Ballinagh show their survival instinct
December 31, 2010Their 'old spirit' resurfaced with some telling displays during the senior league campaign. Their return to form has only cemented the belief that many observers of football in the Breffni County feel, that they are an emerging young team.
While their form has vastly improved over the past six months, Ballinagh as a club will be disappointed with their performance in their quest for championship honours.
The Saffrons will also look back on their championship campaign and feel that they could have easily made it through the group stages after posting a draw against Ramor and recording an impressive five point victory over Lavey. Their final group game against county champions Cavan Gaels was, according to neutrals, a game that the Saffrons should have won. The dropped point against Ramor in their championship group forced them to fight for their championship honour as they were thrust into the 'dreaded' relegation play-offs. It was probably this 'back to the walls' encounter that typified the return of the true Ballinagh spirit. Powered by a determination to retain their senior championship status, Ballinagh swept aside the challenge of Redhills in emphatic manner, running out easy winners 0-17 to 0-7. Ballingh produced a performance of pace, creativity and accuracy which if built on could propel them as serious contenders for next season's championship honours.
A look back over the club's year could not be better judged than through the eyes of one of their most experienced players, Padraig O'Reilly. He comes from a family steeped in the club's tradition. He has an impressive record when it comes to gaelic football, not only playing in all the grades at club and county level but also for the Ireland U17 international rules side that toured Australia. He was an influential member of that touring side that won the series 2-1.
Padraig believes that the final third of the season was an indication of better days ahead.
"When you have not won any silverware you have to evaluate your progress which not only includes the results of the senior side but also the progress of the underage teams as well.
"I believe that when we look back on the season we would have to view it as one of progress. Our past difficulties would now seem to be behind us and the younger players have made good progress. We have some excellent young talent at the club and in general the overall age of the senior side is still quite young.
"Our more mature players Adrian Maguire, Daragh McCarthy and Paul Galligan still provide a steady influence and balance to what I see as a relatively young side. The club are fortunate have a number of very talented young players. Three that instantly spring to mind are Cian McDermott, Kevin Smith and Patrick Carroll. We also have a number of very good minors in Conor Smith and Paul Wilson.
"The more established players like Anthony Gaynor, who played some great football during 2010, along with Colin Gumley, Alan Durkin, Rory Brennan, Killian McBride, Anthony Duffy, Niall O'Reilly, Declan Beard and Nevin McKiernan
have all contributed to our consistant run in the league. We won the senior league a few years ago and took the scalps of Cavan Gaels and Gowna respectively in the final two games to clinch the decider, so we have to be realistic and believe in ourselves and push on and challenge the Gaels for championship honours.
"Our championship sojourn this season saw us pitted against Cavan Gaels, Ramor and Lavey and while we felt that we were adequately capable of emerging from this section it was not to be. We lost out to the champions and under-performed against Ramor United registering a draw.
"It was this dropped point that pushed us into the relegation play-offs as we beat Lavey in the other pool game. Last season we had a similar experience in the championship and having to face possible relegation. We struggled in the relegation play-offs in 2009 but eventually won and retained our senior championship status. I believe that it was those tough relegation games that helped us through the 2010 relegation battles.
"Destined for a relegation play-off for survival in senior championship football we faced one of the county's best young sides in Redhills. I felt that on the day we produced a display worthy of us and emerged winners by ten points, 0-17 to 0-7. Our display on the day showed that we can produce the quality of football we are capable of and also handle the pressure of championship football. I have no doubt that this game will provide us with valuable experience for championship football over the coming seasons," said Padraig.
"I suppose when you look back over the season and see how we managed to fashion victory in tight games then you would have to say that we are a team that has matured.
The introduction of team manager, Brian Comiskey was also a great asset for us. Brian proved to be a hard task-master but a fair one. His passion and knowledge of the game rubbed off on the squad and his man management gave players the belief that is needed to go out and fashion victories.
"His wealth of experience helped bring us on and no doubt will provide us with an extra impetus for the upcoming seasons. I suppose you have to realistically look at 2011 and believe that the run of victories by the great Gaels team has to come to an end sometime and we have as good a chance as any to stop them.. It would be a trojan task but we have faced them down in the past and now it is up to us," said the Ballinagh stalwart.
Juvenile teams
Ballinagh continued their excellent work at underage level with a resounding Under 13 Roinn B final victory over arch rivals and neighbours, Lacken. The young Ballinagh side ran out comfortable victors by 7-9 to 1-11. Despite some gritty resistance from a determined Lacken side, the club's future prospects slammed home seven goals.
The 'local derby' clash proved to be a classic providing the large crowd with a game of high tempo and no short measure of skillful football. Ballinagh's victory could easily be attributed to their better all-round balance and their supreme work ethic.
Sean Keating set his side on the road to victory with a superbly taken goal in the tenth minute. The work ethic of Colin McCabe and Gavin Smith proved to be a thorn in the side of losers as they worked at a feverish rate to harry and attack their opponents. Ballinagh's defence was standing firm to the challenges posed from Lacken. Patrick Gaffney, Martin Gaffney and goalkeeper Killian Finnegan proved to be the standard bearers in a tight defensive rearguard. Ballinagh held a 3-5 to 0-4 lead at the interval. Lacken true to form tried valiantly to overcome their ten point half time deficit but despite a sterling third quarter performance were unable to peg back the winners. A storming final quarter by Ballinagh put the game beyond the reach of a valiant Lacken side.
