Junior Football Championship

Ballinagore 2-10 Castletown/Finea/Coole/Whitehall 0-14

We made the journey into Springfield, Mullingar on Sunday afternoon to take on last years county finalists, CFCW, in the opening round of this years championship. With the overall number in attendance restricted to 200, including playing panels and officials, the number of supporters able to attend was limited for both sides but those where were there were treated to a highly entertaining and competitive contest between two committed sides. A moments silence was observed for the late Tony Linnane before the throw in on what was a sunny and warm afternoon for football. CFCW had a stiff breeze at their backs and they were the first to score with a pointed free after just over a minute of action. However, we quickly sprang into life and, in an ultimately crucial period of play, we scored a quick fire 2-01 with a fisted goal by James Durkan, an excellent solo effort by Robbie Keegan and a fine point from Eoin Deegan to give us an early cushion. CFCW showed their mettle and picked off a number of well taken points from play and two frees to level the game by the fifteenth minute as they made the most of their wind advantage. We regained the lead shortly after with a well taken point from play by Brandon Carey after a neat build up from Robbie and David Keegan. Paddy Ennis increased our lead two minutes later after an excellent move involving both Keegans again, Brandon Carey and Darragh Seery. CFCW finished the first half scoring with the final two points, both from play, to leave the half time score level, 2-03 to 0-09. Our opponents scored in the first minute of the second half with a pointed free to put them in front for the second time in the game. However another Paddy Ennis point following a great turnover by Darren Rigney drew us level again before we regained the lead with a nicely taken Darragh Seery point after a good solo run. CFCW had the next two points, both frees, to edge them back in front as the play free-flowed from end to end in this absorbing battle. In the 10th minute, a dangerous sliding tackle on Niall Kelly ended up with CFCW going down to fourteen men with Brandon Carey pointing the free to level the sides again. Our numerical advantage was short lived though as Robbie Keegan received a straight red for what appeared to be a legitimate shoulder challenge on CFCW wing back, Emmet Corrigan, who unfortunately suffered a serious injury in the process as he fell against the fence and dugout. We wish Emmet a speedy recovery. The long break for this injury might have unsettled our team who had been showing signs of getting on top at this stage but thankfully it didn't and we continued to press forward with intent and defend well at the back. We had the next three points from play as Brandon Carey was setup nicely by Niall Kelly, David Keegan pointed after great fielding by Brandon and Niall Kelly kicked a lovely point to put us three ahead with twenty minutes on the clock. CFCW refused to lie down and they scored the next two points to leave the minimum between the sides near the end. They continued to press for an equaliser but great defending resulted in a break by Darragh Seery who setup Brandon Carey for our tenth point which was the last score of the game. Final score 2-10 to 0-14 in our favour. This was a very positive performance by our lads who showed the great fighting spirit of old and fought for every ball as if their lives depended on it. While everyone played their part, a few must get special mentions. Darren Rigney, who moved from half forward back to mark the everygreen Kevin Brazil, following Ciaran Careys departure through injury, kept the infulential corner forward very quiet for the remainder of the game. Brandon Carey showed great skill and leadership with an accomplished performance when we needed it most. Paddy Ennis showed how difficult he is to handle up front while also putting in a number of great defensive challenges towards the end to lift the pressure off us. Enda Claffey and David Keegan put in an industrious hour at midfield with Enda, in particular, getting some great turnovers and blocks in as CFCW came hard at us. Our two debutants also fared well with Darragh Seery putting in a great shift of purposeful running and telling passes and Derek Newman proving to be a great new asset to our club with his strong running and physicality. However, it was our collective team spirit, tenacity and never say die spirit that garnered the two points on the day. Our next outing is next Sunday as we play Garrycastle in Tyrrellspass. Well done to all involved. Team: Ian Seery, Finian Heeney, Peter Deegan, Ciaran Carey, Robbie Keegan, James Sheerin, Conan Feery, David Keegan, Enda Claffey, Darragh Seery, Brandon Carey, Darren Rigney, Paddy Ennis, James Durkan, Eoin Deegan. Subs: Derek Newman, Niall Kelly, David Slevin, Robert Gannon.

Next Sunday’s JFC game is all ticket again due to ongoing restrictions. You need to contact Sean Delaney ASAP on (086) 331 5686 if you are interested in going to the game.

 

Fixtures

JFC Round 2: Sunday 9th August vs Garrycastle, 3.30pm in Tyrrellspass

U15 Football Championship: Monday 3rd August vs Coralstown/Kinnegad, 7pm in Ballinagore

U17 Football Championship: Wednesday 5th August vs Tyrrellspass, 7pm in Tyrrellspass

U13 Football Championship: Thursday 6th August vs Killucan, 7pm in Ballinagore

 

U13 Football

Lilliput Gaels U13’s had their first outing of the year on Friday evening against Tyrellspass in a friendly game played in Ballinagore. It took the first quarter of the game for us to shake off the cobwebs as we played second fiddle to a slicker Tyrrellspass outfit. We eventually put some good passages of play together and picked off some nice scores in what was a much improved second quarter. We continued this vein in the second half in what was a good competitive game of football and a very good workout. Our thanks to Tyrrellspass GAA for travelling over and to Peter Reynolds for refereeing the game. Team: Dylan Birch, Shane Maloney, Aaron Jackson, Fionn McKinley, Dara Mulligan, David O’Malley, Sean Bolger, Dylan Corrigan, Cian Corcoran, Luke Robinson, Eoin Carey, Conor Maloney, Gavin Ennis, Rory Quinn, Ciaran Doran, Frazier Young, Dara Fagan.

 

U9/U11 Football

Our U9's and U11's welcomed Mullingar Shamrocks to Castletown on Saturday morning where both sets of teams served up some excellent football for everybody present. Thanks to Mullingar Shamrocks for coming out to play and thanks to Liam McDaniel and Alan Mangan for refereeing the games.

 

Sympathy

We extend our deepest sympathy to Geraldine Deegan and the Keegan family, Killard on the sad passing of Geraldine's uncle, Fr Tom Keegan, retired PP in Toowoomba, Queensland, Austrailia. May he Rest in Peace.

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