The lads made it through to the final of the Billy Browne cup with a great 4-1 win against a very good Fethard team in what was torrential rain

.Although we won 4-1 the scoreline flattered us a little and the game was really won by us converting our chances whereas Fethard didn’t.

The first ten minutes of the game we never got going and Fethard were well on top and if it wasn’t for a couple of great saves from Glen Murphy we would have been behind. After that we started to get back into the game and inserted our own pressure.

Our first goal came from Adam who raced down the left, got a low cross in, Josh Whitehead did very well closing down and keeping it alive in the box. The ball then fell to Snowy who shot low across goal through bodies into far corner.The second goal came from a Fethard free kick.

Glen got the ball and kicked a lovely pass upfield that went through their defense and allowed Sean Walsh to run on and put it passed their keeper.The lads soon found themselves 3 up before half time. There was some lovely interplay in midfield before a cross from Josh Whitehead found Sean Walsh who showed great technique to volley it passed the keeper.It was 3-0 at half time but Fathard had caused us a lot of problems so we knew the game was far from over.

The second half started much the same as the first. Fethard had made four changes at half time and this seemed to spur them on. They created a number of chances and only for a wonderful point blank save from Glen prevented them from getting one back.

The lads weathered the storm and soon got a fourth when a through ball from Sean found Snowy who weaved in and out of their defenders before being brought down in the area. Sean stepped up to take the penalty and put it to the keepers left to score his hat trick.

Just when you thought that may be that Fethard scored shortly after with a nice shot from outside the area that Glen could do nothing about.The story of the rest of the game was Fethard dominating the ball and creating a number of chances that they couldn’t convert.

Everyone of our players put their body on the line and gave absolutely everything to ensure we ended with the win.We almost got a fifth towards the end of the game when Cathal Roche hit the post with a nice shot from a difficult angle.

The game finished 4-1 and the lads now have a final against a good Bree United team to look forward to on 14th May in Ferrycarrig Park. Best of luck to Fethard who caused us more problems than any team we’ve played this season.

Matchday squad

Glen Murphy

Declan Kealy

Josh Waldron

Paul ‘Karate Kid’ Walsh

Josh Whitehead

Joe Kelly

Paul Dempsey

Shane O’Rourke

Adam O’Brien

Snowy

Sean Walsh

PJ Bourke

Chonaill Devlin

Luke Leacy

Paddy Redmond

Shane Whelan

Robbie Wilson

In what a very hard fought game these 2 teams shared a point probably the fairest result.

Goal scorers for Ballymurn were Snowy and Glen Murphy.

Unfortunately for Ballymurn we suffered a few injuries and hope for a speedy recovery before the Billy Browne Cup semi final this Sunday.

James White

Stephen Redmond

Josh Waldron

Declan Kealy

Adam O Brien

Paul Walsh

Paul Dempsey

Josh Whitehead

Joe Kelly

Sean Walsh

Eoghan Kehoe

Shane O Rourke

Paddy Redmond

Chonail Devlin

Glen Murphy

Shane Whelan

Luke Lacey

Robbie Wilson

The lads won on the road with an unconvincing 1-0 win through a late Paul Dempsey goal.

The first half was a scrappy affair with Ballymurn coming the closest to scoring when a Josh Whitehead header from a corner was cleared off the line. Bree had a few shots from outside of the box that James White dealt with comfortably.To be fair Bree were the better team in the second half and had quite a few chances to score, the nearest being a shot that hit the post and was smothered by James White, before their forward could get to it.

Bree had most of the possession, but a breakaway goal with a few minutes left gave the lads the three points. There was great work from Sean Walsh who shot and just when it looked like their defender may clear it Paul Dempsey tapped in from close range to continue his scoring run.

I think a draw would have probably been a fair reflection of the game and it was one the lads can count themselves lucky to get all three points in.

This game was in total contrast to Tuesday’s win but three points is three points and we march on.

Matchday squad

James White

Josh Waldron

Glen Murphy

Stephen Redmond

Chonaill Devlin

Paddy Redmond

Shane O’Rourke

PJ Bourke

Josh Whitehead

Luke Leacy

Snowy

Paul Dempsey

Adam O’Brien

Sean Walsh

Paul Walsh

Joe Kelly

Robbie Wilson

Ballymurn played well this evening in a local derby game.

