SLIGO-LEITRIM YOUTH&SCHOOLBOYS 
U-16 LEAGUE

Date: Saturday 17th October
Time: 11:00 am
Venue: Sea View Pitch, Sligo
Opponents: Cliffoney-Grange United 

Cliffoney-Grange United were a team that we would find ourselves competing against for a top 4 finish so to get something from the game today was vital. A draw would be ok, a win even better. However, a farcical mix up over the pitch location meant the game started fifteen minutes behind time and it was evident in a poor first half performance by Celtic.

Ballymote were first out of the blocks and almost took the lead inside five minutes. Conor Meehans cracking effort bouned off the crossbar. Daniel Dolphin and James Mullen soon followed with efforts as Celtic were completely dominant. However, as in all our games this season, the inability to put the ball in the back of the net was disastrous further down the pitch. Cliffoney soaked up all the pressure and launched a counter attack. Defender Robbie Johnstone failed to clear the ball and the Cliffoney striker pounced and shot home low to the keepers left. 1-0 and completely against the run of play.

Celtic now fell to pieces after an encouraging opening few minutes. 5 minutes later they were 2 down and it looked like game over. Cliffoneys left winger found a gap between our right back and centre back and exploited the space to race through and fire high to Ricky Johnston's left for a well taken second goal. Conor Meehan managed to keep the visiting side in it when he slid along the ground to prevent a sure goal from going in. Steven Booth had a decent shot well saved towards the end of the half but the chances not going in were killing the visiting side. Dead and buried, Ballymote needed the hairdryer treatment at half time and it paid off.

Meehan, himself fouled, stepped up to take the free kick. He floated it in with venom on top of the keeper who spilled it under pressure from Mullen. Mullen took the opportunity to slot it into the open net. Ballymote now back into it. It was all Celtic now and the home side were panicking, booting the ball down the pitch at every opportunity. It was the superb man of the match Conor Meehan who got the equalising goal. He picked the ball up with his back to goal, turned, beat several men and rounded the keeper for 2-2. Now Ballymote believed they could win it, and inspired by Meehan went about attempting to do that.

They lay siege to the Cliffoney-Grange goal and peppered shot after shot at it. Daniel Dolphin had several good efforts but failed to really work the keeper. James Mullen, working extremely hard in the second half was unlucky to see an effort sail high over the bar after he powered his way through the centre backs. With the game looking like it would finish a draw Cliffoney, in a rare second half attack launched the ball down the other half. It somehow evaded Ballymote's defence and Gary Dwyer, trying to shield the ball, got caught as the home side's striker nipped it by him and poked it into the net for 3-2. Heart breaking stuff but lucky for Ballymote, they had an on-form Conor Meehan to once again save the day. With no time left on the clock he wormed his way into the box and finding himself on his weaker right foot still managed to squeeze it past the onrushing keeper. And with the kick off the referee souned the final whistle. Two points dropped or a point gained, hard to know which.

Team: Ricky Johnstone, Martin Davey, Dwyer, Robbie Johnston, Tonry,  McCann, Booth, Healy, Meehan, Dolphin (K Tighe), Mullen

Final Score: 3-3

Date: Saturday 19th September
Time: 11:00 am
Venue: Brother Walfrid Park
Opponents: Merville Celtic 

The visit to Ballymote of Boyle Celtic Cadets, was a game we knew we could win, and a game we knew we had to win. Sitting precariously third from bottom in our league with one win from 3 games, this was our opportunity to get more points on the table. However, although Boyle battled to the end their inferior quality was evident and the game lacked a competitive edge as Celtic ran out easy winners.

It should have been 3-0 to Ballymote after 7 minutes as James Mullen spurned three great chances, firing wide early on from a great position then hitting the upright and the crossbar. These misses failed to deter the home side and the prolific Daniel Dolphin got his name on the scoresheet when he tapped past the keeper for 1-0. James Mullen got the second when he followed in from an excellent Stephen Healy free kick. This was looking like a rout but Boyle managed to get themselves back into it when they got awarded a penalty. Darragh Tonry was caught in a tussle with Boyle's striker and was adjudged to have tugged him down. The boyle penalty taker dispatched it calmy to Ricky Johnstone's left and they had some hope.

