There was no winner of last weeks Ballybay Pearse Brothers Blotto. Number drawn were as follows: 1, 16, 26 & 29. The following people won €20:

Hugh & Andrea Malone, Main St Ballybay

Martin McCabe, Ballybay

Kevin Mullen, Castleblayney

George McCabe, Druwhowan

Vincent O’Neill, Derryvalley

Next weeks jackpot is €1,700

Results: On a beautiful spring evening on Wednesday last, the Ballybay reserves team travelled to Castleblayney for the latest round of fixtures in the Platinum Tanks Reserve 1B league campaign. Missing serval players for a range of reasons, Ballybay management struggled to get enough numbers to make up a starting fifteen, but showing the strength in depth at this level where fit to name a strong line up all the same. Ballybay started the brighter and opened a lead that they held throughout the entire hour. With Hugh Malone pulling the strings from centre half forward & Danny Gorman in superb form at full forward, scores came quick and fast, while the defence where winning their personal battles getting back the ball and setting up counter attacks. Ballybay pushed hard during this phase of play and kept the score board ticking over. Mark McArdle, who was in great form, broke out from the half back line on numerous occasions and delivered fantastic ball into the forwards. Danny was causing all sorts of trouble to the hosts full back line, constantly getting out in front and swinging balls over the bar from all sorts of angles. The major breakthrough came towards the end of the half when Conor Hand broke from the middle of the field with pace and power before he was brought down in the large square resulting in a penalty, which Hugh disposed expertly. Both sides exchanged points before the half time whistle leaving the score Castleblayney 0-6 Ballybay 1-8 at the short blast. Castleblayney started the second half with an aggression and hit their purple patch at the beginning of the half. After an early exchange of points, the home side hit three points unanswered to leave the penalty between the sides. Ballybay responded with James Kerr driving the entire team forward from full back with Mark & Cathal breaking through the challenges and running into the large spaces available to them. Danny continued right where he left off in the first half constantly out looking for the ball and converting many of his efforts. Two quick fired goals from the lively Paddy O’Neil finished the game as a contest but the score of the match has to go to the ever young Barry McSkean, who converted from thirty plus yards out, bisecting the posts with his wonderful effort. Blayney worked hard till the end but Ballybay where able to hold out for the victory. Full time score Castleblayney 0-13 Ballybay 3-13: Ballybay team: Brian McCabe, Mantas Pankinas, James Kerr, James Garraghan, Cathal Mooney, Mark McArdle, Niall Duffy, Cillian McAviney, Conor Hand, Conor Sherry, Hugh Malone, Patrick O’Neil, Barry Lennon, Danny Gorman, Daniel Brennan, Ryan Sherry, Fergal McArdle, Barry McSkean & Darren Smyth.

On Saturday evening the senior team travelled to Traugh for the latest round of fixtures in the Co. Monaghan Credit Union League. In dry but cold conditions the home side played with the wind in the first half but despite this Ballybay opening the scoring through a Paul Finlay free. However, from this point on Traugh took complete control of the game and Ballybay struggled to get to the pace of it. The hosts would go on to open a five-point buffer in the

opening twenty minutes with Ballybay struggling in every department across the field. Traugh where all over the visitor and only for Brian in goals the game could well have been over. Traugh attacked with speed and power to cut open the defence only for Brian to deny them a certain goal with a point blank stop at the attacker’s foot. The Ballybay management rejigged the defence with Drew & Ryan Wylie swapping role and an injury to a Traugh forward meant a lengthy delay which broke their momentum. Both resulted in allowing Ballybay to regain their composure and went on to hit the next two points through well worked moves. Both teams exchanged points in injury time to leave the half time score of Traugh 0-7 Ballybay 0-3. The second half started with a Traugh score which was the start the Ballybay boys were looking, but you could sense there was a difference in the visitor attitude in this half. The middle eight got to grips with the game with Shane McQuillan and James Kerr winning the dirty ball, the two Tommy’s where growing more and more into the game while Dessie Ward continued his great form in the half forward line. But for all this good work Ballybay couldn’t get within three point of the hosts as they kept the score board ticking over. But with Dessie a constant link to the forwards and with Ryan powering out defence making the hard yards the inside forwards where beginning to see more ball and you could sense that something was about to happen, they just needed the opening. Them it came when Thomas Kerr got on a loose ball and drove straight at the heart of the defence before unleashing an arrow of a shot to the top corner, a goal that will be hard beat in the goal of the season competition. This gave the team belief and the more pressure they exerted on the Traugh defence the more the mistakes came. Eoin McKearney won some fantastic primary and secondary possessions out around the middle while McQuillan won anything that hit the deck as Tommy O’Neil got up to break the Traugh the kickout. With all the pressure and go forward attitude the boys left themselves a little exposed at the and needed Brain to pull off another fantastic one on one save to keep the hosts out. Ballybay kept at it and got their second major breakthrough when Fergal McArdle got on a loose pass before been pulled down. From the resulting free the quick thinking Shane McGuiness found brother Chris as he sold a dummy to the keeper to find the back of the net. Paul Finlay hit a rare right footed point from distance that just found the inside of the post to put Ballybay well and truly in the driving stages entering the closing stages. Traugh to their credit kept going and again Brain had to look lively when a ball over the top left it a straight sprint between him and the attacker. Thankfully Brain got there first and was able to clear the danger. Patrick O’Neil finished the scoring with a superb individual effort in along the end line before fisting over the bar to leave the full time score Traugh 0-12 Ballybay 2-8. Management can be satisfied that the boys never gave in and showed a great determination to grind out a win but they’ll know that the overall level of performance will not be good enough as the season kicks on. Ballybay team: Brian McCabe, Eoin McKearney, Brent Wylie, Ryan Wylie, James Kerr, Drew Wylie, Shane McQuillan, Thoams O’Neil, Thomas Kerr, Fergal McArdle, Aaron Toner, Dessie Ward, Shane McGuiness, Paul Finlay, Christopher McGuiness & Patrick O’Neil.