The score line maybe flattered us abit as Crossabeg to their credit never gave up and created a couple of good chances in the first 15 minutes bringing a couple of good saves from James White.

Shane O Rourke opened the scoring great cut back by Cathal Roche.

Cathal won a penalty soon after and Paul Dempsey slotted home. Paul Dempsey slotted home the 3rd after a few great passes. Paul Dempsey found Cathal Roche with a ball over the top and he finished well in the corner.

Snowy scored the next 2 goals with cut backs from Sean Walsh after good build up play. Joe Kelly scored the last 2 goals from passes from Snowy. In between this Crossabeg worked our goalkeeper another couple of times.

Best of luck to our neighbours in Crossabeg for the rest of the season and also to their first team who looking for promotion to the Premier league this year.

James White

Glen Murphy

Paul Walsh

Declan Kealy

Aaron O Brien

Paddy Redmond

Josh Whitehead

Shane O Rourke

Paul Dempsey

Cathal Roche

Luke Lacey

Eoghan Kehoe

Joe Kelly

Adam O Brien

Sean Walsh

Robbie Wilson

Josh Waldron

Fastnet got off to a good start bringing a good save out of James White in the first few minutes.

Ballymurn were a shade better in the first half passing well and creating a couple of good chances Snowy and Sean going close great defending by the Fasnet player to clear the ball off the line. Ballymurn played very well in the 2nd half and opened the score from a free kick from Snowy.

The 2nd came from a great cross from Adam O Brien and Snowy finished well at the back post. The 3rd from another cross from Adam into the box and Dec Kealy rose above the keeper to score a good header.

The 4th goal was a great free kick from Paul Walsh from 30 yards into the bottom corner. Shane hit the bar with a chance and Shane Whelan was unlucky with a great header.

All in all it was a great performance all round from the team. Best of luck to Fasnet for the rest of the season.

Squad.

James White,

Stephen Redmond,

Paul Walsh,

Declan Kealy,

Chonail Devlin,

Paul Dempsey,

Joe Kelly,

PJ Bourke,

Adam O Brien,

Sean Walsh,

Eoghan Kehoe,

Shane O Rourke,

Glen Murphy,

Josh Whitehead,

Shane Whelan,

Luke Lacey,

Robbie Wilson.

Any hopes the lads had of catching the league leaders ended today in a dissapointing 2-0 defeat away to Fethard.

They went in at half time having dominated the half and probably could have had a couple of goals to their name. A very poor start to the second half put the game to bed.

A defensive mix up allowed their forward a one on one and he duly obliged and put them one up. A few minutes later they went two up when a through ball found their forward in space and again he went through and scored.The lads huffed and puffed, without creating too much in quite windy conditions.

Their keeper made a good save from Sean Walsh right near the end.The lads now need to come back from this for the derby game against Crossabeg on Wednesday.

They also have the quarter finals of the Billy Browne to look forward to, as well as trying to seal promotion so there’s still plenty to play for.

Matchday squad

James White

Adam O’Brien

Cameron Clarke

Paul Walsh

Stephen Redmond

Aaron O’Brien

PJ Bourke

Josh Whitehead

Joe Kelly

Snowy

Sean Walsh

Glen Murphy

Paul Dempse

Shane O’Rourke

Paddy Redmond

Declan Kealy

Josh Waldron

Robbie Wilson

The lads progressed to the Quarter finals of the Billy Browne cup with a 3-2 win against a good Rosslare Rangers team.

Ballymurn got off to a perfect start when Sean Walsh got the ball on the wing, went past two players before crossing beautifully for Snowy, who made a good run, to score from inside the box.

Although the lads started off well the goal seemed to breath more life into Rosslare who equalised shortly after when a cross came in from their left wing and their forward found himself unmarked and scored a very nice half volley, giving James White no chance.

Although chances were few and far between Rosslare looked the most likely to score in the first half. After the goal Ballymurn stopped playing and the game became very scrappy. The first half finished 1-1.

The lads started the second half with an intensity that was missing for much of the first half. Within a couple minutes of the restart a lovely Adam O’Brien cross field pass found Snowy who ran on and cheekily lobbed their keeper to make it 2-1. A few minutes after that some more lovely play from Sean Walsh, who skipped and danced through their defense to again find Snowy who scored his hat trick with another nice finish to make it 3-1.

The lads continued to dominate the second half and could have probably got one or two more.

