The 90's
While the 1980’s saw the foundations for the club being laid, it is safe to say that the 90’s belonged to Ballyglass Football Club.
The decade started off with the reserve team winning their division in the 1989/90 season. P.J. Brett was again in the manager’s seat. After a tightly contested league it all boiled down to the final match between Claremorris and Ballyglass who were level at the top of the table. After a titanic struggle Ballyglass emerged as 4-3 victors with the winner being struck by Kevin Connolly (Hollymount) five minutes from the end. Other players to contribute handsomely to the success were Padraig Burke (captain) Thomas Connolly (top scorer), Ivan Carroll (player of the year), Noel Burke and Cyril Burke.
But the greater success was to come when the Holy Grail of Mayo football was delivered to Ballyglass when the team captured the Mayo League Premier Division title in the 1990/91 season.
August 1991 also saw the start of major development work off the field. The years before saw the commencement of intensive fund-raising- sponsored cycles, sales of work, flag days, table quizzes, Christmas raffles, New Years Eve functions, etc. also the selling of advertising hoardings proved a major success. During the period 1989-91 the only development work carried out was the erection of a new boundary wall at the roadside, which was funded by local County Councillors’ contributions and built via a local Fas scheme.
In August 1991, the major development work of building two full size-playing pitches commenced, the main pitch being an all-weather construction. Next up was the commencement of a clubhouse with dressing rooms, bar facilities and a kitchen area.
The work continued unabated for a number of years with labour being carried out by different Fas schemes and club members.
Back to matters on the pitch and the reserve team continued their two-year cycle in winning their division in 1991/92 season with Sean Gilligan in charge on this occasion. This was the season in which youth was given its fling with many fine young players gaining valuable experience before moving on to play for the first team. Players such as Michael Kelly (captain), Kenny Staunton (player of the year), John Noonan, Joe Glynn, Fergal Conroy and Tom Malone were key figures in this success. Victory was achieved following a 2-1 victory over Ballyvary Blue Bombers with James Donovan the hero scoring both goals in a memorable match. There was disappointment for the first team when following the highs of the previous season they were relegated from the Premier Division.
The 1992/93 season saw the first team win the Gill Cup (Click here for match report) beating Ballina United 2-0 in the final. Indeed Ballina just pipped them to the Division One league title the previous week.
They were also Runners-up in the Robert Kilkelly Cup.
Amazingly the reserve team continued their two-year cycle when they captured their League title in the 1993/94 season. This time Ivan Carroll was in charge and Noel Burke (Coolmeen) was captain. The league was won in sensational style in Celtic Park. Trailing 3-1 at the break it took the introduction of Paul Connolly (Cloonflynn) and Franny Glynn to turn the game around as they scored 3 goals between them to secure a famous result; Castlebar Celtic 3 Ballyglass 4. Other players to feature prominently that year were; Michael McGrath, Dean Molloy (player of the year), Kevin Vahey, Enda Staunton, Niall Donnelly (top scorer), and T.C. Connolly.
After their promotion back to the Premier Division the first team were Runners-up for the second successive season in the Robert Kilkelly cup Final
Mayo football was to under go a major change for the 1994 season when the decision was made to switch to summer soccer. At the same time, Ballyglass Football Club was about to embark on a glorious adventure filled with joy and heartbreak, and lots of memorable moments along the way.
Jarlath Moran was the man in charge as the 1995/96 Connaught Cup campaign (link to page and story) began in Sligo, against Sligo Collegians, with Ballyglass running out convincing 6-1 winners. As the season progressed confidence grew in the team and by the time they reached the semi final hopes were high. Sligo was the destination, Abbey United the opposition, and a magnificent goal 10 minutes from the end by John Noonan ensured Ballyglass of the victory and passage to the clubs first major final outside the county. The final in the Showgrounds, home of Sligo Rovers, against Calry Bohemians was a tough game with no side able to make the breakthrough (click here for match report).
