Senior GAA

125 GAA Celebrations
The Club would like to thank everyone who attended their celebratory night in The Thatch. Awards were presented to Club Presidents Jim Clarke and Eddie Hubbard who received special recognition for their contribution to Ballymore GAA during their lifetime. Also winners on the night were Club Person (Eoin Barrett), Senior Player (Tommie Archibald) and Young Player (Keith Fennell) of the year for 2008.
A special thanks to Christy Dennisson who did a great job taking photos and showing videos from u10 all the way up to Senior level over the past 30 years. Anyone interested in copies of any of these videos are to contact Christy. The music was in full flow too with “Arc” keeping us entertained all night with great traditional songs and tunes.

Hollywood GAA Club entertained us visitors for some challenge matches during the afternoon. Teams representing Ballymore & Hollywood at underage levels as well as the senior teams. Our thanks to all associated with Hollywood GAA for a great afternoon of sport and craic.

Marbella 2009
It looks like to Senior Club will be jetting off to Spain at the end of October to play in the “Marbella Tournament”. The Club played in the competition a few years ago and a great trip was had by all. Details will be in next months Bugle for members interested.

Summer Camp
The annual kid’s summer camp is taking place this year from the 6th-10th of July.

Féile 2009
Club members are currently cleaning up the grounds in preparation for the Féile 09 taking place in Ballymore. Ballymore will be entering two teams (check juvenile notes) and it runs on the second and third of July.

Training
Despite so many injuries the senior team is experiencing at the moment training is still going strong in preparation for the 1st round of the championship against Eadestown.

Senior League Division 2

Ballymore 1-09 Rheban 1-09

Ballymore had to settle for a share of the spoils for the second week running as they rued some wasteful shooting and poor passing, a last gasp free from county man James Kavanagh saving their blushes. Ballymore settled quickly but kicked five wides in as many minutes and when Rheban went down the other end and scored a goal through Tom Harris it looked like it was going to be one of those days for the home side. That proved to be the visitors only score from play in the game but their free takers proved deadly on the day and could have easily snatched victory for the visitors.
Rheban full forward C. Perse was proving a real handful in full forward with his support play and efforts from placed balls, the first for him in the eight minute to leave four between the sides. Ballymore finally got off the mark in the twelfth minute through a Gareth Clarke free but Rheban responded through a 45 from the boot of Alan Harris. Tommie Archibald kept the home team in contention with an angled point on fifteen minutes but indiscipline in the Ballymore back line resulted in another free converted by Perse. Mark McCarville then hit 1-01 within a minute of each other, the goal coming for the big full forward after being played in by Gareth Clarke and Tommie Archibald. Perse finished the scoring with a free for Rheban to leave the half-time score 1-04 to 1-03 in favour of the visitors.
Ballymore welcomed county star James Kavanagh into the side for the second half and he immediately came into his own pointing straight away, then setting up Tommie Archibald to put the home side ahead for the first time. A free from Kavanagh put two between the teams and it looked like the home team would push on but Rheban replied with two pointed frees, one a piece from C. Perse and Alan Harris to level the game. Tommie Archibald scored a great point with his back to goal fifteen minutes into the second half to leave the smallest of margins between the sides. Five frees in the last ten minutes, three for Rheban (Perse) and two for Ballymore (Kavanagh) ensured that neither team took home the two league points on offer instead settling for one league point each.
Best for the home side were Tommie Archibald, James Kavanagh and Colin Clarke while Rheban had solid performances in C. Perse, A Harris and M. Connor

Ballymore 0-4 Naas 3-18

Ballymore went into this game stretched for numbers with a mountain of injuries and absentees and were never able to match a rampant Naas outfit. Such was the extent of injuries the “gaffer” polished off his boots to stand on the edge of the square once more. Olly O’ Neill opened the scoring for the home side but from then on it one way traffic. Ballymore did work hard and never game up with the other points coming from Eoin Kavanagh and Mark McCarville.

Miltown 0-12 Ballymore 2-06

Milltown and Ballymore shared the points in round six of Division 2 in a game played in very windy conditions. Despite playing against the wind it was Milltown who struck first with points from Myles O’ Reilly and Ian Fitzgerald. Eoin Kavanagh and O’ Reilly exchanged frees before two more points from Kavanagh (1f) levelled up the sides once more. An Eoin O’ Sullivan point followed by a 45 from Eoghan O’ Toole restored the home sides two point lead. Steven Dwyer then hit two in a row for Ballymore to tie up the game with Ballymore’s William O’ Donoghue missing a penalty that was somehow brilliantly saved by the Milltown keeper. A fisted point for Alan Dignam left the half time score 0-6 to 0-5 in favour of the home side.
On the resumption two quick Milltown scores from O’ Toole and O’ Reilly put three between the sides but Mark McCarville levelled up the game with a well taken goal. Milltown then fired over three in a row but an Eoin Kavanagh point followed up by the same player burying the ball to the net gave the visitors the lead for the first time. However Milltown were not to be denied a share of the spoils and a side line from O’ Toole ensured neither team went home empty handed. Best for Ballymore were Eoin Kavangh, Keith Conway and Steven Dwyer.

