Junior Hurling Championship Quarter-final:
Ballyvarley 1-11 Warrenpoint 3-7
In a magnificent game played with
intensive championship fervour,
Ballyvarley’s dreams of championship
success came to an abrupt end when
lady luck deserted them in their
search for a winning goal in another
famous last quarter fight-back and
it was Warrenpoint who held out
for a narrow two point victory.
Goals win matches and whereas Warrenpoint
got three during a purple spell
in the first half, the Reds just
couldn’t find the target in
the last five minutes to get the
victory their whole-hearted effort
probably deserved.
Ballyvarley were magnificent in
defeat as they stretched favourites
Warrenpoint to the limit in a gripping
Junior Hurling Championship quarter-final
in Ballela and after a fighting
performance that did the Parish
proud they somehow ended up on the
wrong side of a 1-11 to 3-7 score
line. Unbeaten Warrenpoint, league
leaders and prospective Ulster League
Winners, were red hot favourites
for this tie but Ballyvarley produced
all of their renowned championship
fervour to produce a memorable game
that will live long in the memory
and leave Warrenpoint counting their
blessings and feeling that the fates
has their name printed firmly on
the cup this year.
Memories of 2006 came flooding back
as Ballyvarley began at championship
pace and took control of this game
right from the outset. Martin O’Neill
advanced from full forward to turn
and fire over the bar to give the
Reds the lead they deserved and
when James McDermott raced through
to add another in spectacular fashion
Warrenpoint were in no doubt that
the Reds were up for the challenge.
A pointed free from Paul O’Neill
and another fine point from Martin
O’Neill gave the Reds a commanding
4 point lead and Warrenpoint were
struggling to rise to the occasion.
Then some key decisions started
going the other way and the tide
of this game controversially ebbed
in Warrenpoint’s direction.
At one end Conor Lavery raced through
to fire over the bar but the umpire
amazingly waved the ball wide and
at the other end the ball went wide
only for the referee to award a
controversial 21 yard free to Warrenpoint
and John O’Kane accepted the
gift and fired over to give Warrenpoint
their first score and a foothold
in this game.
That boost was all that Warrenpoint
needed and in a shattering ten minute
spell Ballyvarley’s championship
hopes were virtually dead and buried.
Alan Higgins got goal-side of his
marker and raced through for a stunning
goal. Within minutes John O’Kane
had repeated the dose and Michael
Cunningham fired over a point to
see Warrenpoint go from four points
down to four points in front. It
was a dramatic turn-around and worse
was to follow when Alan Higgins
raced through to fire past the helpless
Cathal O’Neill for goal number
three. The Reds were visibly shattered
and a few directionless wides at
this stage were to prove vital to
the eventual outcome of the game.
Two more frees from Paul O’Neill
reduced the deficit to five points
at the interval and during the break
the Reds were reminded of their
tradition of coming back from the
dead.
Half time: Ballyvarley 0-6 Warrenpoint
3-2
Two points from frees from John
O’Kane stretched Warrenpoint’s
lead to seven but then a period
of stalemate ensued as Ballyvarley’s
defence took total control but they
failed to find anyway past a strong
Warrenpoint half-back line. A point
from play from Paul O’Neill
broke the deadlock and we had to
wait another ten minutes before
he added another from a free. Sean
Kennedy pushed forward to drive
another shot over the bar as gradually
the Reds took control and the fight-back
began in earnest.
Two converted frees from Paul O’Neill
reduced the deficit to just two
points but in one of Warrenpoint’s
now rare attacks, Paul Brown fired
over for the Point. However it was
Ballyvarley who now had the momentum
and when James McGrath crossed for
Martin O’Neill to volley the
overhead ball to the net the sides
were level and a Reds victory looked
very much on the cards. A few missed
points at this stage proved crucial
and two pointed frees from John
O’Kane and Alan Higgins were
to prove crucial. Still Ballyvarley
surged forward and in several goalmouth
scrambles somehow failed to get
their toe or a hurl to the ball
to apply that vital winning touch.
In mounting excitement, with Warrenpoint
hanging on for their championship
lives, the referees whistle sounded
with the ball once more just inches
from the Point’s goal line.
There was a sense of misbelieve
on both sides as Warrenpoint realised
that they had survived and were
through to the semi-final and the
Reds were in despair that such a
fighting performance had not produced
another great championship victory.
Final Score: Ballyvarley 1-11 Warrenpoint
3-7
Ballyvarley: Cathal O’Neill;
John O’Neill, James McGrath,
Niall Higgins; Sean Kennedy(0-1),
Colm O’Neill, Thomas Lennon;
Conor Lavery, Ciaran Connolly; Paul
O’Neill(0-7), David McGovern,
Eunan McConville; James McDermott(0-1),
Martin O’Neill(1-2), Conor
McClorey.
Subs: Conor Grew for Conor McClorey;
Pat McGrath, Jamie Murray, Stuart
Cartmill, Sean O’Neill
