Team Merry Monk Ballina ready for new season

Fresh of a remarkable campaign last year, Ballina Braves Basketball Club will be competing on two fronts for the upcoming season as they enter the newly-formed Division 2 National League.

They will compete under the banner ‘Team Merry Monk Ballina’ after they re-established their partnership with the popular Ballina bar and restaurant.

They will also continue to compete in the LLR Senior Men’s League, which they won last year after winning every game and with more games on the horizon, they have added some fresh talent into their ranks into a strong side that includes the likes of Ronan McGarrity, Peter Papik, Steve Popplewell and captain, Ronan O’Malley.

The success has been all the more impressive given that it was the senior team’s first time back playing competitively after a long absence, due to a combination of Covid and the financial costs involved in running a senior team “It was the first time having a senior team in over 10 years,” explained club chairman Kevin McHale. “I had had recently moved back from Dublin with my wife, relocating back west and couldn’t believe there wasn’t a senior team in Ballina.

“I always felt like the people were there and the culture was there. It was only a matter of connecting the dots and the season end up being a real good success.

The metric that defines success is fun, laughter and having a bit of craic. Looking back on the season, I went to most games and everyone had a bit of fun and craic, and on top of that we won every game we competed in!"

Kevin added: “It costs a lot to keep it all together. Maybe enthusiasm and interest had fallen. We just re-established that interest. Derek (Cunningham, secretary) puts a huge effort in. We wouldn’t be where we are today without him.

“It does consume a lot of time and a lot of attention to detail. It’s hard to put a finger on it. Coming out of Covid, we’re seeing a big bounce with the underage and senior teams so it’s all about maintaining that momentum.” There is momentum building not just in Ballina but across Mayo as several towns are now operating at underage level. That comes as no surprise to McHale.

“It's always been there. The number of clubs has gone up, a lot of underage clubs operating. We competed last year at U16 and Crossmolina won it. They went up to AICC and won the ‘B’ Division which was a big achievement for a small town.

“Mayo is definitely very competitive. It kinda stops at U16 and we’re the only club that keeps going (for senior). When it gets older, it costs more and takes more effort and energy to keep going.” Looking ahead to the new season, Team Merry Monk Ballina are in good shape and it is no surprise to see there much confidence coming into Division 2 and McHale feels, even with the extra games, they are more than capable than winning.

“The lads trained all summer and there was social basketball also all summer which was great. Ronan kept that going. They train two times a week and with lads at college it can be a challenge.

We’re lucky as we’ve a few young fellas from Kiltimagh have transferred over as it stops at U16 level. It’s a big lift for everyone.

“There will be weekends where we have two games in one weekend and we’ll have to have one group here and one group there.

“We always have a target of winning. It’s always win. We don’t go into anything without it!"

Club captain Ronan O’Malley was there the last time they were in Division 1 but as the senior team fell away and no other club in the West of Ireland was around, he began focusing on his Gaelic football career with Ardnaree Sarsfields. Now with Ballina back, he is looking forward to the new challenge.

“I played with Ballina the last time we were in Division 1 so that was about three seasons and when I finished up, I was playing a lot of football with Ardnaree. About three years ago, I played with Sligo for a year and when Derek and Kevin said everything is being setup again in Ballina, I was in.

“I came up through the youth system in Ballina, played all the way through. During Covid, the basketball season delayed in starting and football finished early so I saw an opportunity to go back playing. I really enjoyed it and when everything was being set up again, I was delighted.

Ronan added: “It was a very successful season (last year), not only did we win two competition but the growth of some of the players was brilliant. Lads got court time that they might not have got before and some of the lads really came on. It was really good to win but to see lads develop and some of the younger lads come on, like Derek’s young lad Mark (Cunningham).

“There wasn’t any U18 competitions so he was playing senior so when you see him in an U18 competition now, he’s well able to be one of the best players on the court.

With the level of talentcoming through the ranks, the skipper is enthused about what this time can achieve.

“They’re a lot better than I was at their age! The standard is brilliant. Skill-wise, I wouldn’t be able to do what they could do at their age. The future looks bright.

“There’s a good mix of veterans and young lads so I can’t see why we be competitive or put it up to any team. Division 2 is new so we don’t know what the benchmark so I hope we can be the benchmark, win and let lads develop, gets some court time. We’re looking forward to the season ahead.” 

Fixtures for Team Merry Monk Ballina are set to be announced in the coming weeks.