Upcoming Fixtures

Senior League Division 2
Sat 23rd May Clane (away)
Sat 6th June Straffan (home)
Sun 14th June Raheens (home)
Sat 20th June Ballyteague (away)
Tues 23rd June Castledermot (away)
Sat 27th June Eadestown (home)

St. Oliver Plunkett’s
Hard luck to the minor team who lost to St. Coco’s in the league semi-final by two points.

Player Profile

This month it’s the turn of “Captain” Tadhg Grace to answer a few questions on Ballymore GAA.

Fav Position: Midfield
Best Match ever played in: Championship semi-final vs Johnstownbridge.
Best BME player ever: Jarleth Gilroy
Favourite Manager: Mick Murtagh
One player you would like on BME team: Kevin McNally!!
Fav Meal before a match: Pasta
Best player you ever marked: Killian Brennan
If you couldn’t play GAA you would play: Golf
Fav Film: Wedding Crashers
Best player on the women’s team: Lesley Tutty or Aisling Hubbard
If you could be anyone for a day: Hugh Heffner
If you could go on a date with anyone: Anna Kournikova
What would you like to see in your lifetime: A cure for cancer
Laziest trainer on the team: Tommie Archibald
Who spends the most getting ready after training: Steven Dwyer
Pre-match ritual: Don’t have one
Biggest Fear: I don’t have any fears
Biggest moaner on the pitch: Where do I start…
Worst dressed on team: Colin Clarke
Smartest on the team: Mark McCarville
Who you look to as inspiration as a captain: Roy Keane
You or Ivan when both playing at your peak: Me without doubt
Biggest influence on you: My parents, they rarely miss a game
Best bar person in Paddys: Audrey when she’s not taking a fag break
Sam 09: Galway
Hopes for 09: We get all our injuries cleared up and give the championship a good go. Were long overdue some silverware