The replay took place in Milebush Park, Castlebar, on April 14th, and with a huge support behind them, Ballyglass were unlucky not to snatch victory in the second half when John Noonan’s effort hit the post and Kevin Connolly was denied by a great save from the Calry keeper. A deflected shot 2 minutes from the end went in off the post to give Calry victory and leave the Ballyglass players and supporters shattered. (click here for match report).
With the league campaign just underway Ballyglass had to lift themselves and showed true character as they set a number of records on their way to winning their second Premier Division title (click here for season report). It was the first time since the Premiership was enlarged to ten teams that the champions had gone through the campaign undefeated. Ballyglass also had the distinction of scoring the most goals in the league, a grand total of fifty, as well as conceding the lowest number of goals, which was twenty- two.
The reserve team made it to the cup final but didn't bring home the silverware
Matching the success on the pitch was the on-going development off it, and on the 26th October 1996 the club officially opened their stadium on their 21st anniversary. Then President of Ireland Mary Robinson performed the opening ceremony with other distinguished guests present including the President of the Football Association Pat Quigley. To coincide with these celebrations the club produced a fantastic book to celebrate 21 years of football in Ballyglass, with a detailed club history, pictures and stories.
Not a club to rest on its laurels, Ballyglass began the 1997 season in earnest and by the end of the year had become only the sixth club in the history of the Mayo League to win back to back Premier Division titles. They added the Mayo FA cup to the trophy cabinet to complete the ‘double’, but the story was only starting. The new B team was runners up in Division 3.
The FAI junior cup in the 1997/98 season must surely go down as one of the clubs finest hours. After the round 6 victory over North End (Click here for match report) in a dramatic penalty shoot-out Ballyglass began to capture the imagination of the county.
Victory in round 7 over Nenagh ensured that Ballyglass became only the sixth Mayo club to reach the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup (Click here for match report)
A trip to Dublin to take on WFTA was the daunting task facing the Mayo men in the quarter-final, but this team was made of stern stuff and a 3-3 draw ensured that the replay on home soil would further enhance the growing reputation of this team. (Click here for match report).
The replay took place in front of a crowd in the region of 1200 and they were sent into raptures when Ray Prendergast converted a penalty after a foul on Martin Vahey to give the home side a 1-0 victory and ensure the team a place in local football folklore. (Click here for match report)
Terryland Park in Galway was the venue for the FAI Junior Cup semi-final, with cup favourites and holders Fairview Rangers from Limerick, the opposition. The dream was to die on the Terryland pitch with Ballyglass outclassed in a 2-0 defeat.
Although the defeat was not totally unexpected, it ended a fairytale run in which Ballyglass had captured the imagination of many.
Never before had a Mayo League side been devoted so many column inches in the national and local press for their achievements, not to mention the extensive radio airtime and the interest of an RTE camera crew.
1997 was also the year of the first underage success with the U-12 team capturing the Division 2 League title.
They were to build on that initial success by becoming U-14 league winners in 1998.
1998 saw the club presented with the prestigious ‘Meitheal of the Year Award’ by the Mayo Association in Dublin. They became the first sports club in the county ever to be feted in this way, a tremendous distinction for the game of association football in Mayo. (click here for report)
Underage success continued in 1999 when the U-14 team won the division 1 title.
1999 saw another major change in Mayo football when the current Super League was formed. Ballyglass were one of ten teams invited to participate, with strict criteria on facilities being one of the conditions of entry.
There is no doubt Ballyglass Football Club deserved their place at the top table having being one of the dominant clubs of the 90’s and boasting some of the finest facilities in the county.
The decade ended with Ballyglass being runners-up to local rivals Manulla in the inaugural Super League.
The 1998/99 season was also the time of another long awaited Connaught Cup run.The final against Strand Celtic in McSharry Park, Sligo on April 11th 1999, despite ending in more heartbreak, is one which will live in the memories of all supporters, in torrential rain Ballyglass lost 3-2. The end of the nineties also saw the club explore the possibility of building a viewers stand to continue the development of the club.
