With some exceptional talent coming through, Ballinagh appear to be on the cusp of something big. They moved up to Division One in '05 and also claimed the Division Two minor football league. Paul Galligan, who played on the first-mentioned team and trained the latter, hopes the Saffrons can continue to gather momentum in 2006 Ballinagh GAA club was ultra-active again in 2005, pushing hard for honours on a number of fronts. At adult level, they contested the latter stages of the intermediate football championship and also reached the Division Two league final, clinching promotion into the bargain. Meanwhile, the town club also qualified for two underage Division Two final s- U16 and minor which they won and the U16s were decidedly unfortunate to be pipped by Kingscourt in an exhilarating decider, while in early 2006 Ballinagh beat Lavey in the 2005 Under 21 division two decider. Pride of place for the year gone by rests with the club's minors, who brought silverware to Ballinagh in the form of the minor football league Division Two title, garnered with a comprehensive 1-11 to 0-3 victory over amalgamated neighbours Lacken/Ballymachugh in the final at Cornafean on Wednesday April 27. Though they fielded a relatively-young team, comprised mostly of players who had taken U16 spoils the previous year, Ballinagh were far too sharp, shrewd and talented for their opponents, avenging an earlier group-stage defeat with a resounding success. The Saffrons were on top in all sectors from start to finish, carving out one of the most emphatic outright victories enjoyed by any team in the Breffni County last term. The well-drilled town team cantered for the first three quarters and eased further clear when upping the ante towards the climax of a largely one-sided game. Michael Higgins fired the only goal of the final in second-half injury-time. Ballinagh started purposefully with quickfire points from Paul Urbanski, Terry Smith and Kevin Smith and held the opposition scoreless throughout the second and third quarters. The winners led by 0-6 to 0-2 after attacking the dressing room goals and exhibited great supporting football, with half backs always willing to get forward and augment the attack. Three points in as many minutes put the game out of Lacken/Ballymac's reach at 0-9 to 0-2 by the 41st minute and Higgins' powerful 61st-minute strike provided a generous dollop of icing on an already scrumptious cake. After the game, victorious Ballinagh captain Derek Hatchett accepted the minor league Division Two Cup from Minor Board officer John Duffy and the celebrations commenced. The Saffrons accounted for St Joseph's, Mullahoran, Kildallan and Drumlane in the group stage and suffered just one defeat - by one point to Lacken/Ballymachugh. In the semi-final, two Paul Urbanski goals helped Ballinagh to an eight-point victory over Shercock. This latest success further embellishes Ballinagh's growing reputation at underage level. The Longford Road outfit has now won three of the last five minor league crowns available to them, enjoying success at this level in 2001 and again in 2002, when Anthony Gaynor captained them to the winner's enclosure. It seems only a matter of time before the club's abundant youthful talent begins to make a mark at adult level. Ballinagh, 2005 Cavan minor football league Division Two winners: Graham Harrison; Killian Gaynor, Damien Reilly, Michael Ward; Sean Kane, Patrick Carroll, Derek Hatchett; Terry Smith (0-3), Niall O'Reilly; Kevin Smith (0-1), Nevin McKiernan (0-1), Thomas Moore; Michael Higgins (1-2), Paul Urbanski (0-2), David Finnegan (0-2). Subs: Alan Smith, Aaron Smith The 2005 U16 Division Two championship final was a great advertisement for Cavan football and the only pity was that there had to be a loser. Unfortunately, that team was Ballinagh as, on Sunday 16th October at the Kingspan-Breffni Park venue, east county side Kingscourt Stars prevailed on a scoreline of 2-12 to 2-10. The decider was tense and finely-balanced right down to the final whistle. With time almost up, a brave Ballinagh side went in search of winning scores only to frustratingly run out of time. Despite the blow of conceding an early goal, Ballinagh fought back to trail by just a point at the end of a brilliant first half, 2-6 to 2-5. They stayed with Kingscourt from there until the end of the match but could never quite get their noses in front. Ballinagh, 2005 U16 Division Two championship finalists: Paul Reilly; Odhran Donohoe, Damien O'Reilly (0-1), Conor Smith; Alan Smith, Killian Gaynor (capt), Thomas Moore; Patrick Carroll (0-1), Michael Ward (0-2); Peter Donohoe, Niall McDermott (0-5), Andrew Ward; Shane Wharton, Kevin Smith (2-0), Gerald Hyland. Holders Ballinagh also qualified for the 2005 Cavan U21 FC Division 2 final when they overcame Drumalee in the semi-final at Cornafean on Sunday 18th December - 1-10 to 0-10 after extra-time. The semi-final was a thrilling contest from start to finish and the sides were all-square, 0-7 apiece, at the end of normal time. It went right down to the wire in extra time, but a late goal from super-sub Kevin Smith fired Ballinagh