Ballymore Eustace GAA Club
Juvenile Football & Hurling
an Baile Mor
Feile News
Preparations are in full swing for the upcoming Feile and
all credit to Michelle Waters and Johnny Murphy for their
trojan work so far. Ballymore Eustace are hosting
Tipperary boys and a team of girls are travelling from
New York. This will create a great buzz in the village and
for our own boys and girls. The launch night is 21st May
in the County Grounds, St. Conleths, Newbridge. Good
luck to all involved.
Fundraising
Well done to Eoghan Barrett and Paul Murphy who “took
a leap of faith” with the bungee jump. The guys raised
about 2000 euros and thanks to Leslie for all her help and
to all who supported.
Also thanks to all who helped and supported the Senior
Club Auction.
A special thanks to Janet of Daybreak who subsidised and
organised a very successful Juvenile GAA Punchestown
Disco and also threw a few “mean” dance moves on the
floor ! Well done Jan. ! ( Photos to follow in next months
edition !).
125 Years of GAA
There was a great turnout in The Thatch on Sunday 10th
May for the 125 Years of GAA. Presentations were made
to Eddie Hubbard, Jim Clarke, Tommy Archibald, Keith
Fennell and our own Eoghan Barrett.
Christy Dennison supplied us with some “vintage” GAA
footage which produced some whoops and cheers from
the audience ! It was great to see some old faces and some
you wouldn't recognise now. A great night was had by all.
Football News
The Girls.
Feile team news
We had a challenge match on May bank holiday Monday
against Dunlavin. The girl's played very well on the night
winning with a score of 4:04 to 1:04.All the hard training
has been worth it!! Scorer's were Fiona Field 2:03, at last
we've found her position, Amy Mahon1:01 Molly Cullen
1:00.
U12 Team news
We played a challenge match v Kildare Lily White team
in Newbridge on Saturday 9th May. This was a very
competitive match played at a great pace of 3 twenty
minute sides. It was very evenly matched in first 20
minute's with the score level at 1;01 each then our girl's
from Ballymore Natasha Murphy and Heather Sammon
moved over to the County team for the next twenty
minutes, this swayed the game if favour of the Lily
White's, they then played the last twenty with Ballymore.
Molly Cullen played so well for Ballymore that she got a
call up to the Lily White team. Scorer's on the day Aoife
Murphy 1:01 Sophie Byrne 1:00 Molly Cullen 0:02.It was
overheard that Sophie scored more in her first matches
Than Fergie did in his whole career ! Well done Sophie.
Community Games
Ballymore v St Conleths in community games.
Front Row:Natasha Murphy, Lucy Field, Caoimhe
Winder, Katie Gilroy, Mayah Sammon, Amy Horan,
Eve Maguire, Beth Doyle. Back row:Oonagh Deegan,
Rachel Byrne, Rebecca Magee, Sophie Byrne, Savanagh
Fisher, Abby Foster, Saoirse Byrne, Ciara Fennan, Chloe
Fisher, Hannah Doyle. Scorer's Lucy Field1:02, Amy
Horan 0:01.
Football training for all has changed day and time
from Friday 15th May – Friday evenings @ 7pm.
The Boys .
Under 11 Football.
The Under 11 have finished their league campaign and
have qualified for the shield semi final. The match will
be against Castlemitchel and will be played within the
next week.
Community Games Football
The boys community games team recently played Sallins
in the first round of the Kildare community games.
There was never much between the teams and the lads
showed great determination and never gave up to win a
closely contested game by 2 points. The reward for the
win was an away against Naas West, who are current
All- Ireland Champions. This match was, again, closely
contested with a good Naas team getting the better of the
game in the end. This was the first time a number of the
lads to play competively for Ballymore and they should
all be proud of the way they played, even if some them
have been watching Ronaldo doing a bit too much
diving ! There were goof performances fron Stephen
Davis, Mark Barrett, Jordan Deegan, Evan Koegh and
Arron Deegan. These matches also saw young Sean
McNally playing in goal for the first ime and showed
that he is as good as his Dad Kevin, who hung up his
boots from the Intermediate team earlier this year – in
with the young and out with the old !
Coaching motto: Children first, winning second
Ballymore Eustace GAA Club
Juvenile Football & Hurling
an Baile Mor
The Under 10 and U12 football leagues start on the week
beginning 18th May so the lads are going to busy on
Tuesday and Thursday nights until the end of June ! No
rest for the jersey washers or taxi drivers.
The Under 14 team, have been training hard for the All
Ireland Feile and they will be playing their league over
the next 8 weeks.
The boys school football team had a win over Two-Mile
House and lost to Dunlavin. The program of games has
finished as Athgarvan have pulled out of the competition.
Thanks to Mairead O'Flynn, Paul Murphy and Dermot
Waters for organising the team. The lads now turn their
attention to hurling where they have qualified for the
final. Best of luck to Martin Kelleher and the team.
Hurling
There has been a great turnout for training on Monday
evenings @ 7pm and with the help from our mentors, the
two Steve's, Alan, Gillian, Fintan, Martin, James and
Eoghan we can cater for the numbers turning up. Again, if
anyone is interested in helping out, we would welcome
your support.
Here are some of our youngest players – Under 8's
School hurling team makes final
Well done to Ballymore NS senior hurling team for
reaching the final of the Kildare Cumann na mBunscol
hurling competition. This is the first time ever that
Ballymore NS has got to a hurling final in its long
history!
With wins against Dunlavin, Newbridge and Coill Dubh,
Ballymore qualified to play Scoil ui Riada, Kilcock in the
semi-final on Wednesday 14th May in Naas.
This was a semi final to be remembered. In the first half
with the wind behind them, Ballymore got off to a great
start with forwards Dylan Waters, Robbie Noone, Adam
Murphy, Joshua Burke-Hayes and Thomas Mc Guirke
piling on the pressure. This pressure paid off with two
excellent goals by Shane Barrett. Ballymore looked set to
get a comfortable victory. But then the Ballymore lads
relaxed, Kilcock got more confident and eventually they
got a goal before half time. The Ballymore hurlers were
up against it in the second half now playing against the
wind and a strong Kilcock team. The pressure was
relentless for the full 25 minutes of the second half with
Kilcock coming close to scoring a second goal on
numerous occasions. Craig Byrne (goalie) even saving
one goal with his helmet
Everyone felt a second Kilcock goal had to come, but
Ballymore stuck firm with Niall O’Neill, Darragh
Kelleher, Tom Murphy, David Mac Athenmy and Harry
Murphy soaking up all the pressure in the back.
Eventually Shane got an insurance point and the end of
the match finally came. Ballymore won 2 goals 1 point
to Kilcocks 1 goal.
Ballymore will now play Straffan NS in the final on
Thursday 21st in Moorfield GAA grounds. Best of luck
to all.
Ballymore NS Senior Hurling Team
Back Row: Adam Murphy, Rossa Doyle, Harry
Murphy, Darragh Kelleher, David Mac Athenmy, Tom
Murphy, Niall O’ Neill, Dylan Waters.
Front Row: Robbie Noone, Thomas Mc Guirke, Shane
Barrett, Craig Byrne, Stephen Doyle, Tadhg Dooley,
Joshua Burke Hayes.
Coaching motto: Children first, winning second
Ballymore Eustace GAA Club
Juvenile Football & Hurling
an Baile Mor
Coaching motto: Children first, winning second