Ballon head to battle in Dublin
Ballon's Brian Maher celebrates his goal v Cloughbawn.
The Ballon story continues. With an intermediate title and a first round win in Leinster behind them they are loving it. Yet they have been handed what is surely the biggest task possible when drawn against Dublin side Naomh Olaf in Parnell Park on Saturday. The team who hails from the Balally and Sandyford area of South County Dublin beat Ballyboughal in a high scoring intermediate final by 6-9 to 1-20.
“Cian de Burca scored 3-1 with Dublin All-Ireland medal winner, David Byrne, also in the team. Yet the Ballon manager, Michael Daly, is not cowering in trepidation about what lies ahead.
“We know it is a big task to go and take on the Dublin champions up in Dublin. We will have no fear. We will back ourselves and we will go after it. We think we have a strong team ourselves and, on the day, we feel we are good enough to take on anyone,” he says.
The squad is brimming with confidence “Everyone is looking forward to it. There is a buzz around the game. We don’t mind it. At the end of the day you have to back yourself. We know it is Dublin but we feel we can go up and have a right go at them” says Daly who hails from County Wicklow. He is familiar with the Dublin team.
“We have seen a couple of videos. There are two Baltinglass boys there. They only live down the road from me. John McGrath, the Baltinglass ex footballer. and Shane Wall who was involved with Meath ladies when they won an All-Ireland a few years ago.
Daly says the players are ready to go.
“You have what you have. It is only 15 vs 15. There are no injury worries. Johnny Maher was away on holidays but he is back. Dan O’Connor is away this week. It is one in, one out but all is well,” are the reassuring comments coming from the Ballon camp.
