All roads lead to Croker
All roads from every inch of Ballygiblin and Mitchelstown are heading to Croke Park on Saturday for the Junior Club All-Ireland. I’d say there won’t be a soul to be seen in the place come 3 o’clock, with those who can’t travel tuning into the online live stream.
It’s hard to believe our little club are going to be on the biggest GAA stage and it’s the only thing been talked about in the town for the past 2 weeks. The excitement levels from young through to our veterans have been through the roof and the craic and buzz have been fantastic. The team met with all their young supporters last Friday night with an opening training session and it so heart-warming to see youngsters idolising and excited about meeting their own club players. There was nothing but huge praise afterwards for this brilliant bunch of players who gave their time to each and every supporter. The game throws in at 3.00 on Saturday and our opponents are Mooncoin of Kilkenny who have been on this stage in 2017 when they were narrowly beaten by Mayfield. Kilkenny teams are known for their toughness and steel and we are expecting one hell of a battle from them. We would like to wish everyone travelling a safe journey and we can’t wait to hear ‘Bally Bally’ echoing through Croke Park. Let’s get behind them from start to finish and wear as much red and white as possible.
As for the team, they have brought such pride and joy to Ballygiblin over the past number of months, we have been on a rollercoaster of emotions with them, edging victories while giving us supporters heart failure like in the games against Kilshannig, Charleville and Passage, coming back from the dead in the county final against Dromtarriffe, overcoming gales force winds in Kildorrery and Caherline and who can forget getting one over on our near neighbours Skeheen in the Munster final. It’s been an absolutely wonderful journey and we just hope that we can finish the job on Saturday and be crowned All-Ireland Champions.
We know for sure that the lads with give it their all and regardless of the outcome we are immensely proud of each and every one of them. Personally I’m taking a few liberties here (and he will probably kill me) but I would like to wish my brother Diarmuid Lynch all the best on Saturday, he turns 48 today (Thursday 3rd) and has given so much to the club over the years, he was part of the first ever juvenile team to bring a North Cork title to Ballygiblin at age 10 in the 1984 U12 final and his passion and love of hurling and Ballygiblin has him still playing nearly 40 years later. I hope he will inspire the generation to come to do the same. Best of luck to the all the team and management, bring it home lads, Ballygiblin Abu!
UP FOR THE MATCH
What would an All-Ireland final be without up for the match on the telly the night before and that’s exactly what is instore this Friday night when we will host our own Ballygiblin version. One hour of live online interviews, craic and ceol. This cannot be missed, there will be chat to past players, family and partners of the current panel, bull raising farmers and plenty more interviews and our fantastic school children providing the entertainment. It will be live on Pairc TV for €5 with all proceeds going to the club.
FLAGS, BANNERS AND BUNTING
Thanks to everyone for putting such a huge effort in and it’s been fantastic to see such colour around the place, there’s been innovative homemade posters, red and white bales of silage, flags flying everywhere. Schools decorated, flags flying in other counties and countries. Thanks also to our volunteers who hung the bunting and flags around the town, the place looks brilliant.
KNOW YOUR SPORT
We have launched a know your sport competition for those who think they might be a sports expert. Think you can predict the outcome of 15 sporting events, know your golf from your hurling or your rugby from your football then this is the competition for you. €10 to enter and the winner will walk away with a staggering €1000.