Senior Hurling
League: Ballyvarley Vs Bredagh
Colm O'Neill
Ballyvarley’s senior hurlers faced
Bredagh in the league last week, and
just like their championship final
meeting last year this was a tight
entertaining contest. High flying
Bredagh entered the game top of the
league having beaten many of the
opposing teams by large margins so
the Reds had it all to do.
The early play went to form with the
visitors doing the early pressing to
strike over three unanswered points.
Even now the hurling was very
competitive with space at a premium
and some good hurling on show from
both sides. Paul O’Neill got the
home side back into the game with a
coolly taken free both he exchanged
points-a-piece with Bredagh’s Paul
Doole. The Reds were playing well at
this stage with Sean Kennedy, Paul
O’Neill, David McGovern and James
McGrath providing the main threat
upfront; Eunan McConville at
midfield, and some excellent
performances from Pat McGrath,
Thomas Lennon and David Lavery at
the back.
A
further Bredagh point on the run
renewed the three point gap. A few
minutes later came a killer goal for
Bredagh, when a long ball caused a
melee in the Ballyvarley box. The
danger was partly cleared only for a
grounded shot to find the net.
Ballyvarley’s desire to win was
still there and they responded in
fine fashion with three points from
frees all from Paul O’Neill, the
pick of the lot a well taken place
ball 70 yards out. O’Neill and Doole
exchanged two points-a-piece before
Bredagh just edged two more over to
leave five in it at the break.
HALF-TIME: Ballyvarley 0-7 Bredagh
1-9
Ballyvarley dominated possession in
this half and for large periods were
camped in their Belfast opponents
half. Chance after chance fell to
the Reds
infront of goal with Lorenzo
McMullan in goal for the away side
pulling off a full stretch save
first of all from James McGrath,
then Conor Grew and David McGovern.
Bredagh were desperately defending
with Danny Hughes their main
stalwart at centre half-back.
The home side were made to rue the
missed chances with Bredagh getting
two points on the break from frees.
Eventually all the hard work and
tireless running from the
Ballyvarley hurlers paid off as
first Paul O’Neill found space to
flick over from wide on the right
and then David McGovern shrugged off
some heavy challenges to float the
sliothar over on the left.
A
soft goal 15 minutes into the half
physically deflated the Reds yet
they kept going and after another
O’Neill point, James McGrath tore
through the
Bredagh rearguard to goal. With five
points in it Ballyvarley went in
search of goals and the Bredagh
defence lived dangerously with some
timely challenges and interventions
just preventing several goals.
Despite all the effort lady luck was
not smiling on the Reds as the goals
never came and Bredagh saw out the
final minutes to take all the spoils
back up to Belfast.
FULL-TIME: Ballyvarley 1-10 Bredagh
2-14
It
is easy to be negative after a
defeat but on the contrary this was
a good performance from Ballyvarley.
Bredagh have stuffed many sides in
this league already and are certain
to go up to division one next year.
The whole
Ballyvarley team played well, with
their four younger players who are
all minors, Paul O’Neill, Leigh
McConville, Conor McClorey, and
Thomas Lennon, coming to the fore.
In defence Pat McGrath rolled back
the years with a good performance as
did David Lavery and Michael Cairns.
In midfield Eunan McConville and
John O’Neill worked tirelessly and
upfront Ciaran Connolly, James
McGrath and Paul O’Neill all
contributed to a spirited
performance. Ballyvarley’s senior
hurlers next game is at home to
Castlewellan on Tuesday 19th June
with throw in at 7.30pm.
Ballyvarley Team
Cathal O’Neill, Conor McClorey, Colm
O’Neill, Pat McGrath, Thomas Lennon,
Michael Cairns, David Lavery, Eunan
McConville, John O’Neill, Paul
O’Neill (0-9), James McGrath (1-0),
Sean Kennedy, Ciaran Connolly, David
McGovern (0-1), Conor Grew. Sub:
Leigh McConville, Brian Donald, Sean
O’Neill.
