Historic Féile double win for Ballinora

Fitting in its 100th year, Ballinora GAA have created history by winning the Féile na nGael and the Féile Peile na nÓg for the first time.

Following on from the Muskerry club winning their first Macroom Motors Mid-Cork U21 A football championship crown back in February, four months later two homecomings and two trophies were coming back to Ballinora.

This latest achievement by the U15 boys has been made more remarkable given there is a panel of 24 players.

Focusing on the hurling first which they won on Saturday, June 22. After overcoming opposition from Kilkenny, Tipperary and Clare, Ballinora emerged from the group stages and the semi-final, and appeared in the Féile na nGael final. Despite the occasion and the large crowd that Ballinora brought up to Clonlara in Clare, it didn’t hinder the team as they proved they were more than ready for their biggest sporting day so far in their careers.

Gortnahoe/Glengoole were the opposition in the final and it was a tight and cagey first half with Ballinora leading 0-5 to 0-2 at the break. Not for the first time, the Cork boys found another gear in a second half display full of team spirit, hard work, and a balanced distribution of scores from every part of the field. Ballinora went on to win the match by 10 points as it finished 1-13 to 1-3.

Marvellous team displays got these players through an energy sapping and long day of hurling, and the value of being able to play all 24 players was another high point contributing handsomely to the tally of scores, high class defending and keeping the team fresh.

It was a quick turnaround for the team as they headed for Tipperary last weekend for the football version. In the group stage, the Muskerry outfit defeated Finuge, Durlas Óg and Maynooth to qualify for the semi-final. Ballinora were on a roll and beat Clooney Quinn 2-6 to 0-2 to move onto the decider and a chance of doing the double. History was made on Saturday, June 29. Ballinora got the better of O'Dempsey's in a nail-biting contest on a scoreline of 1-5 to 1-3.

Balliora’s entire club and community are no doubt proud of their honest endeavours and this was evident in the great shouts of joy and laughter and mighty reception that the players received on their return to the parish on both weekends.

Who knows what the future may hold for this group of players, but whatever happens, they will always be remembered as the first Ballinora team that won the Féile double. A huge and historic achievement for the team in green and red.

The coaching group involved with helping this panel of players were Conor Carey, Harry Ormond, Francis Twohig and Mark Hegarty with Karl McCoy team manager and co-ordinator.

Panel of players for both codes:

Liam Gaffney, Matthew Cremin, Paul Twohig, Oran Kingston, Alex Lehane, James O’Sullivan, Ben Hegarty, Cormac Murphy (capt), Fionn Murphy, Oisín Murphy, Cuan Murphy, Cathal Murphy, Paddy McCoy, Harry McCoy, Tomás Mahon, Tom O’Reilly, Pablo O’Regan, Billy Mehigan, Denis O’Mahony, Brian Murphy, Donagh Conway, David Fenton, Peter O’Mahony, Charlie Noonan.