Ballycomoyle GAA Club
C.L.G. Baile Uí Chumaoil

Photos 38

Men's Junior Shield Final 2009

2009 Junior Shield Final played Saturday January 23rd 2010 in The Downs at 1.30pm.

The 2009 Junior Shield final between Ballycomoyle and Loughnavalley took place on Saturday January 23rd 2010 in The Downs. This fixture had to be postponed on a number of occasions previously but in the end proved to be well worth the wait for Ballycomoyle. From the throw in our lads were straight into action and had the better of the play for the opening exchanges. The first score of the game came Ballycomoyle’s way with a free perfectly taken by Kevin Gavigan. This settled our lads even more and they went on to dominate the first twenty minutes of the half with some great passage play and further points from Dan Carty, Alan Fitzsimons (3)  Bill Ryan and a second from Kevin Gavigan. In this period Loughnavalley registered only 2 points both from frees. In the last ten minutes of the first half Loughnavalley with whom we have had many a hard battle over the years showed that we weren’t going to have it all our own way. They scored a further 3 points to finish the half 2 points adrift on a scoreline of 7 points to 2.
The second half started as the fog was beginning to descend on the field and turned out to be more of the ding dong battle that we would have expected. Loughnavalley scored a point in the first exchanges to come within one point and put the pressure on Ballycomoyle. We replied with a point from the boot of Derek Cheevers. Two further points from Loughnavalley brought the sides level. It was at this stage that Ballycomoyle’s true grit emerged. The introduction of stalwarth Tossy Brady and a mammoth effort by all on the Ballycomoyle side combined to give us another point from Alan Fitzsimons and the goal from Roaney Fagan that would eventually see us over the line. Loughnavalley registered a further 3 points but by now we could smell victory and weren’t letting go. It finished 1-9 to 11 points. In addition to those scorers mentioned there were fantastic individual performances throughout the field from all those who started as well as the three substitutes used. I don’t like to single out  particular players but our midfield pairing of Dan Carty and Bill Ryan were exceptional as were Gerry Rynne and Captain Fantastic James McHugh in the backs. This victory was just reward for a Ballycomoyle panel and management who had put in huge effort throughout the year. As James McHugh said in his victory speech the next thing we want is “The one with the lugs on it”. The team on the day were as follows: Niall McKenna, Maurice Gavigan, James McHugh, Damien Fagan, Keith Weldon, Paul Dermody, Gerry Rynne, Dan Carty, Billy Ryan, Kevin Gavigan, Ronan Fagan, Pauraic Fitzsimons, Alan Fitzsimons, Derek Cheevers, Paul Molloy  Subs: Tossy Brady (Came on), Gary Farrelly(Came on), Mark McNicholas (Came on), Brian Caffrey, David O’Rourke, Jamie Ward, William Corrigan, Robert Cooney, Andrew Dowdall, Noel Morgan, Ray Farrelly and Eddie Boylan..

Back Row: Wiliam Corrigan, Tossy Brady, Eddie Boylan, Noel Morgan, Bill Ryan, Damien Fagan, James McHugh, Robiie Cooney, Derek Cheevers, Roanie Fagan, Gerry Rynne, Maurice Gavigan, Ray Farrelly, Kevin Gavigan.
Front Row: Paul Dermody, Brian Caffrey, Jamie Ward, Andrew Dowdall, Gary Farrelly, Niall McKenna, Alan Fitzsimons, Paul Molloy, Dan Carty, Keith Weldon, Pauric Fitzsimons. (Missing from photo David O'Rourke)

Team Captain, James McHugh is presented with the Shield by Tom Farrell, County chairman.

James makes his victory speech.

The victorious Ballycomoyle Team and Management with a few missing  (and a few added in)