Busy first weekend on the pitch
Ballyhooly had a busy first weekend of games for 2024 with both Division 1 and Division 3 games taking place.
CAVANAGH’S OF FERMOY DIV 3 HURLING LEAGUE Ballyhooly 0-15 Ballyclough 5-11
Ballyhooly hosted Ballyclough for a round 1 game of the Cavanagh’s of Fermoy Div 3 Hurling League. Ballyclough proved to be strong opposition for this opening fixture. Ballyhooly remained competitive for most of the first half but the Ballyclough goals early in the second half put the game completely out of reach.
Good performances by Darragh Whelan at 15 and Fergal O’Connell at 6 kept Ballyhooly moving on the scoreboard with points coming from both frees and play.
For the first quarter of an hour the teams stayed together but Ballyclough did better on the scoreboard, putting away two handy goals plus two points against Ballyhooly’s four points, three from Darragh Whelan and one from Dan Cooney. For the remainder of the half Ballyclough dominated the scoring with five points coming from frees while Darragh Whelan added just one more from a long distance shot, to leave the scores Ballyclough 2-7 Ballyhooly 0-5 at half-time.
As the second half began Ballyhooly were dealt a further blow as Ballyclough goaled on the first and third minutes. The game was now truly out of reach as Ballyhooly trailed 4-7 to 0-5 but they kept working and did add further scores to their tally.
Fergal O’Connell at centre back put over four frees in succession, Dan Cooney added one from play, Darragh Whelan two from frees and two from play plus a final point from Tom Crowley finalised Ballyhooly’s total. Final score Ballyhooly 0-15 Ballyclough 5-11.
The lads put in a great effort but the score on the day was disappointing. It is however great to see this team on the pitch. It is a great demonstration of the commitment of the club to ensure as many as possible are involved in teams this year. The team is a great mix of youth and experience and although this first game could have gone better there are further games to play which will no doubt bring about further improvement.
Team: Barry Johnson, Oisin Ahern, Jeff Gowen, Luke Burdett, Cormac Crowley, Fergal O’Connell (0-4f), Shane Buckley, Sean Dineen, Dan Cooney (0-2,0-1f), Liam McCarthy, Tom Crowley (0-1), Brian O’Driscoll, Robert O’Gorman, capt, Denis Kiely, Darragh Whelan (0-8, 0-4f). Subs: Tommy Barrett (half-time for Liam McCarthy), Gavin Collins (half-time for Sean Dineen).
Referee: Peter Watson.
CAVANAGH’S OF FERMOY DIV 1 HURLING LEAGUE Ballyhooly 2-13 Clyda Rovers 2-15
Game two of the weekend saw Ballyhooly hosting Clyda Rovers for Round 1 of the Cavanagh’s of Fermoy Hurling League.
Ballyhooly did very well in the first half but their performance slipped at the beginning of the second half this and the concession of too many frees was to cost them the game.
Diarmuid Linehan opened Ballyhooly’s scoring from the off with a point from play and from here Brian Lombard kept the scoreboard ticking over with 0-7 from frees in the opening half. Further points from play by Seamus Roche, two by Kevin Kiely and an opportunistic goal by Tom Crowley after twenty minutes had Ballyhooly ahead 1-11 to Clyda Rovers 1-5 at the break.
On the restart Ballyhooly were not as strong and Clyda Rovers capitalised. Within the first fifteen minutes Clyda Rovers had scored four points from play and two from frees whereas Ballyhooly had added just the one point from a Brian Lombard free to bring their lead now back to the minimum, Ballyhooly 1-12 Clyda Rovers 1-11. Ballyhooly continued to struggle to score as well as conceding frees which Clyda Rovers were converting and putting themselves ahead nicely.
In the fifty-fourth minute Darragh Whelan brough Ballyhooly back into the game with a goal from play, Ballyhooly 2-12 (18) Clyda Rovers 1-14 (17) but Clyda wiped this comeback out with a goal of their own shortly afterwards to leave Ballyhooly trailing again. Brian Lombard added one further point from play but at the final whistle the league points were Clyda Rovers. Final score Ballyhooly 2-13 Cyda Rovers 2-15.
For a first day out this was a good performance by Ballyhooly with only the beginning of the second half letting them down, from which no doubt lessons will be learned.
Team: Cian Murphy, Fintan Linehan, Eoin Sykes, Jeff Gowen, Dylan Collins, Eoin Buckley, capt, Eoin Twomey, Diarmuid Linehan (0-1), Seamus Roche (0-1), Gearoid Roche, Fionn Hess, Kevin Kiely (0-2), Brian Lombard (0-9, 0-8f), Tom Crowley (1-0), Darragh Whelan (1-0). Subs: Cormac Crowley for Jeff Gowen (41), Dan Cooney for Tom Crowley (43),
Sean Dineen, Robert O’Gorman, Oisin Ahern
Referee: Dwaine Collins.
REBELS’ BOUNTY
As we head into the final days of Rebels’ Bounty ticket sales we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all those that have joined or re-joined Rebels’ Bounty for 2024. We have received fantastic support in Ballyhooly and lots of new members have come on board. All money raised from ticket sales is now going directly to the club and these extra funds will be used to complete our current development project.
There is still time to join before the first draw on 28th March, 2024 for anyone that is interested. Log on to gaacork.ie or contact any club officer. With huge cash prizes on offer this could be your chance to win big.
FIXTURES
Cavanagh’s of Fermoy Div 1 Hurling League v Killavullen on Sunday, 24th March at 2.30pm in Killavullen.
LOTTO
There was no jackpot winner last Monday night. The numbers drawn were 6, 16 and 21. The lucky dip winners were Pam Kennedy, Ryan Twomey, Joe Dowling, Deirdre Atwood and Aoife Magner. The next draw will be on Monday, 1st April for a jackpot of €1,400. Tickets available on Clubforce, the shop, pub or your usual seller.