Ballina Town F.C. is an Irish association football club based in Ballina, County Mayo. Their senior men's team play in the

Mayo Association Football League Mayo Association Football League is an association football league that features amateur and junior clubs from County Mayo. Its top division, the Super League, is a seventh level division in the Republic of Ireland football league system. The t ...

. They have previously played in the Connacht Senior League. Their senior women's team play in the

Mayo Women's Football League The Mayo Women's Football League is a women's association football league featuring teams from County Mayo. It is the sister league of the Mayo Association Football League. It has previously been known as the Mayo Ladies League. The league is a ...

and have previously played in the FAI Women's Cup.

History

Early years

Ballina Town F.C. was founded on 8 December

1961 Events January * January 3 ** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and consular relations with Cuba ( Cuba–United States relations are restored in 2015). ** Aero Flight 311 ...

in Geraghty's public house in Ballina. Originally the club was named St Patrick's F.C. but six months later it adopted the name of its hometown. The club subsequently joined the

and finished as runners-up in 1966–67. They were runners up again in 1973–74, 1974–75, 1985–86 and 1987–88. In 1976–77 they also won the Connacht Junior Cup.

Connacht Senior League

Between 1989–90 and 1999–2000 Ballina Town's senior team played in the Connacht Senior League. In 1989–90, while playing in the CSL, Ballina Town became the first club from

County Mayo County Mayo (; ga, Contae Mhaigh Eo, meaning "Plain of the Taxus baccata, yew trees") is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. In the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Conn ...

to play in the first round of the

FAI Cup The Football Association of Ireland Senior Challenge Cup (FAI Cup), known as the Extra.ie FAI Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland (as well as Derry ...

. However they were defeated 4–0 by Shelbourne. Ballina Town were also runners-up to

Mervue United Mervue United A.F.C. is an Irish association football club based in Mervue, Galway. Their senior men's team currently plays in the Galway & District League. The club has previously fielded teams in the Connacht Senior League, the League of Ir ...

in the 1992–93 Connacht Senior Cup.

Mayo champions

After finishing as runners-up in the

on five previous occasions, Ballina Town became Mayo champions for the first time in 1988–89. They then had to wait for twenty years before winning a second title in 2009. They retained the title in 2010 and won a fourth title in 2013.

Women's team

Ballina Town also field a women's team in the

. They have also previously played in the FAI Women's Cup. In 2007 Ballina Town also represented Ireland in a tournament in Italy, playing against teams from the host country as well as Iceland and Ireland. They finished fourth in the six team tournament. In 2006 and 2014 Ballina Town won the WFAI Intermediate Cup. In the 2014 final they defeated Douglas Hall 3–1 in the final at Turners Cross.

Ground

Ballina Town play their home matches at Belleek Park which consists of two playing pitches and a flood-lit all-weather pitch. The main pitch is known as the Pete Murray Pitch. Thanks mainly to

Irish National Lottery The National Lottery ( ga, An Crannchur Náisiúnta) is the state-licensed lottery operator in the Republic of Ireland. Established in 1986 to raise funds for good causes, it began operations on 27 March 1987 when it issued its first Scratchcar ...

funding, work commenced in 2004 on new changing rooms at Belleek Park. This development was used for the first time in February 2006. The clubhouse was officially opened by John Delaney on 21 July 2008. Work commenced on an all-weather facility in Belleek in December 2010 and it was first used in January 2011.

Notable former players

; Republic of Ireland women's international *

Sarah Rowe Sarah Rowe (born 25 July 1995) is a triple code sportswoman. She is a former Republic of Ireland women's association football international. In addition to association football, Rowe has also played two other football codes at a senior level. ...

;Republic of Ireland youth international *

David Cawley David Cawley (born 17 September 1991) is an Irish professional footballer who plays for League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers. Career David began his career with Ballina Town in his hometown before making the move to Ipswich T ...

Honours

Senior Men's Team

**''Winners'': 1988–89, 2009, 2010, 2013: 4 **''Runners Up'': 1966–67, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1985–86, 1987–88, 2007, 2008: 7 * Connacht Senior Cup **''Runners Up'': 1992–93, 2009–10: 2 * Connacht Junior Cup **''Winners'': 1976–77: 1 **''Runners Up'': 1972–73: 1

Senior Women's Team

* WFAI Intermediate Cup **''Winners'': 2006, 2014: 2

References

{{Reflist, 2 1961 establishments in Ireland Association football clubs established in 1961 Association football clubs in County Mayo Town Football Club Connacht Senior League (association football) clubs Women's association football clubs in the Republic of Ireland