Ballymore Ladies Novelty Camel Night
On Saturday 15th August Ballymore Ladies held a Novelty Camel Night for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin.
Valerie Byrne (nee Hudson) has been a member of the club for a number of years and her daughter Keeva had spent some time there recently with a serious illness. Valerie and Ronan nominated Crumlin Children’s Hospital as the beneficiary for the charity night. The staff at Crumlin has been a huge support to Keeva and the thousands of other children they care for every year.
The event was held in The Thatch with Paul Fagan not only making the camels himself but also compeering for the evening. Ballymore Person of the Year, Tommy Dwyer had the tough job of umpiring the races.
With the number of sponsors and massive interest there were 9 heats to get through and Paul was a natural, even throwing in a game of Simon Says (in honour of our manager Simon!) with Janet, Sher and Natasha.
It was now time for the business end of proceedings. Additional referees were called in for the semi-finals and the races were much closer. The crowd got right behind their favourites. If anyone thought it was just a bit of fun they only had to watch Caroline Swords Deegan ‘supporting’ her representative, brother Keith!

And so to the final and this was the line-up:Finalist One: Sexy Eyelashes c/o Tadgh GraceFinalist Two: Sonic Boom c/o Fiona RigneyFinalist Three: Humps For Free c/o Danny GormanFinalist Four: Duran Duran c/o Caroline Swords DeeganFinalist Five: ItHasNoName c/o Tommie ArchboldFinalist Six: Horse c/o Amy HoranFinalist Seven: Twin Peaks c/o Orla Hubbard
Although none of the Ladies team made it on their own steeds, Sheena Hubbard and Teresa Gorman did race for other people in the final. It was very tense and had to be run twice before it looked like we might have a winner. And no, the excitement wasn’t over yet - the 2nd run was deemed a photo finish!
Tommy Dwyer decided to have a camel-off between the joint winners. Mick Horan was aboard daughter Amy’s camel and Keith Swords was jockeying for sister Caroline. It was very close but Mick Horan just sneaked it taking the cup and the €100 (and kindly donating €50 back to the charity).
Amy called the camel HORSE - we reckon there’s something suspicious there and there should have been a steward’s enquiry!

Prizes:
1st : Mick Horan - €100 and a cup 2nd: Keith Swords - Ballymore Ladies T-shirt 3rd - 7th: "Can’t Ride for Shite" Wooden Spoons

Following the presentation, Valerie Byrne said a few words on behalf of herself and Ronan about the help and care little Keeva received in Crumlin. She thanked everyone for supporting the evening and the people of Ballymore and Dunlavin for their support over the last few months.
The night was great craic and a huge success, raising over €3000 for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin.
A Huge Thank You to;
- Paul Fagan for the idea, making the camels and ensuring the evening went off like clockwork!
- Darren O’Reilly and The Thatch for the great venue, the music and the food
- Tommy Dwyer for ensuring nobody cheated!
- Race Sponsors
Kieran Langan Butchers
Liz Deegan Hair Salon
Willie Clarke Crash Repair Specialists
Masonbrook Holding Contractors
Ballymore Oils
The Thatch
Shay’s Ballymore Taxi and Bus Hire
Poulaphouca House
Ballymore GAA
- Also, many thanks to those who donated the raffle prizes; Gallery and Gifts, Vesaras, Fogarty’s, Janet Deegan’s Mace, The Ballymore Inn and Adonia
- The Ballymore Ladies Fundraising Committee
- All of the People who bought\sold camels and made donations
- Everyone who turned up and supported on the night


Junior C Championship
Ballymore vs Rathangan

Ballymore played Rathangan in their first championship match on 26th August. It was a very fast paced game and Ballymore showed their fitness by maintaining the pace throughout the game. Ballymore had a great first half and were up by 3 points at half time. Rathangan made a few changes at half time. They had some very fast players who caused Ballymore problems, getting 2 goals in quick succession.
Ballymore played very well throughout the match with the whole team putting in good performances and playing well as a team. Aisling Hubbard scored the first point after a series of great passes. Lesley Tutty put Ballymore ahead at the end of the first half with a goal. Nicola Rigney and Gemma Swords cleared a lot from the 2 corners of the back line. Michelle Hubbard played well intercepting many Rathangan passes. Cleo Hubbard and Dawn Murray also had good games. Tracey Clohessy and Karen Archibold came on as subs in the second half and fitted easily into the team.