Anyone who was there also witnessed one of the worst shots of the season. Paul Walsh got the ball on the right hand side and just outside of the box. He decided to take a pop and hit the ball first time. It went high into the air and by all accounts ended up in Rosslare Harbour and disrupted the 12:35 docking from France. Paul blamed a bobble on the pitch, but the pitch was like a snooker table.

Rosslare caused one or two problems with their lively front two, but the lads kept them out until the final minute, when they got a corner and it hit one of our players and then they finished it from the deflection. It was just a consolation goal though as the ref blew up straight after the restart.

This was our first game in three weeks and you could probably tell, especially in the first half. Hopefully that’s the rust off us now and we can go into some important end of season games in good form.

Rosslare are a good young footballing team and we’d like to wish them all the best for the rest of the season.

Matchday Squad

James White

Josh Waldron

Paul Walsh

Stephen Redmond

Sean Walsh

Adam O’Brien

Paul Dempsey

Josh Whitehead

Shane O’Rourke

Luke Lacey

Snowy 3

Joe Kelly

Glen Murphy

PJ Bourke

Chonaill Devlin

Declan Kealy

Aaron O’Brien

Shane Whelan

Robbie Wilson

The lads won their second game in a row with a hard fought win against a good physical Claughbawn team.Ballymurn started the game with an intensity that has taken a while to come in previous games. The passing, moving and pressing was on point and was causing lots of problems.

After a few decent chances some would say that the first goal was fortuitous, but the management team know better. After some good play in midfield Shane O’Rourke got the ball on the right-hand side of the box and seeing the goalie ever so slightly off the line put some side spin on the ball to put it in the top left hand corner of the goal. There were mumbles from the sideline that it was a cross but as we said the management team know better!

Ballymurn continued to create chances and were awarded a penalty from a handball that was saved well from their keeper.They weren’t to be denied though and after some good work between Adam and Sean Snowy turned on a sixpence and finished nicely in the roof of the net.After the second goal Claughbawn started to get more of a foot in the game and started to play the ball around themselves.

The nearest they came though was from a free kick outside of the area that went over the bar.The game was 2-0 at half time and it was no more than the lads deserved after playing some of the best football they’d played all season.The second half was slightly different with the game becoming a bit scrappy at times. The lads did create some chances but didn’t score and this could have proved costly.

With about 15 mins left Claughbawn got a free kick from outside of the area. This was driven low on the floor and as it bobbled towards goal (A Ballymurn player who shall remain nameless, but those that know, know) expertly put the ball into his own net. We have been informed that this was the same player who missed two penalties in one game against the same team 12 years ago!

It’s just as well he had an excellent game at the back.With a few minutes left, a game that should have been won got nervy, and Claughbawn could have equalised when one of their players was through on a 1V1 but a mixture of good goalkeeping by James White and an excellent defensive tackle and tracking back by Paul Dempsey stopped them from scoring.The game finished shortly after.

Overall it was a very impressive display from the lads against a decent team. Some of our shooting left a lot to be desired but the overall intensity and passing was great to watch at times.We’d just like to wish the couple of lads who went off injured well and also wish Joe Kelly , who had to go off with a runny nose, all the best.

Matchday Squad

James White

Paul Walsh

Stephen Redmond

Josh Waldron

Shane O’Rourke 1

Adam O’Brien

Josh Whitehead

Joe Kelly

Sean Walsh

Snowy 1

Cathal Roche

Glen Murphy

Cameron Clarke

Paul Dempsey

Declan Kealy

Luke Leacy

Shane Whelan

Robbie Wilson

The lads got back to winning ways with a good 3-0 win at home against Rosslare Rangers.Ballymurn took time to settle and despite having some chances a great save on the line from James White prevented Rosslare from taking the lead.

They did start to take control after though and Sean Walsh finished nicely at the back post to put the lads one up at half time.Rosslare started the second half playing some nice football. With conditions worsening the next goal was all important and it was Ballymurn who scored it.

A nice cross from Snowy was finished superbly by Josh Whitehead who rose to head the ball into the top right hand corner.Ballymurn then put the game to bed when Sean Walsh scored his second of the game from a through ball that he finished nicely.

With the second half being played in heavy rain it was a credit to both teams who tried playing football and there were some nice spells of play.

Lastly we would like to commend the bravery shown by Snowy today who, despite having a plaster on his thumb, decided to play on. A proper trooper.

