THE home GAA club of All-Ireland winner Tony Kelly has said it is “more than disappointed” after vandals “deliberately burnt holes” in its astro-turf pitch.
Ballyea GAA Club released images of the damage to its website, alongside a statement pleading for information.
Ballyea GAA shared photos of the damage that had been caused[/caption]
It also shared pics of matches that it claims had been used[/caption]
It read: “It is more than disappointing to find that somebody has deliberately burnt holes in our Astro Turf.
“This is clear vandalism and the culprits must be found.
“Whoever has done this needs to come forward ASAP or else the Gardaí will be informed.
“If anyone has any information, please let the undersigned know.
“Can parents please ask their children who have been at the club over the last couple of days if they have any information on this incident and let us know?
“The matches have been recovered and will be evidence for the Gardaí.”
Alongside the statement, Ballyea GAA released photos of the damage, showing scorch marks on the surface.
The club also published pics of matches that were left behind and are believed to have been used to vandalise the pitch.
The club helped produce the likes of Tony Kelly, who orchestrated Clare’s sensational win over Cork in last year’s All-Ireland hurling final.
The role played by Ballyea was on the mind of the five-time All Star in the lead-up to the showdown against the Rebels.
And Kelly himself admitted his primary goal for the game was to repay the faith and dedication shown by his club coaches.
He said: “I’m not too caught up with legacy.
“It would be more worthwhile for the work, the work maybe your family has done is worthwhile.
“Your family are I suppose first and foremost in terms of who you’re representing; when you go onto the field you want to do your utmost for them, your utmost for the county.
“Your partner at home hasn’t been able to travel for 12 years. They’ve put their lives… do you get me?
“It’s more worthwhile in terms of, ok, ‘the club put this amount of work into yourself and Paul Flanagan, it was worthwhile doing.’
“I would say that’s more worthwhile than legacy or validation or anything like that.
“In terms of validation from a personal point of view, obviously you want to win, you want to win All-Irelands and rack up as much as you can, but I don’t think validation is quite the right word.
“It would be more ‘worthwhile’, if you get me.
“The work and years you put into it, it’s been worthwhile because I think that team from 2013, it has passed.”
