Senior Hurling League: Ballyvarley
Vs Ballygalget
Ballyvarley senior
hurlers got off to a perfect start
to the new season with a convincing
seven point win over Ballygalget.
Played at home in perfect conditions
the Reds were eager from the start,
biting into challenges and creating
numerous scoring opportunities.
Despite all this it was the visitors
who were the first to get off the
mark with an accurately pointed
free. The teams were level soon
after when a good run from David
McGovern fed Sean Kennedy to deliver
to Eunan McConville who duly sent it
over in a crisp flowing move.
David McGovern and James
McGrath were carrying on their form
of last year, James a rock at the
back providing the ammunition and
David McGovern at midfield creating
and taking scoring chances. David
got his first of the night from a 35
yard free, sending it over with
consummate ease. Eunan McConville
was enjoying a great game at right
half-forward causing the Ballygalget
defence lots of problems and after
losing his marker once again he sent
the ball between the uprights for
another point.
Ballyvarley were winning
a lot of ball in midfield at this
stage and Conor Lavery showed this
with an excellent run out wide on
the left and somehow squeezing the
sliothar over from a very difficult
angle.
The whole Ballyvarley
defence was performing well at this
stage, David Lavery and James
McGrath being ably assisted by Conor
McClorey at full-back while Michael
Cairns and Sean Kennedy were having
tremendous games at half-back.
Then the fireworks really started.
Darren Mackin received the ball just
in the opposing half and went on a
mazy solo run that ended with a deft
finish to the bottom right hand
corner of the net. Minutes later
Conor Lavery goaled himself. He won
the ball on the left before rifling
the sliothar into the same corner of
the goals.
Ballygalget could only reply with
two points from frees to leave the
Reds in a commanding seven point
lead at the break.
HALF-TIME: Ballyvarley 2-4
Ballygalget 0-3
The Reds began the
second half as they had finished the
first, with a goal. Tremendous early
pressure was rewarded when John
O’Neill latched on to a loose ball
and sent a ground stroke into the
net.
Another point from Eunan
McConville before a wonderful long
range score from David McGovern saw
the home side race into a twelve
point lead. David McGovern and the
opposition traded points-a-piece
before Ballygalget started to ease
themselves back into the game. So
far in the lead the Ballyvarley men
physically seemed to switch off and
Ballygalget nearly took full
advantage.
The visitors grabbed two
points in a row before goaling with
seven minutes to go, to give the
Ardsmen the hope of an unlikely
comeback. The normally tight Reds
defence began to lose shape and
Ballyvarley began to find it hard to
win possession from their puck outs.
However a David McGovern point soon
settled the ship as Ballyvarley
ended the game with a good seven
point win.
FULL-TIME: Ballyvarley 3-8
Ballygalget 1-7
This was a good win for
the Reds although they know they
will have to be more focused in the
later stages of games from now on.
In defence James McGrath, Sean
Kennedy, David Lavery and Michael
Cairns really shone, Conor Lavery
and David McGovern worked tirelessly
in midfield, while upfront Eunan
McConville was excellent and Darren
Mackin was always a danger.
Ballyvarley Team
Cathal O’Neill, Conor McClorey,
James McGrath, David Lavery, Sean
Kennedy, Colm O’Neill, Michael
Cairns, Conor Lavery (1-1), David
McGovern (0-4), Eunan McConville
(0-3), Darren Mackin (1-0), Ciaran
Connolly, John O’Neill (1-0), Conor
Grew, Niall Savage. Sub:
Leigh McConville.
