Fr Dalton's hope to be in a position to enter a team into next year's junior hurling championship. Before then, however, club stalwart Donie Glynn would love to see the Fr. Dalton's/Southern Gaels underage amalgam win a 'premier' championship. From a situation where hurling was virtually dead in Ballymore, the sport has undergone a major revival in recent years and this has given rise to the prospect of Fr. Dalton's fielding an adult team next year for the first time since 1999. Of course, such would not be remotely possible if Fr. Dalton's hadn't decided to join forces with Southern Gaels at underage level a few years ago. This has proven to be one of the most successful amalgamations in the county and hopes are high that both clubs will reap the benefits at adult level in the near future. "We have a lot of good minor players in the club at present and we hope to be able to provide them with junior hurling next year. That's the aim, anyway," says Fr. Dalton's stalwart and vice-chairman of the Fr. Dalton's/Southern Gaels underage amalgam Donie Glynn. "We also have a few lads who are around the 21 or 22 age mark and I know that some of the lads who were involved before our adult team folded in 1999 are keen to take up hurling again. The likes of Paddy Martin and Brian McCabe have told me that they would be interested in playing and their presence would be a great help to the younger lads. Ultimately, we've got to keep the young lads interested," he adds. Along with Mick Kincaid, Donie has been working tirelessly since the late 1990s to safeguard hurling's future in Ballymore. In November 2005, they started indoor hurling for young boys and girls in the Ballymore Community Centre. The attendance at the first session was 22. Within a few weeks, however, this figure had risen to 76. "We were delighted with the turnouts for indoor hurling last year, and we got good attendances again this year. Indoor hurling takes place every Friday night and is a great way to keep the kids interested during the winter months," he says. For the first time in a number of years, Fr Dalton's/Southern Gaels didn't win an underage championship in 2006. But what must be taken into account is the fact that both the under 14 and under 16 teams were competing at 'premier' level for the first time. "We've been very successful in the 'A' and 'B' championships over the past few years, but we're now at a stage where we want to win 'premier' championships. I think it is vital for the future of Fr. Dalton's/Southern Gaels that we win a 'premier' championship in the next year or two." For newcomers to the 'premier' grade, Fr Dalton's/Southern Gaels acquitted themselves very well last year. The under 14s reached the championship semi-final, while the under 16 team went a step further by qualifying for the final. In both instances, they were beaten by Clonkill. Under the management of Fergal Ormsby and his co-selectors Mick Kincaid and Martin Carey, the under 14 team played six games in the round-robin series of the championship. They suffered losses to Lough Lene Gaels and Castletown-Geoghegan, but defeated Raharney, St. Brigid's, Crookedwood and St. Oliver Plunkett's to qualify for the semi-final. But their hopes of reaching the final were dashed by Clonkill. However, the south county amalgamation quickly put that disappointment behind them by winning out their section of the inaugural Westmeath/Offaly hurling league following victories over Shamrocks (Rahan), Clara, Kinnitty and Ballinamere/Durrow. The Fr Dalton's/Southern Gaels under 16s, who were managed by Donie Glynn and John Landy, created history by becoming the first team from the club to reach a 'premier' championship final in November. However, they were denied a famous victory by Clonkill in atrocious conditions at Loughegar. Yet, despite the heavy rain and strong wind, the final was quite a contest. The visitors led by 1-3 to 1-2 at half-time with their goal coming from Enda Kincaid. But favoured by the elements in the second half, Clonkill gradually took control and Fr. Dalton's/Southern Gaels didn't score again after Ken Kincaid pointed in the 35th minute. Despite a strong defensive display, the southerners couldn't prevent scores from Anhtony Price, Niall Dowdall, Gary Moran and Alan McGrath as Clonkill ran out winners by 1-11 to 1-4. "We were very disappointed to lose that final and also with having to play in such dreadful conditions. Despite the fact that Cusack Park was available that day, we had to travel to Clonkill after losing the toss. The weather made a lottery of the game and it was frustrating to think that we had beaten Clonkill in the 'A' championship in much better conditions a few weeks earlier," Donie recalls. Most unusually, Southern Gaels/Fr Dalton's also contested the under 16 'A' championship final which, at the time of writing, had yet to be decided. This follows the abandonment of the original fixture against Lough Lene Gaels in January. Despite having a man sent off as early as the fifth minute, Southern Gaels had battled back to force extra-time and the sides were level on 0-6 apiece when referee Michael Riggs decided to call a premature halt to proceedings after he was subjected to verbal abuse. The minor side, which similar to the under 16 team was dominated by players from Fr. Dalton's, reached the 'B' championship semi-final where they were beaten by Delvin in an extra-time thriller in Athlone. The away side had much the better of the opening exchanges, but an Eoin Jordan goal brought Fr. Dalton's/Southern Gaels back into contention and further scores from Luke Kelly and Robbie Vaughan helped them to a two-point interval lead. Delvin regained the lead with four unanswered points following the restart, but back came the home side once again with Andrew Slevin's goal being followed by the equalizing point from Alan McManus. Neal Rattigan then edged Southern Gaels ahead before Robbie Vaughan hit a late Delvin point to force extra-time. A goal from substitute Ronan Walker left the southerners a point up at the end of the first period of extra-time and when Noel Mulligan extended their lead just after the restart, it looked as though it was going to be their day. But Delvin had other ideas and hit 1-2 in the remaining time to claim a 2-16 to 3-11 victory. Despite their heartbreaking loss, the home side could take solace from the fact that the majority of the team is eligible for the grade again this year and with the right application, could mount a serious challenge for the minor 'premier' title. Minus eight of the side that captured the 'A' championship in 2005, Mickey O'Connell's under 12 team faced a tall order last year, but they could still take satisfaction from reaching the Division 4 league final. Encouragingly, Southern Gaels/Fr Dalton's have big numbers at under 8 and under 10 level and on one particular Saturday last year, they sent two different under 10 teams to blitzes in Mullingar and Castlerea. Overall, Donie is delighted with the progress of the young Ballymore hurlers and takes much satisfaction from their new-found respect. "One of the lads off the under 16 team was telling me after the under 16 'premier' final against Clonkill that the guy he was marking said to him that he had never heard of us a few years ago, but that he knew all about us now. It means a lot to hear something like that," he concludes. Tweet

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