Issue 23 Volume 7 August 3rd (PDF)

Issue 23 Volume 7 :

Thursday August 3rd 2017

MUNSTER CHAMPIONS

ALL-IRELAND BID NEXT ON THE AGENDA
Ballybunion’s Junior Foursomes team are the champions of Munster
following a wonderful display of golf in Fermoy on Tuesday where they over
came the hotly-fancied Tramore team in the morning semi-finals and
Castletroy from Limerick in the afternoon’s final.
The team of Ronan Cross, Phillip Byrne Jnr, James O’Callaghan & Mark
Galvin pictured above with Munster Branch GUI Chairman Jim Long
presenting the pennant to Team Manager Eddie Stack, now qualify for the
All-Ireland semi-finals which will be played at Rockmount Golf Club in
County Down on August 22nd.
This is Ballybunion’s third provincial title at this level having previously won
in 2010 and 2015, but on both previous occasions they failed to win
national honours, so maybe its third time lucky in 2017 ? Full Story on page 5

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Note from the Editor

It’s the summer that never was and as we hurtle
towards the August weekend there’s no sign of any
sunshine on the way after a week of pretty miserable
weather with a lot of rainfall.
Kerry got the job done against Galway last weekend
but were far from impressive but another AllIreland title is within grasp this weekend as they
take on Meath in the Junior final at Portlaoise, so
best of luck to trainer Jimmy Keane and all of the
lads.
Congratulations to the Ballybunion Junior
Foursomes team who lifted provincial honours on
Tuesday last in Fermoy and now head for the
national semi-finals in three weeks time. The Junior
programme at the club that was put in pace a
number of years ago is certainly beginning to pay
dividends.
It’s the August weekend and lets hope it will be a
busy one for the town and above all a trouble-free
one. Last year was a poor year for tourism in
Ballybunion but this year has been worse and I have
to say that I have never in my life seen the pubs as
quiet during the week nights.
Here's hoping that thing will pick up a bit for the
remining three weeks or so .
Have a great weekend everyone
Ger

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LACKLUSTRE KERRY GET
THE JOB DONE
Kerry were far from impressive but still managed an
eight point win over Galway in last Sunday’s
All-Ireland quarter-final to set up a semi-final clash
with either Mayo or Roscommon in Croke Park on
Sunday August 20th.
While their were a number of positives that the
Kerry management can take from the game like the
outstanding performance from Kieran Donaghy and
a solid contribution from the returning Johnny
Buckley, the ease with which the Kerry defence
was opened up by the Galway forwards will be of
major concern to Eamonn Fitzmaurice and his
selectors and like in the previous game against
Cork if the opposition forwards had been sharper
then the Kerry net would have bulged a number of
times.
Coming into the match Kerry’s had not played a
competitive game in four weeks and it certainly
showed in their passing and movement.
As Pat Spillane said afterwards, “You can play all
the games of A versus B and Backs versus
Forwards in training but there is no substitute for
real action”.
There will now be another three weeks before the
semi-final clash and its difficult to know if the draw
between Mayo and Roscommon will be of benefit
Kerry or not.
Mayo have already played six championship
matches with two of them going to extra time
against Derry & Cork so you would wonder if they
do manage to prevail against Roscommon on
Monday next in the replay, if they will be burnt out
facing Kerry or will those extra games work in their
favour ?
Roscommon on the other hand beat Leitrim and
Galway to win the Connaught title and having
drawn against Mayo will have played one more
game than Kerry should they emerge successful
from the replay.
The “Experts” seem to think that Roscomon missed
their chance on Sunday last but I have a sneaking
suspicion that it will be them who face Kerry on
August 20th.
Whether its Roscommon or Mayo, Kerry still need
to up their game if they want to appear in the final
on September 17th where they could face either
Dublin or Tyrone should they both win on Saturday.

