Senior Hurling: Castlewellan v Ballyvarley
Senior Hurling League
Castlewellan Vs Ballyvarley
In
a thrilling high scoring match
Ballyvarley’s senior hurlers got
back to winning ways with a
convincing five point win against
Castlewellan. The Reds travelled to
the game knowing their recent record
in Castlewellan has not been good,
and faced a daunting task as
Castlewellan had just been demoted
from Division 1.
All these factors did not seem to
matter as the Reds got off to a
blistering start that shocked the
home side. David McGovern got a goal
straight away when his high drive
evaded the keepers grasp and ended
in the net. The pace of the
Ballyvarley attack was causing the
Castlewellan men untold problems
with Niall Savage and Ciaran
Connolly taking on their markers at
every opportunity, the former
getting two excellent points on the
run. The home side still had not got
off the mark when Conor Grew burst
through to goal and a pointed 70
yard free from Paul O’Neill gave the
locals a 0-9 to 0-0 lead.
The Reds were dominant with James
McGrath, Thomas Lennon and Pat
McGrath rocks at the back, Paul
O’Neill and Cathal McGrath superb in
midfield and Michael Cairns, David
McGovern and Eunan McConville
providing a hard working
half-forward line that were quick in
the tackle.
As
the game approached the later stages
of the half two points-a-piece were
exchanged between the two sides with
David McGovern and Paul O’Neill
getting the Ballyvarley scores.
Castlewellan though were not going
to make it easy for the locals and
enjoyed a purple patch where they
scored 2-1 without reply. Not happy
with how they conceded two soft
goals Ballyvarley roared back with
four points of their own inside 2
minutes, the first a great left
sided score from Eunan McConville, a
good flick over the bar from Michael
Cairns before Paul O’Neill added two
quick-fire frees.
With the whistle going Ballyvarley
were in a commanding six point lead
and playing some fast paced hurling.
HALF-TIME: Castlewellan 2-3
Ballyvarley 2-9
On
the restart the Reds continued were
they had left off with Paul
O’Neill’s accuracy from place balls
twice punishing fouls by the
Castlewellan rearguard. The home
side struck back with a good left
side point, before a neat exchange
between Michael Cairns and Colm
O’Neill saw the latter’s shot from
midfield drop into Castlewellan net.
A lack of concentration from
Ballyvarley straight after their
goal saw the green shirted home side
get one of their own. Paul O’Neill
and David McGovern got the away side
back on track with powerful points
from the right yet Castlewellan soon
retaliated with two points of their
own.
The home side though knew they had
to get a goal to get back in the
game as Ballyvarley were
consistently keeping the deficit at
about five points. The pressure on
the Ballyvarley defence in the last
seven minutes was severe with the
Reds putting in numerous last ditch
tackles with their sticks and
bodies. The desire to win the
contest was on the faces of all the
Ballyvarley men as they reduced
Castlewellan to three more points.
Two more pointed frees from Paul
sealed a five point win for
Ballyvarley in a tough hard hitting
encounter.
FULL-TIME: Castlewellan 3-10
Ballyvarley 3-15
This was an excellent team
performance from the Reds with
everyone, especially in the first
half, giving their all to the cause.
Pat McGrath, Thomas Lennon, James
McGrath and Colm O’Neill were to the
fore in the defence, with Paul
O’Neill and Cathal McGrath excelling
in the middle. Paul scored nine
points on the night with Michael
Cairns, David McGovern with five,
Eunan McConville and Niall Savage
providing the threat upfront. With
the confidence gained from this win
hopefully the Reds can continue this
fine form in their next league
games.
Ballyvarley Senior Hurlers: Cathal
O’Neill, Pat McGrath, James McGrath,
Thomas Lennon, Conor McClorey, Colm
O’Neill (1-0), John O’Neill, Paul
O’Neill (0-9), Cathal McGrath,
Michael Cairns (0-1), David McGovern
(1-2), Eunan McConville (0-1),
Ciaran Connolly, Conor Grew (1-0),
Niall Savage (0-2). Sub: Leigh
McConville, Christopher Higgins.
Sent in by Colm O’Neill