Fixtures: On Monday the 2nd of May the U12’s take on neighbours Latton in the semi final of the Gerry’s Prepared Veg spring league at the county grounds Cloughan. Throw up is at 11am. On Tuesday the 3rd of May the St Pats minor team travel to Traugh in the league, throw up at 7.30pm. On Wednesday the 4th of May the senior team travel to Magheracloone for the re-arranged league fixture, throw up time 7.30pm.On Thursday the 5th of May the St Pat’s U16 team travel to Carrick for their next round of league fixture. Throw up at 7.30pm.

Senior Championship: Our preliminary round of this years’ Greenfield Foods Senior Football Championship against Clontibret has been fixed for Sunday the 15th of May in

Scotstown with a 5.15pm throw in. Please make a special effort to come out and support the boys.

Nursery Groups: The U6 & U8’s training takes place every Saturday morning from 10am on the all-weather field at Ballybay Pearse Park. This is open to all children, with particular emphasis on new members & families to the area, who wish to become part of a well-established senior GAA club in Co. Monaghan allowing children to get involved in the GAA to achieve a level of physical wellbeing while also interacting with other children outside of the school environment. All parents are encouraged to stay & get involved with other parents during the hour, with plenty of walk ways and other activities you can use throughout the hour. For more info contact Cillian McAviney Ballybay Pearse Brothers Youth Officer, on 0867368078.

Happy birthday: One of the most famous Pearse Brothers celebrated his 40th birthday on Saturday last. Darren Smyth wished for his hair to grow back but unfortunately it didn’t happen. From all the club members Happy Birthday Darren, we hope it was a good one.

Congratulations: Congratulations and well done to Colm Lennon & Shane Monaghan who have been selected as part of the county minor panel for 2016. The selection of the boys continues the wonderful rich history the club has at this level & shows the good work going in to our juvenile structures. Best of luck to both men for the year.

Rising Star: Ryan Wylie, not surprising to us in the Ballybay club, received his rising star award on Monday night last at a celebration in Croke Park. Ryan was awarded this following his wonderful year with the club, county and UCD in the Sigerson Cup. It also shows the dedication and preparation that he puts into his game. Also a mention to the other Monaghan winners Kieran Hughes, Shane Carey and Daniel McKenna. Congratulations to all men.

Golf Classic: All roads lead to Clones Golf course for the Ballybay Pearse Brother Golf Classic on May 21st. Tee times are available for the entire day costing €140 for a fourball. This is a major fund raiser for the club so all support will be greatly appreciated, while the event itself is kindly sponsored by Kepak Ballybay. For more information, please contact either Niall Duffy or Barry Lennon.

Special Mention: Just a special mention to Barry Duffy who has recently helped the senior teams on match days with his first aid expertise. It’s great to have Barry back involved in the dressing room. Thanks for your help and here’s to a successful season.

Ballybay Pearse Brothers Club membership for the 2016 season is now available. There are three options available this year.

Gold Membership – which consists of free entry into all senior & reserve home league fixtures, entry into the clubs Blotto each week, entry into the draw for tickets to this year All Ireland Final & general club membership for a fee of €240. (Payment via direct debit is available over a 12-month period)

Silver Membership – which consists of free entry into all senior & reserve home league fixtures, entry into the draw for tickets to this year All Ireland Final & general club membership for a fee of €100.

Bronze membership – which consists of free entry into the draw for tickets to this year All Ireland Final & general club membership for a fee of €30.

Cul Camps – The Monaghan Kelloggs Summer Cul Camps will be run throughout the month of July & the Monaghan County Board are looking for coaches and assistant coaches for each venue. Anyone that interested must be available to complete a practical assessment and attend a two day in-service training programme. If you are interested and would like to submit an application form, please contact Niall on pro.ballybaypearsebrothers.monaghan@gaa.ie

Bingo: Just a quick note to remind everyone that the club’s weekly Bingo takes place every Tuesday night at 9pm in the clubhouse. The bingo is a great opportunity for the community to come together midweek and have a good night while maybe even winning a few bob. This is a fundamental part of the club’s fund raising for day-to-day costs and we would all really appreciate if you, your friends or your family could support this if you can at all. And, don’t forget, there is transport available to the centre. Every week, our volunteers go to great efforts to keep this going so that all of the other voluntary members of the club have a good starting platform. Hope to see some new faces tomorrow night and over the coming weeks!