In reality though, this was a mere blip as Celtic ran riot and had the game over by half time. Stephen Healy got the game back on track when he scored the goal of the game, chipping the ball expertly over the oncoming keeper. Daniel Dolphin grabbed his second to make it 4-1 and essentially ended the game as a contest before half time. The second half started as the first had ended with Ballymote well on top. Boyle offered little in attack and collapsed when James Mullen's high effort to the keepers right made it 5. Stephen Healy got an excellent second goal when he finished a superb passing move between Steven Booth, Jack Gethins and himself, firing low with his weaker left foot.

It was a question of how many at this stage and Steven Booth nabbed a goal when he dispossessed an unfortunate defender who had covered his goalkeeper and slotted into the empty net. Colm McCann, hardly on the pitch 2 minutes made it 8-1 when he played a one two with Healy and sprinted down the left hand side, beating the full back for pace and banging it home. Leading goalscorer Conor Meehan ensured he would not go a second game without a goal when he hit in a volley from Dolphins corner. Dolphin himself managed to get his hat trick to make it 4 in 2 games for the striker. 

The only thing left was for mercurial captain Stephen Healy to grab his hat trick which he duly did with another chip over the keeper. Despite a resounding win, it was not a vintage Ballymote performance and the quality of the opposition contributed largely to the scoreline. A more testing game will be next Saturday against Cliffoney-Grange United.

Team: Ricky Johnstone, Martin Davey, Ward, Robbie Johnston, Tonry (Matthew Davey),  Gethins (Dwyer), Booth (McCann), Healy, Meehan, Dolphin (McGowan), Mullen (Devlin)

Final Score: 11-1

Date: Saturday 19th September
Time: 11:00 am
Venue: Brother Walfrid Park
Opponents: Merville Celtic 

If we were to finish top 4, which is a strong possibility, the likes of Merville Celtic, the teams around us, are the teams we need to be beating. Knowing that despite it being Merville’s reserve side, they would be strong and that we needed a good performance ourselves to give us a fighting chance of staking a claim for that top 4 spot. However, we did not do that and it was a disastrous result.

Ballymote were miles the better team in the first half. Conor Meehan looked dangerous every time he got the ball and Stephen Healy had one of his best games in a long time for the home side. For twenty five minutes it was a hard fought battle in which Ricky Johnstone was hardly ever called into action. The first of Conor Meehan’s 3 great chances came ten minutes in. He was put through by a great ball by James Mullen and finding himself one on one he shot wide.

The second came from a break down the right hand side and Meehan with the outside of his boot attempted to find the far post. The outrushing keeper was nowhere near and he was unlucky to see his effort go wide. The third was the best of the lot, being put through again by a ball by Healy, he raced down the Merville keepers neck. With loads of time, he dragged his effort far wide. Ballymote should have been 3 nil up at this stage and it was obvious they would be made pay.

Merville raided down their left hand side and cut inside. Without a proper challenge their striker fired home to the keepers right for 1-0. Undeserved, but they took their chance when Ballymote didn’t. However, the home side were still the better side and just before half time Dolphin equalised. Finding himself 1 on 1, he took his time before calming slotting past the helpless keeper.

Celtic should have been winning but at least they had restored parity. However, they failed to come out in the second half and in the end were comprehensively beaten. Pushing hard for the second goal they were undone down the far end with a controversial penalty. After the ball was dropped in from a corner it bounced around before hitting James Mullen on the hand, when his arms were by his side. The referee had no hesitation calling for a penalty and the Merville midfielder was lucky to see his effort hit the post and go in. 2-1 and a win was now out of the question.

Ballymote pushed to get an equaliser but were never good enough to get one. Conor Meehan blazed a late effort over the bar as Celtic looked woefully inept, lifeless and without a cutting edge. Martin Davey got caught claiming for the offside trap as Merville made it 3. Hardly deserved but they took their chances when Ballymote didn’t. And that will be the difference between the top 4 and the bottom in this division. Celtic’s response will determine which they finish in.

Team: Ricky Johnstone, Martin Davey, Mullen, Robbie Johnston, Tonry, McCann (McGowan), Gethins, Booth, Healy, Meehan, Dolphin (E Tighe)

Final Score: 1-3

Date: Saturday 22nd August
Time: 2:00 p.m
Venue: Brother Walfrid Park
Opponents: Ballygawley Celtic

After a useful run out against Real Tubber on Thursday, it was now back to the bread and butter of the league, Ballygawley Celtic our opponents. Despite many players making a good impression in the friendly the starting eleven was the same team that performed so well against Manor Rangers. Stephen Healy captaining the side and top goal scorer Conor Meehan would be leading the line.

