13.10.23

Sligo Bay Lobster Women’s Amateur League 23/24: BUFC Ladies 2-0 Ballymote Celtic (HOME) (GAME ABANDONED AFTER 66 MINS)

66 minutes of great football was played on the night by the Ballisodare ladies. BUFC showed their intent as early as the 5th minute when Catherine Porter went down under a challenge from Ballymote keeper but referee, Eric Rainey, waved away the home appeals. 

Grace Kivlehan had a free kick attempt fly over the bar on 12 minutes and soon after Amy Gerrity had a chance as the home teams mounted pressure on the Ballymote rear guard. Amy Gerrity with another chance on chance on 13 minutes.

Ballymote settled into the game and it became a midfield battle with few chances until the 34 minute when Grace Kivlehan let fly from from 18 yards but Murtagh in the Ballymote goals was up to the task of saving it.

The best chance of the half fell to a combination of Michelle Harvey & Catherine Porter on 36 minutes. A half volley attempt from another Sinead Casey corner was blocked by the resolute Ballymote  defence. With BUFC now in total control a Kivlehan shot on the turn, from an Amy Gerrity pass, was comfortably saved by Murtagh.

Amy Gerrity, who was tormenting the Ballymote defence with her direct running, had a cross well blocked on 39 minutes and another Gerrity chance on 42 minutes from a Sinead Casey corner, flew over.

The first half saw a score line 0-0. From the goalkeeper to the defence line BUFC applied enough pressure on Ballymote to prevent them from scoring, in fact BUFC restricted Ballymote to one chance in the first half with Joanne Mc Cabe a virtual specator in the BUFC goals.

The midfield line controlled the pitch and played some fantastic balls to the forwards but unfortunately couldn't find the back of the net in the first half.

Ballisodare came out fighting strong in the second half with two early goals from Catherine & Amy. BUFC took a deserved lead on 48 through a composed finish from Catherine Porter from another Casey corner. On 50 minutes Clodagh Devaney went close with a shot and on 51 minutes Gerrity doubled BUFCs lead finishing with aplomb.

On 61 minutes a great double save from Joanne Mc Cabe kept the Ballymote comeback at bay. Ballisodare were playing fantastic football and the potential to win the game on the night but an unfortunate injury to a Ballymote midfielder led to the game being eventually abandoned by referee Eric Rainey on 66 minutes.

Boys u15 Group B: BUFC 7-1 Merville United (AWAY) (WIN)

U15 boys beat Merville 7 - 1 tonight in the fantastic new Boyle Celtic Astro Facility.

We had an outstanding team performance overall but one of the fastest goals scored after 5 seconds was an early signal.

Tip off from Peter Keirns to Daniel Toolan who put a perfect pass over Merville defence for the Rocket that is Jayden Gilgan to charge onto and finish low past the keeper, this was one of 5 goals scored by Jayden with 4 assists from center mid partner Daniel Toolan.

We were penned into our box for most of the first half by a relentless Merville, however our main central defence of Cian McMunn, Ryan Wheelan and Jackub Jaroszki with Jack Galvin and Eoin Toolan as wing backs were solid as a rock and covered each other brilliantly to break every Merville attack.

It was on the break we were clinical, Ryan Maloney, Alfie Lavelle and Peter Keirns linking play excellently to keep Merville defense scrambling to contain us and Jaydens running with his determination to win every ball, inspiring everyone around hm.

Ryan Whelan scored two virtually identical goals getting on the end of corner kicks and firing to the top right corner of Mervilles net.

Ronan Rogers in our goal was superb and nearly saved a last minute Merville penalty, a consolation for Merville, our 4 man bench of Euan Finnegan, Troy and Leroy Mespena, and Joey Muldoon contributed whole heartedly. Team work was epic!

14.10.23

Girls u15: BUFC V St. Johns (HOME) (LOSS)

Our understrength U15 girls were overpowered by a strong St. Johns team who took advantage of their numerical advantage at every opportunity. To the girls credit they kept going to the bitter end despite the scoreline and were a credit for their attitude throughout.

Girls u13 Group A: BUFC 0-4 Carrick Town (HOME) (LOSS)

It wasn't going to be the girls day but it wasn't for the want of trying.

Multiple attempts were made on goals by Sophie Henry, Blaithin O'Mera and Tara Morris but were all denied by the Carrick Goalie.

Some fine saves were made by Fay Morris at the other end of the pitch.

The team worked well together on the day & Catherina Relvas made her first debut with the U13's and she was delighted to be part of the game. We'll done girls.

