League Division 1A Semi-Final
A goal in injury time by Ballinagh's Alan Durkin condemned the Ballyhaise junior team to a heartbreaking defeat in the Division 1A semi-final on Saturday afternoon. Played in near perfect conditions in Drumalee the match fitted the old cliché 'a game of two halves' perfectly. Ballinagh, fielding a strong team including players of the calibre of Paul Galligan, Enda Brady, Alan Durkin and Declan Beard, tore into Ballyhaise from the start and were eight points ahead after only twenty minutes. Two points from David Duggan and Neil Rooney and a very well taken goal by Barry Reilly brought Ballyhaise back into the game before half-time. They were, however, still six points in arrears at the break, 1-3 to 1-9.

Ballyhaise were a transformed team in the second half. The introduction of Francis Moore and Micheal Rooney at midfield had the desired effect and Ballyhaise began to win that sector convincingly. The forwards with a greater supply of the ball began to pick of their scores with more frequency with Christy Reilly, Francis Moore and Neil Rooney in particular causing all sorts of problems for the Ballinagh defence. Remarkably Ballyhaise grabbed the lead fifteen minutes into the second half when Rooney buried the ball in the back of the net and they increased their lead to three points shortly after with a Christy Reilly score. Unfortunately the scores dried up for the men and green and gold as they kicked several wides in the final ten minutes. A Neil Rooney point was harshly disallowed as he was penalised for picking the ball of the ground when it was at least a foot of the grass.

Ballinagh made the most of these misses and brought themselves back to within a point as the clock ticked into injury time. With almost the last attack of the game they launched a high ball into the square which fell kindly for Durkin who smashed it past goalkeeper Darragh Prior. Once again luck was not on the side of Ballyhaise and they were denied a well deserved place in the final having topped the table with just one defeat in the league all year.

Ballyhaise: Darragh Prior, Enda Fay, Mark Brennan, Anthony Lyons, P.J. Brady, Sean Fay, Shane Briody, Ryan Brennan, Adam Boyle, Barry Reilly (1-0), Christopher Reilly (0-3), Niall Costello, David Duggan (0-2), Neil Rooney (1-2), Gerard Reilly. Subs used: Francis Moore (0-2), Michael Rooney, John McCabe, Ciaran McGowan, Jarlath Moran.

U-21
Ballyhaise began their preparations for the upcoming championship with a challenge match against Assan Gaels (Lavey/Killinkere) in Annalee Park on Sunday. Ballyhaise emerged victorious after an open and entertaining game. The final score was 3-11 to 2-12.
Ballyhaise: Darragh Prior, Darren Conaty, P.J.Brady, Francis McConnell, Niall Conaty, Donal McGoldrick (0-2), Shane Briody, Francis Moore (0-1), Ryan Brennan, David Duggan (0-2), Christopher Reilly (1-2), Adam Boyle (0-1), Jamie Conaty, Niall Costello, Kevin Tierney (2-3).

Training for the all the U-21 panel takes place on Friday at 8pm.

Coaching
A foundation course in coaching will take place this weekend in Breffni Park at the following times: Friday 7th October 7-10pm and Saturday 8th October 9.30am-3.00pm.

Places on this course are filling up fast so anyone interested is asked to contact Dessie Reilly (Mobile 0872048456/email [email protected]) as soon as possible.

Poker
Club members are asked to continue to support the poker games on Friday nights in Anthony Brady's from 10pm. The proceeds go towards running the juvenile club.

Contact
If club members would like to have notices included in the club notes, please e-mail them to [email protected] by Saturday evening at the latest. Tweet

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