It wasnt a vintage performance by Celtic and Ballygawley well matched the home side in the first quarter. Meehan and Dolphin looked dangerous up front while the excellent centre back partnership of Robbie Johnston and Darragh Tonry were comfortable. It was inevitable that Ballymote and in particular Meehan would get the first goal. Meehan ran onto a through ball from Stephen Healy and despite a tussle with the goalkeeper managed to stab it home for 1-0.

Meehan made it 5 already for the season when he punished poor defending from Ballygawley to take it round the keeper and finish with the simplest of shots. Meehan could indeed have had his hat trick when he finished off a great move involving McCann, Healy and Dolphin. McCann fed Healy who first time passed to Dolphin who one-on one with the keeper smacked the cross bar. With the hard work done Meehan on the edge of the box fired the ball into the back of the net but the goal was disallowed for a foul on the keeper. The end of the second half proved a good spell for Ballygawley as they began to find space in the centre of the park. Ricky Johnstone was called into action before the break when he made a fantastic save palming away a stinging effort.

That was to be as good as it got for Ballygawley as they crumpled in the second half. After sustained pressure Steven Booth finally got the much needed third goal. After a good run down the right hand side, which proved productive all evening, Booth hit a cross-cum shot and it sailed over the keepers head from a seemingly impossible angle for 3-0. Booth may claim he meant it but it didnt matter, the goal meaning the game as a contest was effectively over. Credit to the opposing side they did not give up and their efforts were rewarded when they were awarded a penalty as Tonry fouled the centre forward. A goal for Ballygawley may have opened the game back up but it was a sign of the game as a poor effort was well saved by Ricky Johnston, a keeper determined to preserve a clean sheet.

Celtic got the wake up call they needed and Eamon Tighe made it 4-0 when he smashed home with his left foot following a corner. Conor Meehan finally grabbed his hat trick when he clinically dispatched a penalty following a blatant hand ball. 5-0 the game finished, and despite not playing fantastically well it was a fine result which gets us off the mark for the season.

Team: Ricky Johnstone, Martin Davey, K Tighe (Mullen), Robbie Johnston, Tonry, McCann (Gethins), Booth (Dwyer), E Tighe (McGowan), Healy, Meehan, Dolphin

Final Score: 5-0

Pre-Season Friendly

Date: Thursday 3rd September 2009
Time: 7:00 p.m
Venue: Brother Walfrid Park
Opponents: Real Tubber

The visit of Real Tubber to Brother Walfrid Park gave both teams the opportunity to try out some new players in new positions and give lads a chance to stake a place in the team. Stephen Healy the captain was the only survivor of the team that almost snatched a point from a ferocious game against Manor Rangers two weeks previous.

From early on it was clear it was going to be a goal fest as Celtic were much the better team. Before the break the home side were two nil up. Jack Gethins, who excelled all game, made it one nil when he headed home from James Mullen's corner. Mullen, putting in a strong claim for a regular starting spot was once again provider as his ball over the top found Healy who took it down and nicely chipped it over the keeper for 2-0.

However, complacency soon struck and it became 2-2 right after half time with two very similar goals, both efforts at the back post which Celtic failed to deal with. Now it was time for the big boys to come on and Conor Meehan made an instant impact. He added to his goal tally when the ball came in from a corner, he took it down on his chest and buried it home for 3-2. He then got his second when Stephen Healy floated the ball in and he took it down again on his chest and calmly slotting into the back of the net. Diarmuid O Malley then got off the mark for the season when he scored a well taken penalty after he was upended in the box. Tubber began to give up and Eamon Tighe made it game over when his header sailed into the top corner.

A good workout for Ballymote which saw all 21 players in the squad getting a run out and got the confidence going before the serious stuff starts back in the league on Saturday.

Team: McGowan (Tonry) Brennan (Martin Davey) Dwyer (Matthew Davey), Ward (Robbie Johnstone), Ricky Johnston, Gethins (McCann), Waters (Booth), Healy (E Tighe), Mullen (Meehan), O Malley (Dolphin), Devlin (K Tighe)

Final Score: 6-2

SLIGO-LEITRIM YOUTH&SCHOOLBOYS 
U-16 LEAGUE

Date: Saturday 22nd August
Time: 2:00 p.m
Venue: Brother Walfrid Park
Opponents: Manor Rangers

After a shockingly bad result against our near neighbours Gurteen on Tuesday night, we were right to be seriously worried about the visit of a talented Manor Rangers side, who we seem to always draw for first game of the season, and who always seem to beat us. However the return of captain Stephen Healy and last years u14 league runner up captain Conor Meehan was a boost to the squad.

