Ballyhooly 0-14 Newtownshandrum 0-8

Ballyhooly made the long journey to Newtownshandrum worthwile on Saturday night with a well deserved 6 point win over Newtown in the Cavanagh’s Division 1 Hurling League game.

In ideal conditions for hurling on the excellent Newtown pitch this was an exciting and entertaining game. The key to Ballyhooly’s win was an excellent 10 min spell midway through the first half when they scored 6 points without reply which helped give give a 5 point half-time lead.

Newtown rallied strongly after the break but a resolute and well organised Ballyhooly defence gave them no easy scores and ensured we collected the league points.

It was 0-3 all after 10 mins – our scores came from Darragh O’Reilly and two from Jerry (one from a free after David O’Brien was fouled). Ballyhooly got on top at this stage and the forwards, with Jerry O’Connor in great form, hit a purple patch over the next 10 mins.

In the 12th min Jerry pointed after a foul on Peter Ahern, Jerry got two from play in the 14th and 15th min after some lovely interpassing, Darragh O’Reilly was on target in the 15th min and Jerry and Fergal O’Connell made it 0-9 to 0-3 after 19 mins.

Darragh pointed after 24 mins after David O’Brien was fouled but Newtown hit back in the final mins of the half with two points to leave it 0-10 to 0-5 when Ciaran O’Regan blew for half-time.

Newtown came out in determined mood after the break and got a 34th min point but Peter Ahern got one back a minute later. Newtown were now the dominant team but they were finding it difficult to get any space from a well organised Ballyhooly defence.

James Roche was in great form at No 6 and Kevin O’Driscoll was in command on the edge of the square and Philip Leahy, Fintan Linehan, Ml Hanrahan and Bernard Kieran all completed a formidable unit with hardworking midfielder Sean Linehan helping out if needed. James Roche pointed from an 80 metre free in the 12th min and Newtown got their 8th and final point in the 46th min.

In that final quarter they had plenty possession but failed to penetrate and in the end were looking for a goal to get them back into the game and goalkeeper Patrick O’Connor dealt capably with their attempts making one fine save in the 58th min.

By then further points by Sean Linehan and Jerry after a foul on Kevin Kiely had secured victory for Ballyhooly.

Due to a mixup Ballyhooly travelled without jerseys so thanks to Newtown who stepped in to loan us a set.

We now face Churchtown next Sunday afternoon in Churchtown at 3pm in our next Cavanaghs Division 1 League game.

Foireann: Patrick O’Connor, Philip Leahy, Kevin O’Driscoll, Fintan Linehan, Ml Hanrahan, James Roche, Bernard Kiernan, Sean Linehan, Darragh O’Reilly, Peter Ahern, Jerry O’Connor, Denis Kiely, David O’Brien, Kevin Kiely and Fergal O’Connell.

Fir ionaid a thainigh isteach: Ricky Fraher.

Fir ionaid eile: Gavin Collins, Robbie Walsh, Gearoid Nyhan, Shane Murphy, Robert Campbell, Robert O’Gorman, Rory O’Driscoll and Mark Kenny.

Reiteoir: Ciaran O’Regan (Ballyhea).

LOTTO JACKPOT NOW €6,200

The jackpot is €6,200 for Monday night’s lotto draw inThe Roundy House on Monday, 30th March.

YOUR LAST CHANCE OF WINNING A CAR

As winners of the 2014 Division 2 Cavanaghs of Fermoy Football League Ballyhooly are participants in the very attractive League Winners’ Draw. The main prizes are two Ford Cars and also 27 prizes of €250. This is a very attractive draw and tickets are €20 each with a book of 3 for €50. This fundraiser comes at a very opportune time for Ballyhooly GAA as our dressing-room complex needs refurbishment and upgrading.

Tickets sales are going well to date and we are holding a special meting on Monday night in the community hall at 9pm to collect all tickets sold to date.

DEFIBRILLATOR

As you all probably know Ballyhooly GAA has a defibrillator since 2007. Recently new operators were trained or retrained and also a number of people who are qualified first aiders at work have joined the group.

The names of the new operator group are in all the notice-boards in Costcutter shop, the church, community hall, the school notice-board and also in the dressing-rooms. If anyone else in Ballyhooly is qualified and would like to join the group we would be delighted to have them.

Contact any current operator.The defibrillator is housed in storage room and in an emergency can be procured by getting the key in the ‘Break Glass Unit’.

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Cavanaghs Div 3 Hurling League: Araglin on Saturday 28th March at 5.30pm, Ballyhooly v Araglin.

Cavanaghs Division 1 Hurling League: Churchtown on Sunday, 29th March at 3pm, Ballyhooly v Churchtown and in Fermoy on Thursday, 2nd April at 8pm, Ballyhooly v Fermoy.

We are drawn against Dromina in the 1st round of the Junior A Hurling championship.

In the Co Junior B Football championship we face Ballyphehane in the 1st round in Glenville on Saturday, 18th April at 4pm.

We also have a rirst round intermediate hurling championship fixed for Ballyhooly on Saturday, 23rd May when Milford will cross camans with Fr O’Neills.

WELL DONE MIKE

Congratulations to Mike Ross who once again was a vital part of Ireland’s great Rugby Six Nations Championship win. Best of luck with Leinster now Mike and on to the World Cup. We are also watching cousin Clive’s progress with Ulster and maybe he too will wear the green of Ireland.

MAIN CLUB SPONSOR – Mike’s Tyres, Fermoy.