Fixture and injury mayhem

It’s been a busy week of hurling, catching up on a number of postponed fixtures. Unfortunately, the results haven’t gone our way but we haven’t been helped by a long list of injuries.

On Tuesday of last week, we took on Araglin in the Cavanagh’s of Fermoy Division 2 league. There was unfortunately a gulf in class and the game was over as a contest in the first half when Araglin lead 2-14 to 0-08 at half time. The goals were the killer as the game was evenly matched to that point, their midfielder making an impressive run down the middle before slotting to the back of the net and 10 minutes later they hit us for the second one with a number of passes finding a free man in front of goal.

We did have a goal chance ourselves in the opening 10 minutes when Kieran O’Doherty looked to have followed a high ball into the square and flicked it home, but the referee deemed it a square ball and a free out. The second half didn’t get much better for us as Araglin continued to run riot, but we did manage to bag two goals in the last 15 minutes of the match with Eoin Flynn finding the net twice. The match finishing Ballygiblin 2-14 Araglin 4-22.

THE BATTLE WITH AGHADA

We then took on Aghada on Wednesday night in the Red FM Division 5 League, we started without 7 of the team that started in the All-Ireland final, between injures and emigration. It was a lively encounter with the teams well matched, though we will rue our wides in the first half especially from placed balls and also our indiscipline in the second half leading to 5 of Aghada’s second half points.

We started well with Shane Beston opening the scoring and causing problems in the full forward line. We would then register the first of our 9 first half wides from a free before Diarmuid Allen then got another from play after good work saw him block down the Aghada keeper. Shane was then unlucky to see 3 of his shots go wide in as many minutes before Aghada opened their scoring with a hard-fought point.

Dillon Sheehan was then fouled in possession on the 21 and he took the resulting free to push us up to 0-03 points. But it wasn’t long before Aghada found their scoring boots and bypassed us to lead by 2 with 8 minutes of the half remaining, there was plenty of good tackling, blocking and hooking but we still continued to clock up the wides.

Aghada would go 3 clear with 5 minutes remaining but Dean Barry got one back after good work by Diarmuid Allen and then Dillon slotted over another free after Shane was fouled. Aghada got one back to lead by 2 but in the dying minutes of the half we managed to point 2 further frees again Shane was fouled and Dylan Reidy Price looking lively at centre forward. The sides level at 0-07 each at half time.

SECOND HALF ACTION

Shane opened the second half as he did the first with a point from play in the opening seconds, but it would mark the end of his involvement in the game as he limped off injured minutes later. Aghada got one back before Joseph O’Sullivan who was introduced for Shane slotted a beauty from midfield after getting on the end of our puckout, but our lead was short-lived as Aghada hit us for 4 on the trot from frees.

As the lights turned on, in the 12th minute, Joseph slotted over a free after good work from Kieran Duggan and Dillion Sheehan. Aghada then pushed their lead to 4 with 2 quick points as we headed for the last 15 minutes. Things went from bad to worse when we were reduced to 14 with Dillion Sheehan seeing red after an awkward pull on a dropping ball. We pointed 3 frees as Aghada notched 3 wides to leave only 1 between the sides as we headed for the final 2 minutes of the half.

Aghada responded well to our challenge working well to clear any threat inside and using the numerical advantage. They had their lead back to 2 before another free for us saw us bring it to within 1 again but they finished strongest with 2 well worked points from play to win 0-17 to 0-14. Overall, our lack of matches in the last few weeks probably told in the end as we faded slightly but we did have plenty of chances in front of goal with our shooting leaving us down.

CAVANAGH’S OF FERMOY LEAGUE

Then on Friday night the Junior Bs were back in action in the Cavanagh’s of Fermoy League taking on Castletownroche in their home ground, it was a high scoring affair which would see 9 goals. We had our 4 goals scored in the first half, 3 from the stick of Oisín Hanrahan and one from Noel Fitzgerald had us in the driving seat at half time leading 4-06 to 2-08.

We extended our lead to 6 points on the 15th minute but Castletown took over from there and by the time we were heading into injury time the sides were level Ballygiblin 4-17 to 5-14. Unfortunately, it was Castletown that got the decisive score to win by a single point. Overall a great display by the lads but they will be disappointed to have not pushed on in the second half.

Saturday then we welcomed Argideen Rangers to town in a rematch of our Championship group stage match last year. Again injuries to a number of key players gave some of our fringe players a chance. The sides were evenly matched, and scores were at a premium with both sets of defences on top, the sides level after 20 minutes with 3 points each.

Argideen then pushed 2 clear before we suffered a big blow on the 23rd minute when Joseph - who was clearly being fouled - retaliated after getting his free, the referee deeming it a red card offence and we were down to 14 men. Both teams swapped a number of wides before Argideen went 3 up with some fine scores. Darragh did get one back with a beauty from out wide under pressure and he again got another from play in injury time to leave the sides Ballygiblin 0-05 to 0-06 at half time.

The opening 20 minutes of the game were frustrating as we fought hard with the numerical disadvantage as Argideen swept up at the back, but we did have plenty of opportunities to make the game a ding-dong battle registering 6 wides in a row. It was also a half which saw Lorcan Finn, Aaron O’Brien and Darragh add themselves to the injury list already occupied by James Mullins, Shane Beston, Sean O’Sullivan, Jack Lewis and Cathail O’Mahony.

Argideen weren’t as wasteful increasing their lead to 3 in same period, but the final blow came in the 21st minute when they ran through to find the net and lead 1-08 to 0-05. Ballygiblin yet to register a score in the second half. We did get one point from a free in the dying minutes but Argideen finished 1-11 to Ballygiblin’s 0-06.

Overall, a disappointing outcome the sending off and injuries of course not helping our efforts.

RED FM DIVISION 5 LEAGUE

On Tuesday last we had yet another match in the Red FM division 5 league the rescheduled match away against Russell Rovers. We only had 4 of the normal starting 15 available to play so it was always going to be an uphill battle and there was a big crowd in Russell Rovers as they expected an immense battle after last years county semi-final nail biting clash.

Unfortunately there was a gulf in class and Rovers ran into a 3-06 to no score lead after only 10 minutes of play, in fairness the lads battled well and only allowed them to get one further score in the first half but the game was done as a contest. I think we can clearly say that Lady luck has decided she’s done her job with us the last 2 years as we added Christopher Noonan to the long injury list. We just hope that everyone will make a quick recovery and be back in action in the coming weeks.

UPCOMING FIXTURES

Red FM Division 5 league – rescheduled game on Wednesday, 10th May v Mayfield in Mayfield at 19.30. Sunday, 14th May – v Castlemartyr in Ballygiblin at 11.30.

GOLF CLASSIC

The annual Ballygiblin GAA club Golf Classic will take place at Mitchelstown Golf club on Friday, 26th May. The Golf Classic is one of our main sources of income along with the Rebels’ Bounty draw and without both we would be unable to meet our annual running costs which have increased with success of the club in the last 2 years. We are extremely lucky to have such a loyal group of supporters who support us year after year both on and off the pitch.

Format: 3 person team event - €150 per team including refreshments and meal on completion of round. Tee times – up until 12.30pm or shot-gun start at 4.30pm. Support – we would also welcome support in terms of sponsorship of greens at a rate of €100 or sponsorship of tee boxes at €50 with the sponsors name printed at the green or tee box. All teams and sponsors will also have their names displayed throughout the golf classic and this will also be displayed at the Ballygiblin pitch for the remainder of 2023.

For enquires please contact Brian Molan 086-8053590, John Hennessy 086-8211897, Fionn Herlihy 087-3619768 or Paul Hennessy 086-1630232.