A super-fit, talented and aggressive Ballyvarley senior hurling team produced one of the most amazing comebacks in championship hurling when they came back from the dead, in the final quarter of a rip-roaring Junior Championship Final at St Malachy’s Park in Kilclief, to turn a seven point deficit into a glorious four point victory and bring the Mooney Cup back to the Scarva Road for the first time since 1975. The scenes of jubilation at the final whistle brought tears to the eyes of players and spectators alike as Ballyvarley’s hunger for success had manifested itself in a magnificent second half performance that had clawed victory back from the jaws of what had seemed an almost inevitable defeat.

            Bredagh got off to a flying start and in the first fifteen minutes they left Ballyvarley floundering in their wake as they raced into a 0-6 to 0-0 lead. The omens were there for another dismal championship day for Ballyvarley and their hoards of supporters but gradually the signs began to appear that the Reds had no intention of throwing in the towel and bit by bit they clawed their way back into contention. A magnificent point from David McGovern got them off the mark but almost immediately Bredagh struck back with another stylish point to maintain their six point lead. However, although the scores were slow in coming, Ballyvarley were in the ascendancy with Sean Kennedy and Colm O’Neill driving the team forward with long relieving clearances and with three points from danger-man Paul O’Neill and another from midfielder Martin O’Neill the Reds had reduced the deficit to just four points by the half time whistle.

   Half Time:   Ballyvarley 0-5     Bredagh 0-9

Just like in the opening period, the first ten minutes of the second half was something of a disaster for the Reds as they conceded three unanswered points and with a seven point deficit it looked as though their championship ambitions would have to wait for another year. But the killer goal never came as a magnificent Ballyvarley defence took a complete stranglehold on the game and drove the Reds forward to a most unlikely victory. Paul O’Neill got the ball rolling with another opportunist point and then Conor Grew got the victory march under way when he soloed across goal to slam the ball to the back of the net and suddenly there was only a goal between the sides and the Reds were in the ascendancy.

The introduction of Ciaran Connolly and Sean O’Neill to the forward line and a few positional switches added to the momentum and not even a stunning volleyed point from a hopped ball by Bredagh could deflect the Reds from their date with destiny. Two points from Paul O’Neill and David McGovern brought the deficit down to two and as the excitement mounted it seemed as though the Bredagh goalkeeper, Mark Sidebottom, was going to stand alone against the Ballyvarley onslaught. Time and again he pulled off heart-stopping saves and heart-breaking clearances but Ballyvarley’s fairytale ending was not to be denied. Sean O’Neill, the 51 year old veteran of the 1975 victory, crashed home the second goal and, with just two minutes remaining, the Reds were in the lead for the first time in the game. In desperation Bredagh tried to claw the game back but Ballyvarley were now the dominant force and when Sean Kennedy’s long delivery found the roof of the net for goal number three the Junior Championship Trophy was on its way to West Down.

A jubilant captain James McGrath accepted the Mooney Cup from Down Hurling Board Vice Chairman Gerard McShane, Colm O’Neill received the player of the match award and team manager Gerard O’Neill was lifted shoulder high off the pitch as another magnificent chapter was written in the remarkable history of this small rural club.

Final Score:  Ballyvarley  3-8   Bredagh  0-13

 

Ballyvarley now go forward to the Ulster Junior Hurling Championship next Sunday where they meet the Armagh Champions and old friends, Sean Traceys of Lurgan and we wish them well in their search for further honours.

 

Team: Cathal O’Neill; Pat McGrath, James McGrath, Thomas Lennon; Sean Kennedy(1-0), Colm O’Neill, David Lavery; Martin O’Neill(0-1), Conor Lavery; Eunan McConville, David McGovern(0-2), Cathal McGrath; Paul O’Neill(0-5), Conor Grew(1-0), John O’Neill.

Subs: Ciaran Connolly, Sean O’Neill(1-0), Michael Cairns, Brendan Donald, Darren Mackin, Niall Savage, Niall Higgins, Conor McClorey, Christopher Higgins, Neil Monaghan, Leigh McConville

 

Sent in by Gerard O’Neill, 150 Scarva Road, Banbridge  40625893