From the opening few minutes it was clear that the horrors of Tuesday evening had been quickly forgotten about. Although Manor played some silky football at a high tempo, the Ballymote u16s acquitted themselves with determination and heart. The first half was a dogged but pulsating affair with most of the battles fought and won in the centre of the park. It was lucky that we had here our best performer, Eamon Tighe, the stand in captain last Tuesday. His tireless efforts kept Manor at bay and assured no ball was easy won. 

Chances were few and far in between. Conor Meehan found himself tearing on the keepers goal but the defender got back to make a last ditch tackle. Stephen Healy and Daniel Dolphin had shots which were easily saved by the keeper. At the other end the two Johnstons were instrumental in shutting Manor's dangerous number 9 out with Ricky making many fine saves. Celtic usually concede one before half time but this was a different side from the team years ago who would be several down at this stage.

Going into the second half we knew it was going to be hard work to try and keep up the same work rate and keep pressing Manor as hard as we did. This proved true when Manor finally put the ball in the back of the net after ten minutes. A fine shot from their midfield maestro nestled in the corner of the net made it 1-0. Heads dropped and Ballymote looked like collapsing. Conor Meehan was put through on goal but again he was foiled by their excellent centre back. Substitute Darragh McGowan quickly got in on the action when he flicked on a goal kick from Darragh Tonry. Meehan ran onto it and although he looked second to get it he stabbed it past the onrushing keeper for 1-1, a well deserved equaliser.

Ballymote needed to get the winner to guarantee a point but it never came, instead Manor grabbed the second as another long range effort trickled through Celtic's unlucky keepers hands. The home side pushed hard for the equaliser and Meehan, dangerous all game, came so close with a bicycle kick from a corner. However it was not to be, and the game finished 2-1 to Manor.

Despite the dissappointment of the loss it was a remarkable performance from Ballymote, who fought tooth and nail for every ball and never gave Manor an inch. Rangers, the better footballing side, left Ballymote knowing they had been in a battle, and we look on with hope to any other side visiting Brother Walfrid Park.

Team: Ricky Johnstone, Martin Davey, K Tighe, Robbie Johnston, Tonry, McCann, Booth, E Tighe, Healy, Meehan, Dolphin (McGowan)

Final Score: 1-2

Pre-Season Friendly

Date: Tuesday 18th August
Time: 6:30 p.m
Venue: Gurteen Community Park
Opponents: Gurteen Celtic 

First game of the season, and a very poor performance by Ballymote, one which gives grave concerns ahead of the visit of a strong Manor Rangers on Saturday. Missing from the team were Conor Meehan and captain Stephen Healy both who were on duty with the u18s. New signings Ricky and Robbie Johnstone were in the squad for the first time.

Although a bad pitch aided the terrible game, we can have no excuses for some of the football on display. Gurteen took the league very early on with a powerful drive that stung the hands of debutant Ricky Johnstone in the goals. They made it two 5 minutes later when their striker pounced on a ball that was crossed in from the left; he stabbed it home when Celtic failed to clear. Stand in captain Eamon Tighe pulled one back for Ballymote when his powerful shot deflected off the defender and over keeper Errol Flynn for 2-1. However, Gurteen made it 3-1 late in the half when their midfielder banged one into the top corner from close range.

It had been a terrible half for Ballymote. Glen Devlin almost grabbed his first of the season with a terrific shot which cannoned back off the crossbar. Ten minutes into the second half saw the introduction of all the subs, Matthew Davey, Jack Gethins, Robbie Johnstone and Darragh McGowan. They made an immediate impact but still could not help the green and white pull this game back. Darragh Tonry made it 3-2 when he latched onto a misplaced corner to smash the ball home for a rare goal for the centre back. Gurteen grabbed a fourth to continue their two goal lead but Daniel Dolphin replied with a cool finish through the keepers legs. Gurteens persistence continued and they grabbed a sixth but  Jack Gethins fine run and shot made it look respectable and the game finished 6-4.

Ballymote had ample opportunities to score Daniel Dolphin missing several one-on-ones but at the back as well Celtic had many problems. Conceding six goals was a harsh lesson we would need to learn fast for our first league outing on Saturday.

Team: Ricky Johnstone, Brennan, Martin Davey (Robbie Johnstone), Tonry, Mullen (Matthew Davey), Booth, McCann, O Malley (McGowan), Tighe (c), Dolphin, Devlin (Gethins)

Final Score: 6-4