Ken O'Halloran moving Ballinora footballers forward 

FORMER Cork goalkeeper Ken O’Halloran is in his second season coaching the Ballinora footballers, and the club will hope the groundwork laid last year will stand to the team as they look to push on this year.

The Muskerry outfit have one of the youngest teams in the intermediate A football grade, and that inexperience did play a part in last season’s struggles, but they should benefit from it in 2024. Ballinora suffered relegation from the Division 5 of the football league after winning one, drawing three and losing five games from nine outings. They were pretty much in every single game, and it was literally a case of fine margins.

They continued to be on the wrong side of the scoreline. The team in red and green lost their three group stage matches in the IAFC by an aggregate score of seven points. Losing to Kildorrery and Boherbue by a single point and then to a strong Mitchelstown outfit by five points.

Ballinora had to defeat Glenville in the relegation play-off to avoid dropping down, and in a high-pressure scenario, the Mid-Cork team won, 1-15 to 1-12. 

It’s a huge plus that O’Halloran has committed for another season. He has already enjoyed success with the club in 2024, as he was part of the management that guided Ballinora to a first Muskerry U21 A football championship title in the history of the club back in February.

Ballinora have played just the one game to date this year in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 6 of the football league and what a fine win it was at home against last year’s beaten County JAFC finalists Mayfield on a scoreline of 0-13 to 0-9. The second league fixture for Ballinora is away to St Nick’s on Sunday at 11.30am.

Manager Willie Lyons speaking at a club event recently said O’Halloran has had a significant impact on the team so far.

“We have a very young team, and Ken O’Halloran recognised that straight away,” says Lyons.

“It was all about working on mindset and attitude at the beginning. He wasn’t dealing with experienced players who would be more mature. It was all about building that culture. It was a difficult campaign last year, but we knew it wasn’t going to be plain sailing, and it was all about sticking to the process. 

"At all stages, we remained positive. The players bought into Ken’s methods and philosophy. He has been brilliant. I am confident we will see the fruits of the labour this year, especially now that it’s his second season with us.” Lyons concluded.

In the 2024 IAFC group stage, Ballinora will take on Glanworth, Mitchelstown and St Vincent’s.