This victory was just reward for all the hard work put in by players and team management of Ray Finnegan, Pauric McCabe and Ray Smith.
Ballinagh - Killian Finnegan, Gavin Brady, Patrick Gaffney, Dylan Daly, Thomas McPhillips, Martin Gaffney, Gavin Smith, Colin McCabe, Shane Finnegan, Damien Reilly, Sean Keating, Barry Connolly, Cormac Timoney, Patrick Gaffney, Aoghan Halton.
Minors prove they have 'winning' edge
Ballinagh's minor team proved that they have that winning belief when they accounted for Ballymachugh in a tight and exciting Division 3 championship final. The Saffrons, under the astute management of current senior player, Paul Galligan, Mick Dunne and Martin Smith, were full value for their victory on the day. The game as a contest had the large crowd on an knife edge up to the final whistle and with both sides in scoring form with a final scoreline of 5-12 to 5-5, the spectators were not left short of entertainment. It was Ballinagh's ability in front of goal that proved to be the vital. The Saffrons also held sway in the vital sectors of the pitch and while the losers played their part, Ballinagh's overall greater ability to win vital possession was a key factor. The winners got off to a dream start as they moved into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead just after thirteen minutes. In fairness to Ballymachugh they did not buckle and registered their first point in the fourteenth minute. This score seemed to inspire the winners and the ever-alert Daryl Gaynor was on hand to crash the ball to the back of the losers net. Down 1-5 to 0-2 Ballymachugh tried valiantly to pull back the Ballinagh side but some superb goalkeeping by Justin Dunne thwarted their efforts. As Ballymachugh pressed to reduce their arrears a quick break out of defence found Daryl Gaynor who picked out the unmarked Michael Gaffney who had little difficulty finishing his effort to the back of an empty Ballymachugh net. Credit to the losers, they did not succumb to the pressure and were duly rewarded in the twenty-sixth minute when they goaled to reduce the arrears to a respectable level. This reprieve was short-lived as Gaynor once again rattled the losers net to leave the half-time score Ballinagh 3-5 Ballymachugh 1-5.
Ballinagh started the second half in whirlwind fashion and had the ball in the Ballymachugh net in just three minutes through Ciaran Harrison. Credit to the losers they did not give in and were rewarded with two goals in forty-first and forty-third minute. Shortly afterwards a converted Ballymachugh penalty ensured that the final ten minutes of this final was all to play for. With just two points now separating the teams 4-7 to 4-5 it was Ballinagh who responded like champions. A superb point from Conor Smith in the fifty-second minute was the signal for the Saffrons to move closer to the winner's enclosure. Stephen Harten's goal in the dying minutes looked like the losers might steal this one as Ballinagh's lead was once again reduced to two points 4-11 to 5-5 but the superb Daryl Gaynor killed the tie with a superbly taken goal and a late pointed free.
Ballinagh: Justin Dunne, Jamie Tyler, Niall Gaffney, Fergus Bogue, Eamon McEvoy (0-1) Killian Gaynor, Blake Carthy, Connor Smith (0-1), Andrew Ward (0-2), Cathal Bogue (0-3), Shane Wharton, Ciaran Harrison (1-1), Michael Gaffney (1-1), Daryl Gaynor (3-3), Paul Wilson. Subs used: Ciaran Wharton, Craig Wright.
Camogie stars take
junior crown
Ballinagh's camogie team has begun to stamp its impramtur on the Cavan club scene having posted some excellent victories in both league and championship. Under the coaching of former Cavan hurling star, Mark McEntee, the Ballinagh ladies have evolved into a real force in Cavan camogie. The emerging side culminated their season in fine fashion when they won the Cavan Junior A championship in an entertaining final played at Kingspan Breffni Park.
The final score of Ballinagh 2-8 Laragh 0-2 belies the effort put in by the losers who posed a real threat, especially in the first half. Ballinagh started tentatively and had to withstand an onslaught as Laragh tried valiantly to get the upper-hand. Great defensive work by the Saffrons proved a barrier too great for the Laragh ladies. Ballinagh made greater use of their possession and ended the half 6-1 in front. Ballinagh emerged a strong and more determined side for the side half and in emphatic fashion pushed ahead and blocked out the threat of the Laragh side through a superb team performance.
This victory was fashioned through a team display with outstanding individual performances from Caroline Galligan, Dolores Duffy, Michelle Flemming and Mairead Maguire.
Despite working from a small panel, McEntee has produced a side of great character and no short measure of skill. Mark feels that if he can strengten his panel then the team are quite capable of holding their own at senior level in the coming season.
"Currently we have some excellent players at our disposal at the club but we are short on numbers. An injury or two could completely upset the balance of the side so it is imperative that we look for new talent and expand the squad," explained the coach.
"It was a great achievement for the girls to win the junior championship title and one I feel was richly deserved. They have worked hard all year, training three times a week and proved to be a very dedicated and committed bunch of players."
Ballinagh: Aoife McDermott, Michelle Flemming, Niamh McDermott, Emear Cartwright, Orla McDermott, Dolores Duffy, Caroline Galligan, Shannon Gill, Mairead Maguire, Josephine Maguire, Aishling Smith. Subs used: Rebecca Dunne, Tara Reilly, Aishling Reilly, Michelle Smith, Roisin Martin.
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