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Friday August 11th

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ONE TITLE IN THE BAG BUT
SECOND A BRIDGE TOO FAR
Ballybunion’s Junior Foursomes team won the
Munster title on Tuesday in Fermoy but their quest
for honours in the Fred Daly Trophy proved a
bridge too far as they were narrowly defeated by
reigning All-Ireland champions Limerick on
Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday, Ballybunion defeated a hotly fancied
Tramore team with Phillip Byrne and Mark Galvin
winning by a five hole margin and James
O'Callaghan & Ronan Cross losing by one hole for
an overall four hole win.
In the afternoon final Byrne & Galvin were receiving
three shots from their Castletroy opponents and
after an exciting contest won by two holes but the
achievement of O’Callaghan & Cross was even
more impressive as they managed a one hole win
after giving their opponents seven shots over the
eighteen holes.
A delighted team manager Ed Stack received the
pennant on behalf of the club who now qualify for
the All-Ireland semi-finals at Rockmount in County
Down in three weeks time.
In the Fred Daly Trophy on Wednesday Phillip
Byrne, Ronan Cross & James O’Callaghan were
joined in the five-man team by Jason Ryan &
Edmond Healy but the previous day’s 36 holes took
its toll on the boys.
In fairness, it is indeed a bit much to ask these
young lads to play four rounds of competitive golf in
the space of two days in the pressure cooker of a
Munster semi-final final as Ballybunion’s quest for
honours on day two proved to be in vain.
Limerick were by far the better team in the opening
nine holes as they led by three holes, two holes,
five holes and two holes in the first four matches
with just Edmond Healy of Ballybunion ahead by
one in the final match.
However, Ballybunion managed to get a second
wind as Phillip Byrne managed to get from four
down after ten to one down with one to play and
James O’Callaghan fought back from five down to
level his match on the sixteenth.
Behind them Jason Ryan and Edmond Healy had
won their matches but Limerick closed out the first
three matches for victory against a jaded
Ballybunion side who were more than happy to
come away with one title in the bag.
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BACK TO SCHOOL COST
SURVEY
While children enjoy their freedom from school,
parents are already preparing to shoulder the burden
of the back to school spend which has now averaged
€1,209 per child according to the Irish League of
Credit Unions latest research.
The nationwide survey shows clearly that school
related costs continue to be a financial burden for the
majority (72%) of parents with 29% saying they will
get into debt because of it, while one in four say they
will be forced to deny their children certain school
basics this year because they cannot afford them.
Helen Courtney- Power Chairperson of Chapter 23 –
Kerry and West Limerick Credit Unions Marketing
Group commented :
“It is somewhat encouraging to see that more
parents than ever are funding the back to school
spend through their monthly income, with a fall in the
numbers getting into debt. However it’s clear that the
back to school spend is still so much of a financial
burden on parents that they are forced to deny their
children some basic items, as well as sacrifice
spending on family holidays and even food.
While the rise in numbers using moneylenders was
marginal, we would find any increase like this concerning and would really encourage parents to instead talk to their local credit union, where interest
rates are fair and capped by law”.
She added “Credit Unions have always been on
hand to provide financial assistance to parents as
they try to manage these annual costs and ease the
financial burden. We encourage parents who need
to borrow, to talk to your credit union before
considering a credit card or a moneylender, as our
interest rates are lower and more affordable. We also
ensure that the loan terms are structured in a way to
suit every individual situation best”.
Here are some key findings from the Survey :
♦

One in four parents will have to deny their
children some basic items this year as they to
struggle to fund the back to school spend

♦

The average return to school spend has increased to €1,209 per child from €1,185 last
year (2% rise)
Continued on page 8

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Continued from page 6…...
♦

More than a quarter say the costs will
negatively impact household bills

♦

Almost three quarters of parents continue
to see the back to school spend as a
financial burden, despite a 2% drop in the
numbers getting into debt

♦

A substantial two thirds say they will buy
foreign goods over Irish produced goods if
it means cutting costs

♦

Tesco has overtaken Dunnes Stores as
the preferred shop for back to school
supplies and uniforms

For more information: Helen Courtney Power
Chairperson Chapter 23 –Kerry and West
Limerick Credit Unions Marketing Group–
064-6632730 / 087-518000

BUCKLEY’S GIVEAWAY
Buckley’s filling station and fuel suppliers located at
East End, Ballybunion are having another super
“Give-away” over the coming months with Gas
Barbeques and Gas Heaters to be won in their
draw.
All you have to do to be in with a chance to win one
of these fabulous prizes is to purchase a drum of
Calorgas from Buckleys and your name will be
automatically entered in to the draw which will take
place every two weeks.

DOON ROAD MASS
The annual Doon Road Open Air Mass will take
tomorrow Friday August 4th at 6.30pm after which a
monument will be unveiled to the memory of family
members from Marian Crescent that have passed
away. Everybody is welcome to attend.

SUM OF MONEY FOUND
A sum of money described as “substantial” was
found on the shop floor at Buckleys Filling station
East End last weekend.
Please contact Padraig at Buckleys to claim it back.

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