The decade started off with the reserve team winning their division in the 1989/90 season. P.J. Brett was again in the manager’s seat. After a tightly contested league it all boiled down to the final match between Claremorris and Ballyglass who were level at the top of the table. After a titanic struggle Ballyglass emerged as 4-3 victors with the winner being struck by Kevin Connolly (Hollymount) five minutes from the end. Other players to contribute handsomely to the success were Padraig Burke (captain) Thomas Connolly (top scorer), Ivan Carroll (player of the year), Noel Burke and Cyril Burke.
But the greater success was to come when the Holy Grail of Mayo football was delivered to Ballyglass when the team captured the Mayo League Premier Division title in the 1990/91 season.
August 1991 also saw the start of major development work off the field. The years before saw the commencement of intensive fund-raising- sponsored cycles, sales of work, flag days, table quizzes, Christmas raffles, New Years Eve functions, etc. also the selling of advertising hoardings proved a major success. During the period 1989-91 the only development work carried out was the erection of a new boundary wall at the roadside, which was funded by local County Councillors’ contributions and built via a local Fas scheme.
In August 1991, the major development work of building two full size-playing pitches commenced, the main pitch being an all-weather construction. Next up was the commencement of a clubhouse with dressing rooms, bar facilities and a kitchen area.
The work continued unabated for a number of years with labour being carried out by different Fas schemes and club members.
Back to matters on the pitch and the reserve team continued their two-year cycle in winning their division in 1991/92 season with Sean Gilligan in charge on this occasion. This was the season in which youth was given its fling with many fine young players gaining valuable experience before moving on to play for the first team. Players such as Michael Kelly (captain), Kenny Staunton (player of the year), John Noonan, Joe Glynn, Fergal Conroy and Tom Malone were key figures in this success. Victory was achieved following a 2-1 victory over Ballyvary Blue Bombers with James Donovan the hero scoring both goals in a memorable match. There was disappointment for the first team when following the highs of the previous season they were relegated from the Premier Division.
The 1992/93 season saw the first team win the Gill Cup (Click here for match report) beating Ballina United 2-0 in the final. Indeed Ballina just pipped them to the Division One league title the previous week.
They were also Runners-up in the Robert Kilkelly Cup.
Amazingly the reserve team continued their two-year cycle when they captured their League title in the 1993/94 season. This time Ivan Carroll was in charge and Noel Burke (Coolmeen) was captain. The league was won in sensational style in Celtic Park. Trailing 3-1 at the break it took the introduction of Paul Connolly (Cloonflynn) and Franny Glynn to turn the game around as they scored 3 goals between them to secure a famous result; Castlebar Celtic 3 Ballyglass 4. Other players to feature prominently that year were; Michael McGrath, Dean Molloy (player of the year), Kevin Vahey, Enda Staunton, Niall Donnelly (top scorer), and T.C. Connolly.
After their promotion back to the Premier Division the first team were Runners-up for the second successive season in the Robert Kilkelly cup Final
Mayo football was to under go a major change for the 1994 season when the decision was made to switch to summer soccer. At the same time, Ballyglass Football Club was about to embark on a glorious adventure filled with joy and heartbreak, and lots of memorable moments along the way.
Jarlath Moran was the man in charge as the 1995/96 Connaught Cup campaign (link to page and story) began in Sligo, against Sligo Collegians, with Ballyglass running out convincing 6-1 winners. As the season progressed confidence grew in the team and by the time they reached the semi final hopes were high. Sligo was the destination, Abbey United the opposition, and a magnificent goal 10 minutes from the end by John Noonan ensured Ballyglass of the victory and passage to the clubs first major final outside the county. The final in the Showgrounds, home of Sligo Rovers, against Calry Bohemians was a tough game with no side able to make the breakthrough (click here for match report).