Rathangan 4-10 Ballymore 1-7

Scorers for Ballymore
Aisling Hubbard
Lesley Tutty
Dawn Murray
Louise Burke


Ballymore vs Balyna II
It was wet and mucky in Ballymore by the time the ball was thrown-in on Sunday 31st August. The visitors Balyna II were the team the Ladies had beaten in last year’s final and a close game was expected. The first half however saw the home team with 90% of the possession. Aisling Hubbard was her usual scoring threat, getting her first point from a Fran Burke sideline ball and then hitting the back of the net with a lovely pass from Dawn Murray. Aisling was unlucky not to get a second when it hit the post. The backs were quick to get the ball out of danger on the few occasions they were called upon. Marilena Norton and Louise Burke both worked hard in winning and keeping possession in the right half of the pitch. Ballymore Ladies were 1-4 to 0-1 up at half-time.
The 2nd half saw Ballymore’s move of the game. The ball was passed in from Fran Burke, hand-passed between Lesley Tutty and Dawn Murray before Aisling Hubbard got her 2nd goal of the game. Balyna as expected did step it up in the 2nd half although Ballymore never looked like losing the game. Both backs and forwards fought hard to win the ball back with some good defensive work from Gemma Swords and Nicola Rigney. Stephanie Harney had a good second half, jostling for the ball and ensuring that the Ballymore tally was kept ticking over. John Hubbard also learnt the hard way that waving an umbrella instead of a flag when you’re the sideline referee is not sufficient in Ladies Gaelic Football!!

Ballymore 2-8 Balyna II 0-6

Scorers for Ballymore
Aisling Hubbard 2-1
Stephanie Harney 0-3
Dawn Murray 0-2
Fran Burke 0-1
Lesley Tutty 0-1

Championship Results and Remaining Fixtures
Sunday Games at 2pm - Please come and support the Ladies!

Tuesday
25/08/2009
7pm
Kilcullen
v
Carbury
3:8 - 2:9
Tuesday
25/08/2009
7pm
Ballymore
v
Rathangan
1:7 - 4:10
Tuesday
25/08/2009
7pm
Robert Emmets
v
Eadestown II
1:11 - 3:7
Thursday
27/08/2009
7pm
Castledermot
v
Balyna II
2:2 - 3:13
Friday
28/08/2009
6:45pm
Rathangan
v
Eadestown II
3:5 - 1:7
Sunday
30/08/2009
2pm
Kilcullen
v
Castledermot
5:30 - 1:1
Sunday
30/08/2009
2pm
Ballymore
v
Balyna II
2:8 - 0:6
Sunday
30/08/2009
2pm
Carbury
v
Robert Emmets
OFF - Breavement
Tuesday
02/09/2009
7pm
Eadestown II
v
Ballymore
OFF
Tuesday
01/09/2009
7pm
Castledermot
v
Rathangan

Tuesday
01/09/2009
7pm
Balyna II
v
Carbury

Tuesday
01/09/2009
7pm
Kilcullen
v
Robert Emmets

Sunday
06/09/2009
2pm
Castledermot
v
Ballymore

Sunday
06/09/2009
2pm
Carbury
v
Eadestown II

Sunday
06/09/2009
2pm
Balyna II
v
Kilcullen

Sunday
06/09/2009
2pm
Robert Emmets
v
Rathangan

Sunday
20/09/2009
2pm
Carbury
v
Ballymore

Sunday
20/09/2009
2pm
Rathangan
v
Kilcullen

Sunday
20/09/2009
2pm
Eadestown II
v
Balyna II

Sunday
20/09/2009
2pm
Castledermot
v
Robert Emmets

Sunday
04/10/2009
2pm
Eadestown II
v
Castledermot

Sunday
04/10/2009
2pm
Rathangan
v
Carbury

Sunday
04/10/2009
2pm
Ballymore
v
Kilcullen

Sunday
04/10/2009
2pm
Robert Emmets
v
Balyna II

Sunday
11/10/2009
2pm
Carbury
v
Castledermot

Sunday
11/10/2009
2pm
Balyna II
v
Rathangan

Sunday
11/10/2009
2pm
Kilcullen
v
Eadestown II

Sunday
11/10/2009
2pm
Ballymore
v
Robert Emmets


Top two teams meeting in final and are promoted to Junior B for 2010. No relegation.
FINAL Sunday 18th October