Matchday squad

James White

Stephen Redmond

Paul Walsh

Josh Waldron

Shane O’Rourke

Paddy Redmond

Paul Dempsey

Joe Kelly

Josh Whitehead

SnowySean Walsh

Cathal Roche

Adam O’Brien

Luke Leacy

Shane Whelan

PJ Bourke

The lads bowed out of the Leinster Cup at the quarter final stage but they gave absolutely everything and if some of the chances they created went in then it could have been a whole different story.

They started off very well and could have been two up inside 15 mins. Sportslink then started to take control and a failed clearance led to a really good strike from their player which gave James White no chance.

The first half was played out with Sportslink having the possession and were on top.The second half was a different story and the lads had most of the possession and numerous chances that they couldn’t convert.

As they pushed for the equaliser Sportslink countered and got the second with about ten minutes left.Ballymurn never gave up though and still finished the better team, creating a couple more chances.

They left absolutely nothing out on the pitch and fought right to the final whistle.Everyone associated with the club is so proud of each and every member of this squad. For a small village team we continue to punch above our weight and with the mixture of youth and senior players the future is bright.

Back to the Anvil for a few well earned .

Matchday squad

James White

Glen Murphy

Declan Kealy

Paul Walsh

Adam O’Brien

Shane O’Rourke

PJ Bourke

Joe Kelly

Josh Waldron

Cathal Roche

Snowy

Sean Walsh

Paul Dempsey

Stephen Redmond

Paddy Redmond

Cameron Clarke

Luke Leacy

Aaron O’Brien

Robbie Wilson

Oylegate 3 Ballymurn Celtic 2

The lads slumped to a deserved derby day defeat in what was their worst performance of the season.Oylegate came out all guns blazing and took the lead early on when a ball was allowed to bounce in the box and their forward reacted quicker than anyone else to put them one up.

At times in the first half Ballymurn played some good enough football but were let down time and again by the final pass. It was 1-0 at half time. The second half started and the lads got a bit more possession of the ball. The got a free kick in a good position just outside the area and somehow from that Oylegate got possession of the ball countered and scored to make it 2-0.

The lads reacted quickly and straight away made it 2-1 with Cathal Roche finishing inside the box. With around ten left on the clock a handball in the area gave Ballymurn the chance to level from the spot. Cathal stepped up to score his second of the game.

Just when you think you may get away with something Oylegate were given way too much time and space and scored the winner to make it 3-2 and win the game.In our two previous defeats this year you could argue we didn’t deserve either, but Oylegate deserved this win and the lads need to come again next week in the big Leinster Cup Quarter final.

Matchday squad

James White

Stephen Redmond

Paul Walsh

Josh Waldron

Shane O’Rourke

Josh Whitehead

Paul Dempsey

Joe Kelly

Cathal Roche 2

Sean Walsh

Glen Murphy

PJ Bourke

Paddy Redmond

Cameron Clarke

Luke Leacy

Aaron O’Brien

Ballymurn Celtic 3 All Blacks 3 (All Blacks won 4-2 on pens)

Ballymurn Celtic 3 All Blacks 3 (All Blacks won 4-2 on pens)A much changed Ballymurn Celtic team bowed out of the Wexford Cup on penalties after a brave effort against a very good team currently leading the division above them.

The conditions were not great with a heavy wind affecting both teams, who were both trying to play football.

Ballymurn went one up when a lovely through ball found Chonaill Devlin who took the ball and finished very nicely.

It was 1-0 at half time to Ballymurn.

The second half started and All Blacks equalised when Ballymurns conceded their third penalty in four games. Two minutes later Ballymurn were again in the lead when Snowy was fouled in the box and he dusted himself off to score the penalty.

Ballymurn made it 3-1 when Snowy run through on goal and lobbed the keeper. The ball spent around 5 minutes in the air but it eventually found its way in the back of the net.

The lads then went through a 20 or so minute patch where they lost composure on the ball allowing the All Blacks to start playing. All Blacks got one back back when they scored a well taken free kick from just outside of the area.

All Blacks were then given a second penalty but James White came to the rescue and made a great save and the follow up shot went wide.As the lads looked to hold on they lost the ball on an attacking play and All Blacks went down the pitch and equalised with a couple of minutes left.The game went to extra time and I think it’s fair to say Ballymurn had the better of the chances with their keeper making a couple of decent saves and some out our players not taking their chances.

