while Martin Gaynor, Paddy Gaffney, Ollie Gumley and Catherine Gaynor ably guided the U12 team in 2004. Martin Gaynor also represented the club on Bord Peil na nOg executive committee underlining his dedication to underage development not only at club level but also at county level. Ballinagh had three senior players over the U14 team - former Cavan goalkeeper Daragh McCarthy, club captain Padraig Maguire and Willie Reilly. Charlie Delaney, Aidan Brady and Noel Gumley led the U16s to glory, while the all-conquering U21s were managed by Padraig Brady, Robbie McDermott, Sean Galligan and Eamonn Delaney, who is also the club's main sponsor. The minors were well looked after by Declan Beard, John McDermott, Tom Farrell and Joseph McInerney .The club appreciates the efforts of all mentors in 2004 and wishes outgoing and in coming management teams the best of luck. The club is in the process of developing its own website which, given the age profile of the players, will be vital for communication in the future and will also provide access to ex-players who are overseas. Via the website, Ballinagh hope to offer club news, local news, fixtures and results, club links, a club message board, text and email message facilities, club lotto updates and details regarding administration and management this project is being developed by club member / player Martin Reilly with the help of the in coming committee. In conclusion the club would like to thank all its sponsors, lotto sellers and supporters for they 're dedication and loyalty in 2004. Under 16s make their point(s) A hat-trick of cups made 2004 a year to remember for the Ballinagh club. Here's how they were collected Things have seldom looked more rosy for the Ballinagh club with a whole host of top quality underage players on hand plus seasoned campaigners at senior level embellishing the club's overall potency. In a year to remember, the club fairly demonstrated to all and sundry the extent of the well of talent at its disposal right now by securing cups at under 14, under 16 and under 21 levels. The county got an insight into Ballinagh's stock as early as mid-June when four unanswered points in the final five minutes helped the club's under 16s defeat Belturbet by 0-17 to 2-8 at Kingspan/Breffni Park after a very exciting and high-quality Division Two decider. In what was a really fine exhibition of all that is best about underage football, a draw looked on the cards entering the latter stages of the second half but Ballinagh tore up the script by notching a string of points from open play to win in some style. Ballinagh's final flourish was exceptional in itself but, in truth, it was the sheer determination and will-to-win the would-be winners showed in coming back from a four points deficit late in the first half to win the day which marked them out as really worthy champions. Ironically the winners-elect were made to play second fiddle - for the most part - in the first half as it was the maroon and whites who largely dictated the pace of the game in that period. Ballinagh were rocked in the sixth minute when a long Belturbet punt forward was mis-read by a combination of Ballinagh defenders to leave the ball to nestling in the back of the net. Things certainly weren't going to plan for the Saffrons and by the 19th minute, they had it all to do as they chased down a 0-5 to 2-4 deficit. However Ballinagh refused to be bowled over and their tenacity and resolve began to show through more and more as the first half hurtled to a speedy close. After a quick-fire move, Niall McDermott powered through and landed over the final point of the half to cut Belturbet's advantage to four points at the interval. Driven forward by the strong-running Niall Reilly, Ballinagh heaped early pressure on the Belturbet defence and a brace of points by Seanie Kane, including one from a free, served to cut Belturbet's advantage to just two points after just four minutes of the second half. One minute later, that lead was down to the minimum when David Finnegan converted a close-range free. Ballinagh maintained their momentum and were on level terms, 0-10 to 2-4, by the 7th minute, thanks, in part, to a finely-judged long-range effort by Kevin Smith. It was all to play for as the teams headed towards the three-quarter mark with Ballinagh's quality finishing up front being particularly impressive. With 17 minutes played of the second half, the sides were tied at 2-5 to 0-11 and not even the most partisan or foolish supporter from either camp could scarcely have attempted to finger a likely winner. The pendulum just wouldn't stop swinging from one camp to the other with the result that the sides were destined to be on level terms on five separate occasions during the final quarter. With seven minutes remaining, a converted free eased Belturbet into a 2-8 to 0-13 lead but less than 90 seconds later, Terry Smith tore through the heart of the Belturbet defence to square matters once again. With just under five minutes remaining, the game boiled down to which team wanted the prize the most and which team had the greater resolve. In the end, the destination of the spoils also came down to Ballinagh's capacity to hit all the high notes at the right time at the business end of the field. And so it was that points by David Finnegan, Nevin McKiernan and Seanie Smith conspired to break Belturbet's hearts with a hat-trick of points in as many minutes to seal the issue beyond doubt. The victorious Ballinagh team, subs, and scorers that featured against Beltubet was; Pat Carroll; Killian Gaynor, Damien Reilly, Thomas Moore; Oran Donohoe, Seanie Kane (0-3), Michael Ward; Terry Smith (0-2), Niall Reilly (0-1); Niall McDermott (0-3), Nevin McKiernan (0-1), Erin Smith; Kevin Smith (0-3), David Finnegan (0-4), Jason Urbanski. Sub; Niall Gaffney for Erin Smith. True grit sees under 14s lift