Summer Cup 2009
Vs Prosperous
Ballymore had the better start in this game. Stephanie Harney was the usual goal threat and move of the match came from Fran Burke who won the ball in her own half, only to take it back and score a point for the Ladies. Aoife O’Toole stood tall preventing Prosperous from converting the few goal chances they did have. Despite their dominance Ballymore only had a small lead at half-time.
As expected, Prosperous came out all guns blazing in the 2nd half and began to notch up scores. Lesley Tutty swapped places with Fran Burke with both girls making a difference in their respective positions. With a sin-bin and a sending off the Ballymore girls had to work hard. Aisling Hubbard won some great ball in the forwards and Dawn Murray scored a goal from a rebound. Louise Burke stood out in the half-back line. The task proved a little too much on the day and higher division side Prosperous came out the eventual winners.

Prosperous 4-8 Ballymore 3-7

Scorers for Ballymore
Dawn Murray 1-3
Stephanie Harney 2-0
Aisling Hubbard 0-3
Fran Burke 0-1

Vs Robert Emmets
This was the final game in the Summer Cup which Robert Emmets had already won. Ballymore had their best start of the season, only allowing the summer cup champions to score a single point. Marilena Norton was dominant in the middle of the field, ensuring that the visitors didn’t get to see a lot of the ball. Ballymore had a number of missed chances but finished the half 0-5 to 0-1 in front.
The 2nd half proved a tighter affair with both teams trading Ps (that’s Sheena Hubbard’s shorthand for a point!). Robert Emmet’s did get a goal which brought some panic into the Ballymore side. The girls hung on thanks to 2 points from Dawn Murray to win by a single point.

Ballymore 0-9 Robert Emmets 1-5

Scorers for Ballymore
Dawn Murray 0-4
Aisling Hubbard 0-4
Stephanie Harney 0-1

Thanks to Caroline Swords Deegan for organising the tea and sandwiches and also the photographer on the night. The County Chairwoman Deirdre Kearney was at the match to present Robert Emmets with their trophy. She was very impressed with the game and commended the management teams on their encouragement from the sideline.

Challenge vs Donard
Donard paid another visit to Ballymore in a challenge game on Wednesday 12th August. Ballymore had the better start with a good first half but Donard came back in the second thirty. The backs soaked up the pressure and Aoife O’Toole made some lovely saves. Well done to Megan O’Neill on her first game back.

Ballymore 3-8 Donard 1-11

Challenge vs Newcastle
August 19th saw Ballymore take on Newcastle in Ballymore’s last match before their 2009 Championship season kicked off. Ballymore were eventual winners with an evenly fought out second half. Fran and Louise Burke played well in their respective halves with Fran coming back on to score a cracking goal to seal the victory.

Ballymore 2-6 Newcastle 1-7

Last Man Standing
Ballymore Ladies GAA would like to thank everyone who has got behind the team again this year in supporting our "Last Man Standing" competition. All your support has resulted in another great start to the competition with week one kicking off on Saturday August 29th with 187 players.
As usual, there have been a few casualties already but nothing like the massacre we experienced in week one last year! Pat Murphy was surprisingly knocked out after predicting that Arsenal would beat Man United in Old Trafford (what a shock!). One of our youngest players Joseph Metcalf also bowed out early as Sunderland let him down.
PRO Deirdre Hackett’s sheet was practically left bare after some tactical planning went horribly wrong for her players (namely Tracey and her brother Cian). She’s still hanging in with 3 of her 10 starters going into week 2.
Special word of praise to William O Donoghue who managed to rope 9 people into the competition within 30 mins on Saturday morning before the first game kicked off. All remaining survivors will battle it out over the next few weeks to grab the cash prize of €500. Next round of fixtures is September 12th.....Good luck to all involved!!!

County News
Hard luck to Lesley Tutty and the Kildare Senior B team who were beaten by Dublin’s 2nd team in the semi-finals of the Aisling McGing cup. Lesley came on as a sub for the Lilywhites and scored a point but the Dubs went on to win the game 2-9 to 1-9. Although Lesley was disappointed Kildare didn’t make it all of the way, Ballymore Ladies were delighted to have her back training with them in preparation for the club championship.
Kildare Ladies A team went out in the quarter final of the TG4 All Ireland Senior Championship to Cork on Saturday 22nd August, with the reigning All Ireland Champions knocking up 4-23 against Kildare’s 6 points.