The lads couldn’t find the winner and the game went to penalties where they ended up losing 4-2.Although it was dissapointing to go out after being 3-1 up the lads once again showed that they are more than capable of competing with teams in a higher division and they can think themselves unlucky not to be in the next round. It also shows the strength in depth of the squad that changes were made and they still competed.

All Blacks are a very good team who try to play football so all the best to them in the next round.

Matchday squad

James White

Glen Murphy

Stephen Redmond

Paul Walsh

Aaron O’Brien

Chonaill Devlin 1

Paul Dempsey

Paddy Redmond

Shane O’Rourke

Shane Whelan

Luke Leacy

Josh Waldron

Joe Kelly

Sean Walsh

E Keogh 2

PJ Bourke

Josh Whitehead

Ballymurn Celtic 3 Oylegate 1

It was back to the league this week for the lads who enjoyed a tough local derby win against a good Oylegate side.

Ballymurn started off well for the first ten minutes or so, playing some nice football and creating a couple of chances, one of those hitting the crossbar. The game then got scrappy and they stopped playing football and doing the simple things right.

It was Ballymurn who took the lead halfway though the first half. A long kick out from James White found Sean Walsh who controlled it well. The ball fell to Snowy who backheeled it to Joe Kelly. Joe shot and their keeper made a good save, but the ball fell to Sean who put it away. The rest of the half played out with no real chances for either team.

It was Oylegate who came out all guns blazing in the second half and after a couple of minutes a very good pinpoint through ball from one of their midfielders found their forward who ran on and finished it nicely to level the scores.

At this point Ballymurn were still not playing very well. Anytime they did start to play they looked like the could cause problems.

It was the industrious work from Josh Whitehead that led to Ballymurn taking the lead again. Josh took the ball from midfield and broke two or free tackles, showing that he wanted it more. He then played a lovely ball through to Snowy who took a touch and finished low to the keepers left.

At this point Ballymurn had taken control of the game but Oylegate were still causing a threat on the break and James White had one awkward save to make towards the end. With a couple of minutes left it was that man Snowy again who scored. A ball in from Stephen Redmond was controlled by Snowy. He took a bang in the back from one of their defenders and as he was falling he took a shot and scored.

Soon after the ref blew up for full time.

It wasn’t the best performance the lads have put in this season but it was a good win against a good team.

Matchday squad:

James White

Declan Kealy

Paul Walsh

Josh Waldron

Shane O’Rourke

Adam O’Brien

Josh Whitehead

Joseph Kelly

PJ Bourke

Sean Walsh 1

E Keogh 2

Glen Murphy

Cathal Roche

Paul Dempsey

Stephen Redmond

Luke Leacy

Chonaill Devlin

Paddy Redmond

Shane Whelan

Aaron O’Brien

Robbie Wilson

Wexford Bohs B 1 Ballymurn Celtic 6 ( Leinster Cup)

The lads got over last week’s dissapointing result with a very good Leinster Cup win against a team who play in a division higher than them.

Bohs started off really strong, putting us under massive pressure for the first 20 mins, but then the lads began to play some decent football after that.

The best move of the first half came from good work on our right side which resulted in a corner, which Bohs cleared resulting in another corner. This was swung in by Paul Dempsey and headed home by the returning Adam O’Brien, who was playing his first game in 5 weeks after being out injured.

It was 1 nil at half time.

Second half started off much better with Ballymurn beginning to get real grip of the game . Glen Murphy put us two up, with a super trademark strike from the edge of the box. We went 3 nil up from a free kick swung in by Paul Dempsey and Snowy finished it lovely.

Bohs then responded to make it 3 – 1. Straight away it was 4 -1, when Snowy crossed a ball to the back of the box which was finished off nicely by Cathal Roche. Then another great move down the right and another assist from Snowy, he crossed this time to front post and again Cathal finished brilliantly to make it 5-1. We wrapped up the victory with a great lob over the on rushing goalkeeper by Snowy.

The lads are now through to the next round of the Leinster Cup.

Squad:

James White

Paul Walsh

Glen Murphy 1

Dec Kealy

Chonaill Devlin

Shane O Rourke

Paul Dempsey

Josh Whitehead

Adam O Brien 1

Luke Lacey

Cathal Roche 2

Eoghan Kehoe 2

Paddy Redmond

PJ Bourke