title A clinically-taken goal midway through the second half by Alan Smith proved just the leg-up the Ballinagh boys needed to secure the Under 14 Roinn C Championship title last November on foot of a 1-12 to 1-8 victory over Killinkere at the Kilnaleck venue. In a topsy-turvy encounter against Killinkere, Smith's major gave the town team just the impetus to propel themselves to a gritty 1-12 to 1-8 victory in a dogged tussle in Kilnaleck. Ballinagh edged matters on the possession front as well as on the scoreboard and thoroughly deserved to win. However it wasn't until they banged home their timely goal that the town side managed to shake themselves free from the shackles of their tenacious co-finalists. The game was a closely contested affair and, in truth, it was no surprise that only two scores separated the combatants at the death. Playing towards the Cavan town end of the pitch in the first half, Ballinagh's most influential player Niall McDermott got his side up and running after just one minute. But in what was in a nip and tuck affair, just two points separated the sides by the 21st minute after Paul Reilly made it 0-5 to 0-3 for the Saffrons. Ballinagh maintained a two point lead to the half-time break and it was still neck and neck when Ballinagh's Alan Smith fired home his precious goal to catapult his side into a five point lead. And even though Killinkere hit back with a similar score six minutes later, Darragh McCarthy's charges proceeded to make the most of their attacks. At the other end successive blocks by Gerard Hyland and Niall McDermott helped prevent match-saving goals for Killinkere. Ballinagh continued to defend as a team and attack as a team; a tactic which proved to be a winning formula on a day which fairly underpinned Ballinagh's underage pedigree. Ballinagh's finest that day against Killinkere were as follows; Andrew Ward; Niamh McInerney, Gerard Hyland, Peter Donohoe, Odhran Donohoe, Conor Smith, Thomas Moore, Josephine Maguire, Niall McDermott (0-7, three frees), Alan Smith (1-3), Orla Smith, Jason Urbanski (0-1), Paul Reilly (0-1). Sub used; Niall Gaffney. Under 21s best of the bunch Ballinagh's under 21s certainly proved their mettle in careering to the Division Two Championship title at the tail end of the year. In what was a hard-fought campaign, the winners-elect kicked off their season with a frenetic 0-15 to 1-11 away victory over Cootehill Celtic last October. Ballinagh triumphed mainly because of a resilient second half display which edged them through to the next round. That determination saw them win out despite being down to 14 men for the entire duration of the second half. Things really looked bad at the half-time break for the Ballinagh crew when they conceded the only goal of the game in the early moments of the third quarter. However the Saffrons proceeded to dig deep and steered forward by the accuracy of a rejuvenated Colin Gumley - scorer of seven points - eventually eased their way across the finishing line in pole position. A couple of weeks later, Ballinagh's sleeves-rolled-up campaign was again manifest when they came from 0-4 to 0-7 behind against Cuchullains at half-time to draw 0-10 apiece in Mullagh before going on to win the replay. The final saw the Saffrons put in a strong second half performance to secure a convincing 0-16 to 1-6 win over Lavey. As is their wont, Ballinagh went about taking the spoils the hard way, outscoring their opposition by nine points to three at a time when they were down to 14 players late on in the first half when they had a defender sent off. Colin Gumley got Ballinagh up and running with a 13m free in the 10th minute which was then followed by a Anthony Gaynor point two minutes later. Lavey responded with two points inside the next five minutes before Ballinagh conceded a freak goal in the 17th minute. However the town team responded in gutsy fashion and scored three points in as many minutes between the 20th and 24th to draw level again a free each from Ciaran Brady and Colin Gumley and a point from Pauric Reilly who had just come in for the injured Ciran McDermott. The dismissal of a Ballinagh defender initially rocked the Saffrons but the winners-elect quickly responded to the sending off with passion and finished the half with two frees from Colin Gumley to go in at half-time with a one point lead, 0-7 to 1-3. Within five minutes though, Lavey were back into the lead but Ballinagh took control of the rest of the game with strong performances all over the field particularly Anthony Gaynor and Alan Durkin at midfield and the free taking of Colin Gumley proving decisive. Alan Durkin took the lead with two points in the 7th and 8th minutes, followed by a Colin Gumley free three minutes later. Pauric Reilly's shot then flew over the Lavey goal after a series of sharp passes left him in the clear. Alan Durkin followed up by scoring a magnificent long range point in the 17th minute after giving a number of Lavey defenders the slip on the way. Colin Gumley scored two more frees which sandwiched Lavey's last score of the game in the 19th minute. It was now all Ballinagh and Pauric Reilly scored a point in the 23rd minute. Ballinagh finished with a flourish after two Lavey players were dismissed with man of the match Colin Gumley on hand to finish the scoring with a point in the last minute of the half to leave the town team with a fine climax to the season to celebrate. Ballinagh's all-conquering Under 21 players who featured against Lavey in the decider were; Terry Smith, Killan McBride, Anthony Gaynor (0-1), Derick Halligan, Damian McInerney, Enda Brady, Gary Kane, Ciran McDermott, Brian McEvoy, Alan Durkin (0-3), Rory Brennan, Niall O Reilly, Colin Gumley (0-8), Ciaran Brady(0-1), David Finnigan. Sub; Pauric Reilly (0-3) for Cian McDermott (inj). Tweet

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