SFAI Subway Boys u12 Cup: Maree Oranmore 0-1 BUFC (AWAY) (WIN)

Another humdinger of a cup-tie in South Galway on Saturday and we're starting to run out of superlatives for this U12 Boys team - what an away performance this was!

A minute into the 2nd half, Caolan Feeney perfectly times his run to meet Conor Fallon's trademark inswinging corner and plant a firm header into the roof of the net to give us a precious advantage in the tightest of games.

An evenly contested and pulsating 1st half saw chances for both sides but a combination of wayward finishing by the home team and a couple of excellent saves by their keeper from Orán Hynes & Jason Scanlon kept in at nil all.

A couple of tactical switches at half time enabled us to get a foothold in midfield where tigerish tackling from Kyran Gethins, Stephen Gillespie, Bobby Cavanagh and AJ McDonagh ensured that the opposition saw a red & black shirt every time they lifted their heads.

The outstanding rearguard action of our back three in Ethan Lougheed, Teddy Healion and the unbeatable Calum Clarke simply refused to be breached with the latter producing an epic 'McGrath@Giants Stadium' type performance at centre half against Maree's powerful and lightening quick striker - we lost count of the fearless blocks, last ditch tackles, brave challenges & clearing headers in a massive team effort for the full hour and beyond.

Of course then there was the weekly saved piledriver heading for the bottom right corner of the net from Ryan Fallon in goal in the last few minutes of time added on to guarantee the clean sheet and kick off the celebrations on the long bus trip home!

A full sit down meal was laid on post match by Maree/Oranmore and their Sligo born coach who was full of praise for our boys skill & determination.

We wait eagerly for the draw for the next round folks!

Forza BUFC🔴⚪⚽

15.10.23

SFAI Subway Boys u16 Cup: BUFC V Athenry (AWAY) (LOSS)

Our u16s journey in the SFAI Cup ended at the hands of an unforgiving Athenry side who dominated throughout. Credit must go to the players and management for their season so far and we are sure they will return with a bang in their next local league game.

Sligo Pallets Premier League: BUFC V Carrick Town (AWAY) (DRAW)

The game was moved to Ballisodare astro but this didn't unsettle a well drilled Carrick side as they took the lead on the counter attack after 25 minutes.

With Carrick organised BUFC found it hard to create opportunities but the equaliser came 3 minutes before half time. Gary Anderson curled in a free kick and Aaron Scanlon flicked home. 1-1 at half time.

With Ballisodare pressing for a lead goal early in the second half Carrick once again hit us on break, 2-1 Carrick.

A strange decision by referee Martin Farrell reduced Ballisodare United to 10 men and Carrick took maximum advantage of the extra man by again countering at the BUFC rearguard and making it 3-1 to Carrick.

BUFCs Ciaran McPartland displayed great determination when he took the field of play and it was his close range finish that pulled one back, 3-2 to Carrick now.

The day looked destined to end in disappointment for BUFC when Carrick scored a 4th, once again when Ballisodare were pushing for an equaliser. 4-2 Carrick with ten minutes left.

A moment of magic from Gary Anderson in the 91st minute when he curled the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box made it 4-3. It looked to be a consolation until the 94th minute when Adam Grace got on the end of a James Markham cross to equalise, 4-4 and the black jackets made their voices heard now.

Amazingly, there was one last chance for Grace when the impressive Keith Cotter slipped him a ball at the edge of the box but a Carrick defender blocked the effort and the game ended 4-4.

Well done to Carrick Town on a well planned out performance and our own lads will hope for better performances ahead.

Congratulations to Gary Anderson and his partner Regina, on the birth of their son, Romeo, 24 hours after the game. Gary, never one to be quiet was presented with a gift for baby....and him at training on Wednesday night.

U14s Challenge Match: BUFC 8-3 Coolaney United (HOME) (WIN)

Even though our passing was sloppy at times the lads went in 3-2 up at half time.

Fitness stood to the lads in the second half and the lads went on to win 8-3.

Our goalscorers this evening were Ben Lynch x 3, Adam Finn x 2, Daniel Connolly x 2 and Ryan Maloney x 1.

16.10.23

Sligo Leitrim DSL U17 Boys A League: Manor Rangers 4-1 BUFC (AWAY) (LOSS)

Our u17s were well beaten by Manor Rangers this evening in MacSharry Park. Disappointingly we allowed Manor to dictate the pace of the game and got punished for it. On to the next game.