Tag Archives: Ballyea

Michael O’Connor reports on a thrill-a-minute shootout for the U17A Academy title BALLYEA 5-16 INAGH KILNAMONA 4-14 ONE of the better games in the minor of 2021 was reserved for this thrill a minute Under 17A academy final in Éire Óg GAA grounds on Sunday morning. It must be acknowledged that both clubs turned out two well drilled second teams and based on the abilities of those on view they will be strong adult players in the coming years. Gearoid Barry opened the scoring for Inagh/Kilnamona as the favourites tag was resting on the shoulders of the Ballyea players who were missing the services of Cody Killoughrey, Robbie Markham and Jade Gallery. The skilful Fiachra Kirby responded for Ballyea’s opening score. At the end of a pulsating end to end action first quarter Ballyea held a slender (2-3) to (1-4) lead. Fiachra Kirby and a long range free from Eoin Kennedy that went all the way to the net were …

THE Ennistymon Púca may have been hitting the headlines all over the world, but Clarecastle & Ballyea Heritage & Wildlife Group believes it has fished out a magical tale to rival that. The local group has been compiling information about the once famous Mermaid of Newhall Lake, with the aim of bringing the mystical figure back into the public consciousness. As part of this members have gathered stories from various sources over centuries about the mermaid and made them available on the group’s website. There has also been a watercolour painting of the mermaid completed, and local composer Seán Lyons has recorded a song inspired by the legend. Eric Shaw of Clarecastle & Ballyea Heritage & Wildlife Group said, “Reading through the Clare section of the 1937 Schools’ Project now held in Dúchas, there are 92 stories of mermaids and 26 of these relate to our Mermaid of Newhall. “In the 1930s, most school children in Clare knew of the …

A LOCAL organisation are endeavouring to bring some positivity into the lives of others in these uncertain times. The Clarecastle Heritage and Wildlife Group have issued a call for uplifting stories of how people are coping with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. They aim to share these stories on their recently launched website with the aim of highlighting the goodness in the world in these uncertain times. It is hoped that these positive messages will bring comfort to others. Eric Shaw of the Clarecastle group explains, “Clarecastle Heritage & Wildlife Group feel that in the midst of this unprecedented public health emergency, there are so many positive responses that deserve to be recorded and shared so as to give the community an uplift. Clarecastle has set up a Covid-19 Support Network involving groups such as St Vincent de Paul, GAA, Men’s Shed, Daycare Centre, Tidy Towns, Clarecastle Community Development Company linked to Clare County Council to provide support to the community. Many of the older …

TWO weeks after winning just their second Canon Hamilton, Ballyea travel to Waterford on Sunday at 1.30pm, looking for a performance that can stun favourites Ballygunner in the Munster club semi-final. Sunday’s encounter promises to go right to the wire, providing both teams perform to their capabilities. A big performance from Tony Kelly will be required for Ballyea yet again, although players like Brandon O’Connell and Martin O’Leary were superb in the county final. More of the same will be required on Sunday along with big performances from Gary Brennan and Jack Browne. The unerring accuracy of free taker Niall Deasy will also play a pivotal role in Ballyea’s performance in Waterford as the 2016 Munster champions seek to conquer Munster again. Deasy has a superb record from placed balls and that has been pivotal to their unexpected 2018 championship success. Ballyea will also have to keep an eye on their oppositions centre forward, Pauric Mahony. The 26-year-old tallied 25 …

Ballyea 1-20 Cratloe 1-14 BALLYEA turned in a sensational second half performance to win the 2018 Clare senior hurling title in Cusack Park on Sunday. Seven points down in the opening minute of the second half the 2016 Clare and Munster champions outscored Cratloe 1-8 to 0-0 from the 37th minute with Martin O’Leary burying the crucial goal four minutes from time, when Ballyea intercepted a short puck out. Played in front of a crowd of 7,040 people, Ballyea showed immense heart and courage to recover from a 1-10 to 0-9 deficit, having played with the wind. Cratloe looked very sharp in the first half with Billy Connors and Cathal McInerney particularly potent in the full forward line. They looked to be in a great position at half-time but were completely outplayed for most of the second half as Ballyea significantly upped their game, while Cratloe wilted. Niall Deasy was selected as man of the match while he also won …

The race for the under 21 hurling championships (A, B and C) got underway this Saturday afternoon but the biggest talking point concerned a game that didn’t take place, the first round game between Ballyea and Clonlara in the B competition. Ballyea had sought a switch from Saturday afternoon because of the involvement of two of their team, Cillian Brennan and Pearce Lillis, with Clare in tomorrow’s Allianz football league game between Clare and Roscommon but Clonlara explained that due to work committments they were unable to accomodate Ballyea’s request for a change.  It is understood that Ballyea offered to play the game this Sunday evening or on Monday or Tuesday evenings. On the field of play it was a good evening for Inagh-Kilnamona, both of whose teams progressed. Their A team, after some anxious moments, put in a strong second half to overcome St. Josephs on a 1-20 to 1-11 scoreline. The final score is a little flattering in …

A veteran of Clondegad’s 1997 Junior B Championship win, Mikey Hehir is a manager with significant experience behind him. Now in his second stint at the helm of Clondegad, prior to that he managed Ballyea for three years. From Drumquin in Ballynacally, Hehir won two junior championships with Clondegad and played in two losing intermediate finals, before succumbing to a knee injury, having had an initial operation at 15. “Eventually the knee gave way. Every year it was getting harder and harder to come back. I started not making the team, so I got involved with the hurlers in Ballyea as a coach, about seven or eight years ago. As that year progressed, I ended up falling into the manager’s role. We had three relegation battles, one final and two semi-finals. We won two U-21 B in that period and the following year, when Robbie Hogan, Raymond O’Connor and Donal Kelly came in, they won the U-21 A. It was …

Ballyea’s reign as Clare senior hurling champions ended at Cusack Park this evening when they were stripped of the title by Newmarket who had four points to spare at the final whistle. A strong final five minutes to the opening half proved decisive in this one as Newmarket scored 1-4 in that period while conceding just a point. While Ballyea boss Fergal Hegarty was fullsome in his praise for Newmarket, it must be pointed out that the title holders went into this game with key players Tony Kelly and Gearoid O’Connell carrying injuries which clearly hampered their play. The holders made the better start and at the end of a low scoring opening quarter they led on a scoreline of 1-2 to 0-1, the goal having come from Niall Deasy following a defensive blunder by the eventual winners. Gradually, however, Newmarket got a grip on proceedings and the switch of Ronan Goode to the full forward line paid dividends. Three …