The replay took place in Milebush Park, Castlebar, on April 14th, and with a huge support behind them, Ballyglass were unlucky not to snatch victory in the second half when John Noonan’s effort hit the post and Kevin Connolly was denied by a great save from the Calry keeper. A deflected shot 2 minutes from the end went in off the post to give Calry victory and leave the Ballyglass players and supporters shattered. (click here for match report).
With the league campaign just underway Ballyglass had to lift themselves and showed true character as they set a number of records on their way to winning their second Premier Division title (click here for season report). It was the first time since the Premiership was enlarged to ten teams that the champions had gone through the campaign undefeated. Ballyglass also had the distinction of scoring the most goals in the league, a grand total of fifty, as well as conceding the lowest number of goals, which was twenty- two.
The reserve team made it to the cup final but didn't bring home the silverware
Matching the success on the pitch was the on-going development off it, and on the 26th October 1996 the club officially opened their stadium on their 21st anniversary. Then President of Ireland Mary Robinson performed the opening ceremony with other distinguished guests present including the President of the Football Association Pat Quigley. To coincide with these celebrations the club produced a fantastic book to celebrate 21 years of football in Ballyglass, with a detailed club history, pictures and stories.
Not a club to rest on its laurels, Ballyglass began the 1997 season in earnest and by the end of the year had become only the sixth club in the history of the Mayo League to win back to back Premier Division titles. They added the Mayo FA cup to the trophy cabinet to complete the ‘double’, but the story was only starting. The new B team was runners up in Division 3.
The FAI junior cup in the 1997/98 season must surely go down as one of the clubs finest hours. After the round 6 victory over North End (Click here for match report) in a dramatic penalty shoot-out Ballyglass began to capture the imagination of the county.
Victory in round 7 over Nenagh ensured that Ballyglass became only the sixth Mayo club to reach the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup (Click here for match report)
A trip to Dublin to take on WFTA was the daunting task facing the Mayo men in the quarter-final, but this team was made of stern stuff and a 3-3 draw ensured that the replay on home soil would further enhance the growing reputation of this team. (Click here for match report).
The replay took place in front of a crowd in the region of 1200 and they were sent into raptures when Ray Prendergast converted a penalty after a foul on Martin Vahey to give the home side a 1-0 victory and ensure the team a place in local football folklore. (Click here for match report)
Terryland Park in Galway was the venue for the FAI Junior Cup semi-final, with cup favourites and holders Fairview Rangers from Limerick, the opposition. The dream was to die on the Terryland pitch with Ballyglass outclassed in a 2-0 defeat.
Although the defeat was not totally unexpected, it ended a fairytale run in which Ballyglass had captured the imagination of many.
Never before had a Mayo League side been devoted so many column inches in the national and local press for their achievements, not to mention the extensive radio airtime and the interest of an RTE camera crew.
1997 was also the year of the first underage success with the U-12 team capturing the Division 2 League title.
They were to build on that initial success by becoming U-14 league winners in 1998.
1998 saw the club presented with the prestigious ‘Meitheal of the Year Award’ by the Mayo Association in Dublin. They became the first sports club in the county ever to be feted in this way, a tremendous distinction for the game of association football in Mayo. (click here for report)
Underage success continued in 1999 when the U-14 team won the division 1 title.
1999 saw another major change in Mayo football when the current Super League was formed. Ballyglass were one of ten teams invited to participate, with strict criteria on facilities being one of the conditions of entry.
There is no doubt Ballyglass Football Club deserved their place at the top table having being one of the dominant clubs of the 90’s and boasting some of the finest facilities in the county.
The decade ended with Ballyglass being runners-up to local rivals Manulla in the inaugural Super League.
The 1998/99 season was also the time of another long awaited Connaught Cup run.The final against Strand Celtic in McSharry Park, Sligo on April 11th 1999, despite ending in more heartbreak, is one which will live in the memories of all supporters, in torrential rain Ballyglass lost 3-2. The end of the nineties also saw the club explore the possibility of building a viewers stand to continue the development of the club.
