Ballincollig Soccer Club1st Division Team won their league last Thursday night 8^th May securing top place by beating Richmond in the Regional Park Ballincollig 2 - 1.

 

1 Team photo before the match with managers Eoin Feeilly and Conor     Cunningham

2 Captain Conor Farrell being presented with the 1st Division League Cup.

3 Team celebrating after winning league

 

Match Report

It was Ballincollig's last league game of the season and it was never going to be easy in a local derby with neighbours Richmond. The game began with Richmond taking the game to Ballincollig and despite Ballincollig having most of the possession and play they did not convert their chances, and it was Richmond who took the lead twenty minutes into the second half. While a draw would be enough for Ballincollig to win the game it was now up to managers Eoin Feeilly and Conor Cunningham to rally their team and get a result.

It was to be under 17 sub James Murphy who scored the equalizer from a Gavin O'Callaghan corner and with bodies everywhere trying to get the ball in the net and out of the goal mouth it was James who ran at the ball and his shot went passed the Richmond keeper. Richmond felt aggrieved by the referees decision and as a result of their protests were reduced to nine players. However this only spurred the Richmond team on and it was to be only two or three minutes from full time that Darren Forde scored the winner and Ballincollig secured the League Title for 2007/2008.

Ballincollig's captain Conor Farrell was presented the League Cup by AUL Member Denis Lyne. Celebrations went on well into the night. Well done to all the lads involved.

 

The panel of players are as follows

Front row left to right: Eric Lynch, Chris Kelly, John Lawlor (un 17) Gavin O'Callaghan, David Bowen, Conor Farrell (captain) James Murphy (un 17).

Back row left to right: Eoin Feeilly (manager) Darren Forde, Eoin O'Keeffe, Bryan Mc Nulty, David McCarthy John Moynihan, Rob Quinn, Ian Goggin, David Hogan, Stuart Collins and Conor Cunningham (manager). Missing from the picture was Gary Foolkes who received an injury against UCC on the previous Tuesday night and is out for the rest of the season so all the team wish Gary a speedy recovery. 
 
 

Senior Team played Mayfield on Wednesday 7^th May in the Regional Park and a win here and league honours were theirs. Ballincollig knew going out into this game what they had to do and were 1 nil up after 7 minutes thanks to a great header from Dave Kenny onto a long throw ball from Richard O’Regan, but Mayfield were not going to give up and were back on level terms after converting a penalty, Ballincollig now down to ten men had to dig deep to stay in this match which was fast becoming all Mayfield. Ballincollig then found themselves down 3 -1 but in fairness to the lads they never let their heads drop and with the huge crowd behind them pushed themselves to the limit. The manager made three substitutions to try and give some fresh legs to the game in the form of Colm Cronin, John Lawlor and Bryan Mc Nulty and the fresh legs and good play from the subs helped the team and what was a tremendous last twenty minutes Ballincollig fought all the way to the end and got back on level terms 3 all win about 4minutes to go and in the last minutes they were unlucky not to bring the comeback to a complete finish but the managers and players will settle for a draw and its now all down to their final league game on Tuesday 13^th May at 7pm in the Regional Park when they take on St Mary’s for the league title, hopefully by the time you are reading this they will be champions!!!!! 
 

3^rd Division Team

The 3^rd Division team finished their last league game last Thursday 8^th May and what a game it was to finish on just goes to show what ye are capable of winning 5 – 2 This was a great team performance and I’m sure gave the managers some real thought for next season as this team were very unlucky not to be in contention at the end of the season for league honours as right up to the previous week they were still in contention for promotion but for one or two results going against them. Last Thursday night saw a great game against the Examiner with goals coming from James Larkin 2, Greg Power 2 and Steven Lynch 1 (or was it Mick Gallahue’s goal Steven!!! Only Steven and Mick will know). Enjoy the break lads ye deserve it and well done on a great season hopefully we will see you all back again next season. 
 

Don’t forget the important dates coming up 
 

End of season function Saturday 31^st May 2008 in the Rugby Club 
 

AGM Thursday 12^th June 2008 in Mary O’Connell’s 
 

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate our friends in the Rugby club on their great season I believe lads last week was a tough one but worth all the effort in the end well done on winning The Kelly cup and Junior 2 Cup in the space of 5 days no easy task, enjoy the celebrations.