through to a second successive final at this grade and a repeat of the 2004 decider, in which they beat Lavey. The Ballinagh side that booked a place in the 2005 Cavan U21 FC Division Two final: Patrick Carroll; Enda Gavin, Terry Smith, Killian McBride; Adrian Cahill, Damien McInerney, Niall Reilly; Cian McDermott, Anthony Gaynor; Kieran Brady, Padraic O'Reilly, Gary Kane (0-1); David Finnegan (0-2), Colin Gumley (0-6), Michael Higgins. Subs: Paul Urbanski, Kevin Smith (1-1) Having topped Division Two of the all-county senior football league (and ensured promotion to Division One for 2006), Ballinagh booked their place in the Div. II decider with another extra-time semi-final victory, this time at the expense of Knockbride in Boyle Park, Drumgoon in early December, 0-13 to 0-12. It was 0-11 apiece at the long whistle and the sides managed only a point each in the first period of extra time. Ace score-getter Colm Gumley, who had landed the equalising score in normal time, struck the only point thereafter to send Ballinagh through to a final meeting with neighbours and arch rivals Lacken. Unfortunately, Ballinagh failed to fire in a low-scoring decider and were edged out by a mere point, 0-5 to 0-4. In the intermediate championship, Ballinagh topped their group but disappointingly lost to Drumalee at Cornafean in a one-sided quarter-final. The team on league semi-final duty was: Darragh McCarthy; Killian McBride, Damien McInerney, Anthony Duffy; Anthony Gaynor, Conor Brady, Enda Brady; Cian McDermott, Alan Durkin; Kevin Galligan, David Finnegan (0-2), Declan Beard (0-3); Colin Gumley (0-6), Paul Galligan (0-2), Henry Daly. Subs: Niall O'Reilly, Adrian Cahill, Ciaran Brady Paul Galligan has played for Cavan at all levels, winning a Dr McKenna Cup medal in the Breffni Blue jersey, and was at the heart of much of the club's efforts in 2005. The gifted attacker figured prominently in the intermediate championship and Division Two league, and also trained the all-conquering minor side (as part of a management triumvirate completed by Aidan Brady and Charlie Delaney) as well as the impressive U16s. Galligan will stay on with the minors in the coming season. Reflecting on the minor campaign, he notes: "We got the team together in mid-January and we worked from a panel of 20-25, some of whom were still under 16. We're only losing four players off that team this year, so it was a great win for the club and hopefully the experience gained means we can have another decent year at minor level in 2006. "The lads went on to play Corlough in the minor championship in September and they only lost by two points against the team that pushed Castlerahan all the way in the final. I think that shows what these lads are capable of, so this year we're hoping to step it up another gear and with a bit of luck along the way we intend to challenge for honours in the Division One league and championship." The trainer is confident that Ballinagh can hold their own against any side in the county in the U18 grade. This crop of players enjoyed success at U16 and minor level these past two years and can make their presence felt in any company in the coming months: "We still have the bulk of the same team and we have three county minors in Niall Reilly, Terry Smith and David Finnegan. Niall and Terry made the county minor team in '05 and both are eligible again this year." Paul agrees that 2005 should be remembered as a good year for the Saffrons, but feels it's imperative that they build on the progress made. "Fellas on the outside would have to be wondering why we aren't winning an intermediate championship with the talent that's coming through. At adult level, we have underachieved and have failed to find any consistency, which we need to address. The talent is coming through and we have excellent facilities, so it's time to start winning trophies at adult level. "The young lads have proven that they can win championships, so hopefully we can do it at adult level this year. We seem to be bringing through five or six players at a time and hopefully this'll be the year when we step up to the plate in the intermediate championship. "We're delighted that we've gained promotion to Division One because our main objective was to play regular football at a higher grade. Playing in Division One should stand us in much better stead for a crack at the intermediate championship." Paul Galligan himself has been on the Ballinagh first team since he was 15, making his championship debut against Kingscourt in 1995. He won everything with the club coming through the grades and added a Division Two league souvenir as well as contesting the 2000 IFC final against Denn. Pointing to the fact that the club currently contributes players to the county senior (Anthony Gaynor, Padraic O'Reilly), U21 (Cian McDermott, Damien McInerney) and minor (Terry Smith, Niall Reilly, David Finnegan) sides as well as a host of others who have represented Cavan at various levels, Paul is confident that 2006 could be a big year for Ballinagh GFC. Better late than never for Ballinagh Want a long-term tip for the Cavan SFC title? You'd