BALLON GAA CLUB
Ballon GAA Club had the distinction of winning the
first ever County Carlow Football championship in 1889 when they defeated
Tullow by 4 points to 1 at Carlow although the margin is sometimes recorded
as 1-1 to 0-0.
It is reported that "immediately after the game had ended great rowdyism
took place amongst the spectators".
At that time teams had 21 players and Ballon's heroes were John Cummins
(Captain), John Nolan, John Keegan, Michael McAssey, Tom Donohoe, James
Brien, John Maher, Patrick Kerins, Gal Donohoe, John Kealy, James Byrne,
Thomas Connors, John Gahan, Peter O'Neill, Will Murphy, Thomas Nolan,
Patrick Brien, Brian Flynn, Myles Nolan, Larry Byrne and James Kerins.
Ballon fielded teams most years in the championship but their next appearance
in a final wasn't until 1924 when they were beaten by Milford, 2-5 to
1-1 at Killerig. Lean years followed and the next success came in 1937
when they won their second championship defeating Myshall 3-3 to 0-1 at
Carlow in the junior final.
The successful team was Patrick Byrne, Laragh; Paddy Farrell, Cappagh;
John Donohoe, Ballon; James Nolan, Tinnaclosh; Jim Bolger, Laragh; Paddy
Hendrick, Boggan; John Hendrick, Boggan; Ned Morris, Ballon; Tom Blanche,
Ballon-Hill; Pat Blanche, Ballon-Hill; Eddie Murphy, Clonegal; Jim Byrne,
Raheen; Mick McCormack, Cappagh; Jim Doyle, Fenagh; Martin Nolan, Ballon-Hill;
and Willie Hendrick. Boggan.
The Club's next appearance in a final was against Tullow in 1951 and here
Tullow avenged their defeat in that first ever final of 1889. Again Ballon
disappeared from the scene and were not to reemerge again for 26 years
until the current club was formed in 1977.
This current club has been in continuous existence longer than any of
its predecessors.
Within a year Ballon had qualified for their first final since 1951 but Ballymurphy proved too strong winning by 1-13 to 1-8 . But success was just around the corner and in 1979 Ballon won their first junior championship since 1937 and finally laid to rest the curse that Ballon would never win a championship which was allegedly put upon them many years earlier. The O'Hanrahans were the opposition and Ballon emerged winners by 1-5 to 0-5. The members of the winning team were Martin Barry, Ballon; Michael O'Toole, Boggan; Anthony Nolan, Ballykealy; Tommy Maher, Killane; Ollie Lawler, Sraugh; Dan Jordan, Killane; Jimmy Smyth, Connaberry; John Kelly, Laragh; John Blanche, Connaberry; Johnny Corrigan, Ballon-Hill; Luke Lawler, Sraugh; John Nolan, Ballykealy; Eddie Kearney, Kilnock; Brendan Donohoe, Carrigslaney and Roy Elms, Ardristan,. Sub- Matt Corrigan, Ballon. Later that year Ballon won the League Div 3 title defeating Clonegal 0-10 to 1-3.
From 1981 until 1993 Ballon operated in the Senior Championship with limited success winning the opening round on seven occasions and reaching the semi-finals only once. In 1994 Ballon were relegated to Intermediate status and to junior the following year. The rebuilding began and it was success at the first attempt as the current Ballon club won its second Carlow junior title in 1995 defeating Rathvilly 4-11 to 0-7 at Dr. Cullen Park. Team- Dion Zerafa, Ballon; Joe Cummins, Ballintrane; Donnacha Murphy, Connaberry; Padraic George, Sraugh; Martin Swayne, Craanpursheen; Brendan Barry, Ballon; Billy Fanning, Aghade; Michael Kinsella, Sandbrook; Dinny Maher, Ballylean; Joe Maher, Turtane; Kevin O'Brien, Ballon; Brendan O'Byrne, Ballinvalley; Alan Kelly, Ballon-Hill; Garrett Nolan, Connaberry; and Jim Kealy, Carrigslaney. Subs- William Deacon, Laragh; Brendan Abbey, Ballour and Shane Flynn, Ballon.
Ballon Club purchased 6.5 acres of land in 1982 and
after redevelopment turned it into one of the best playing parks in Co.
Carlow. Appropriately the park is called after the late James Morris,
chairman of the club from 1977 until his untimely death in 1982.
A clubhouse was started in 1986 and was officially opened in 1995 by the
President of the GAA, Jack Boothman.
The Clubhouse is called after Very Rev. John Flood, PP, Ballon/Rathoe
from 1960 to 1987 who was a great supporter of the club.
Taken from A History of Ballon GAA compiled by Michael Dawson.