The following report is taken with courtesy from the Ballybrack SAC Facebook Page:
Saturday, June 7th, Kilgorman Beach, Ballybrack SAC vs Ringsend Angling Club
Last Saturday saw the first interclub perpetual challenge cup between Ballybrack SAC and Ringsend Irishtown Angling Club. This new format is something that has been long overdue, and desired by match anglers. A matchplay style competition took place with 15 of Ballybracks’ finest, taking on a superb 15-man lineup from Ringsend. With a lot of planning from both sides, the venue and date was set. Anglers turned up for the event in great fashion, bags of carbon and boxes of bait at the ready. Although the tides were small the conditions were fantastic, putting everyone in great form for the anticipated debut match.
Competition kicked off at 4pm with all the Brackers fishing the odd pegs and Ringsend lads fishing the evens. First cast returned some good results for both sides up and down the beach, with Paddy Hamilton from Ringsend starting strong with a high-scoring double dogfish, while Jamie Forsyth with a lovely Treble also put the pressure on for Ringsend. A great start from the middle of the beach. Joe Clancy on the lower pegs returning a dogfish first cast was also pleased with himself
Some anglers on the lower and higher pegs from both sides had a slower start, but eventually managed to find fish. In Particular, Eric Gasparro from Ballybrack, who had a couple of quiet hours while Brendan Byrne was picking off fish , managed to step up the pace and find the dogfish at a distance to tally up a fine haul of 8 dogfish, 2 smoothound and a couple of flounder. That lad can catch fish from a puddle on the side of the road. On the Ringsend side others were also starting to find the fish with Wayne Hamilton on Peg 2 getting into form and keeping Cian Corcoran in his sights who was steadily picking off the dogs at distance. Cian finished strong in the end gaining a point for the Brackers. On Peg 7 Junior Sean Keane managed to scratch out some fine flounder and a bass to also get a point on the board over Eddie Kiernan. Paddy Hamilton finished strong to take home the point for Ringsend over Lar Mooney.
Stephen Glynn in his true form retrieved the fish of the day with a fine Smoothound of 97cm which won him biggest round fish in his zone and also tidying up his card nicely with 7 good scoring fish and a Ballybrack point on the board over Ringsend’s James Kinsella, who had a good return of fish. Jack Keegan on his return was rewarded biggest flat fish in his zone/ shared with Paul Tyndall for a fine flounder. Eric Gasparro also doing well in the pools with a 92cm Smoothound and 27cm Flounder. Darragh Mulligan fished a great match but was beaten by Jamie Forsyth who battled out a fish in the final hour to take a point for Ringsend. Darragh made the Pools in Zone A with a 27cm Flounder. Also on the lower Pegs, Ringsend’s Tony Byrne took a point over Shane Kavanagh and claimed pools money for a fine 80cm Smoothound. Sean Hickey, with 3 good scoring fish, was beaten by veteran match angler Stephen Byrne from Ringsend.
Joe Cannon, consistent as ever, picked off the fish nicely, gaining a point over Martin Ryan on the higher pegs. And Jay Shaw from Ballybrack also fishing a great match for a point on the board against Mikey Byrne. In the middle of the beach, Paul Tyndall and Ruari Ludden battled it out until the final whistle at 9pm, with Ruari taking a point home for Ringsend. John Keane, struggling on peg 5, eventually found a dogfish at a distance which would measure 4cm longer than Joe Clancy’s to pip the point for Ballybrack. Conor Clancy from Ringsend tidied up his match against Jack Keegan for the win. Anthony Gannon ended up with a fine haul of fish on peg 31 but had no opponent Nevertheless, super fishing Anto Junior Jesse Murphy who fought hard for a fish was beaten in the end by Junior Luke Kinsella who had a nice mixed bag including two small Tope. Brian Byrne from Ringsend took a point for Ringsend over Junior Paul Crimmons who has been on great form lately and fished a great match.
The competition was very close from peg to peg, which made for great sport and great fun for everyone on both sides. Ringsend came out on top in the end after fishing a great match, and are the first name to go on this fantastic Cup. Well done Ringsend, a well deserved result. Scores finished up Ringsend 9 points and Ballybrack 6 points.
It’s safe to say that every single angler enjoyed the competition, camaraderie and most importantly the craic. The first of this perpetual cup was a great success and we are looking forward to next year already to put Ballybrack SAC’s name on that cup.
Tight Lines
Go Fishing…