do worse than lay a few euros on an up-and-coming Ballinagh crew who blazed a trail at under 21 level in 2006 Battling Ballinagh left their best wine 'till last to leave Lavey punch drunk and out of the winners' enclosure in a tremendously exciting Under 21 football championship decider on February 19th last at Kingspan/Breffni Park. Two goals and a point inside a three minute period nearing the close of play propelled the town team to the heady heights of championship glory and left the Saffrons with a beautiful vista as they bid to make their mark at the highest echelons of Cavan football in the years to come. In what was a tremendous advertisement for underage football in the county, both teams must be commended for the honest endeavour, degree of skill and absolute determination exhibited over the hour-plus. Lavey proved excellent finalists but Ballinagh's resolve and greater division of labour and cutting edge up front were telling aspects of their armoury. A brillantly engineered point in the 3rd minute by Ciaran Brady set the tone of Ballinagh's stylish display but when Lavey came back after conceding another point to find the net in the 16th minute, the Saffrons were forced to regroup. It was nip and tuck thereafter and points by Ciaran Brady and Anthony Gaynor (22nd min) twice levelled matters for the would-be winners as the game continued to be played at a frantic pace. Ballinagh started the game as they meant to finish it and the defence excellend in closing down the Lavey attackers who found it increasingly difficult to slip their markers and avoid a stream of well-time tackles. Ballinagh continued to edge matters as the first half raced to an exciting climax with a Colim Gumley free and a similar effort by Ciaran Brady helping to cement the would-be winners' three points advantage at the interval. However Lavey weren't in the final just to make up the numbers and within 40 seconds of the start of the second half, they goaled to level matters for the second time in the game. In what turned out to be an archetypal see-saw affair, the sides were to be level a further three times as first one side and then the other sought to secure a firm grip on the exchanges only to see their hands wrenched free of the tiller by their opponents. Ballinagh looked to have the bit between their teeth when Colin Gumley edged his side back in front with a converted free but then moments later Lavey had a free which tied the scores once again at 0-8 to 2-2. Again converted frees were traded as the game ebbed and flowed from one end of the field to the other with gay abandon. With the tension in the game mounting by the minute, Ballinagh seemed to eye the finishing post as team-captain Damien McInerney again edged his side into a one point lead and Colin Gumley fired over another point to rock Lavey back on their heels. Back came the black and whites yet again though and they managed to gain parity once more by the 25th minute. With three minutes left of normal time on the clock, Ballinagh and Lavey were deadlocked at 0-11 to 2-5 and seemingly unable to secure any kind of clear water between themselves. However Ballinagh were to leave their best work to the end, much to the delight of their team-manager Bernard Morris and his assistants and the vocal Ballinagh supporters in the ground. Bolstered by the introduction of team-captain Damian McInerney - who grabbed a neat point in the 20th minute of the second half - the town team began to upp the ante in a noticeable vein. The Saffrons drove forward with renewed vim and vigour and, justifiably, got their just reward. With tremendous spirit and cohesion, Ballinagh finished like an express train leaving Lavey's tenuous hopes of clinching the silverware well and truly de-railed. As is the case in a lot of county deciders, it was very much the case of cometh the hour, cometh the man. Cue county star Anthony Gaynor. Gaynor tacked on 1-1 in a glorious personal spell towards the climax of the game. His goal was a clinical execution and delivered right smack on the 30th minute of the second half. Team-mate David Finnegan lobbed in a high dangerous ball which floated invitingly in the Lavey box. Before any of the Lavey defenders could react with an appropriate degree of speed, Gaynor ghosted in on the blindside, rose in the air and prompty fisted the ball into the Lavey net for an inspirational score. Minutes later Lavey's cause was right and truly killed off when substitute Kevin Smith reacted the quickest to a high shot from Ruairi Brennan. Brennan's effort glanced back off the upright and gave him the chance to rifle the ball into the goal at the town-end of the pitch to afford his side the proverbial icing on the cake. Ballinagh's finest lined out as follows; Patrick Carroll; Killian McBride, Pauric Reilly, Terry Smith; Adrian Cahill, Enda Gavin, Gary Keane; Cian McDermott, Anthony Gaynor (1-1); David Finnegan, Ruairi Brennan, Niall O'Reilly; Colin Reilly (0-6, five frees), Ciaran Brady (0-3), Michael Higgins (0-1). Subs; Damian McInerney (0-1); Kevin Smith (1-0). Tweet

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