Ballygalget v Ballela (Junior
Championship)
Ballela travelled to a rain
swept Kilcleif to play Ballygalget
on Tuesday night in the junior
championship.
Ballygalget started the strongest
and scored a goal with their
first attack of the match,
Gary Mc Mullan could do nothing
as the sliotar struck the
top of the net. This attack
from Ballygalget continued
as they struck over a few
quick points in succession
as the Ballela defence reeled
from these early blows.
Ballela got settled and Johnny
mc Cusker struck a point as
Ballela got their first score
of the game. This did not
encourage Ballela as Ballygalget
came out on top in the midfield
and surged forward and netted
another goal. They were punishing
Ballela for any mistake and
were clinical with every shot
on target.
Ballela were watching their
championship hopes end for
another season, with many
of the team making their debut
in championship hurling.
This had seemed like a long
20 minutes for Ballela as
the score now read: Ballygalget
2-04 Ballela 0-1.
There was a bit of activity
on the Ballela bench as Malachy
Magee was about to enter proceedings
with Ronan Mc Conville, who
had been doubled up on by
the ards’ men, leaving
the field to applause from
his team mates and the Ballela
bench, as they appreciated
the effort he had put in.
Ballela started to pressurise
the ‘galget defence
as the half drew to a close
and won a free just outside
the ’21. Johnny Mc Cusker
stepped up to hit it, despite
missing a few frees earlier
in the game, despatched the
sliotar to the top corner
of the net.
This lifted the team as they
registered another point by
Johnny just before the referee
blew the whistle (a few minutes
early) for half time.
HALF TIME Ballygalget 2-06
Ballela 1-02
Ballela re-emerged for the
second half a few minutes
before ‘galget with
Marty’s half-time team
talk still ringing in their
ears.
The hardworking Niall Mc Aleenan
had been replaced by Eugene
Magee who was making his comeback
after a number of years out
of the game.
As Ballygalget finally emerged
for the second half, the crowd
had sensed that they just
had to come out to see the
game through.
Ballela started the second
half in devastating fashion
as Johnny Mc Cusker and Eugene
Magee tore through the heart
of the defence and were unlucky
not to net a few goals between
them.
Eugene had started with a
flourish as he burst through
and hammered the sliotar narrowly
over the bar, with the keeper
beaten.
The Ballela defence tightened
with Noel Burns (sen), Stevie
Mc Cusker and Paddy Mc Polin
leading by example with another
stirring display. Niall Burns,
Donal Mc Cann and Mal Magee
were getting to grips with
their men and also providing
the supply for the forwards.
Noel Burns (jun) and Danny
Doran dominated the midfield
with Noel winning numerous
frees as he cleaned up the
sliotar.
Joe Cosgrave, Mick Doyle and
wirehead were as busy as ever
in half forward as they stopped
the defence getting out.
Ballela were at last showing
that they were not going to
roll over in this game.
As Ballela were getting back
into the game, Ballygalget
scored a goal, which deflected
in via a Ballela Hurl. This
left the score 3-07 to 1-04.
The injured to Stevie Mc Cusker
was withdrawn with Ryan Haughey
put on in the back line. Andy
Mc Givern also emerged for
Mick Doyle in what was a tactical
switch.
Ballela knew they must get
scores if were to salvage
anything from this game.
From a tremendous Mc Mullan
puck, Joe Cosgrave won the
sliotar and it found its way
to Eugene Magee, who soloed
through and found the bottom
corner of the net with an
emphatic finish.
Johnny Mc Cusker then sent
the sliotar over the bar immediately
as Ballela got their game
back on track. Dan Downey
covered a lot of ground without
reward, but he has time on
his side like a lot of the
Ballela side.
Then came the moment which
possibly kept Ballela in the
championship. There was a
scramble in the goalmouth
and as the sliotar struck
the post then Mc Mullan saved,
it was aimed at the net again
with Niall Burns and Malachy
Magee combining to stop it
on the line. Noel (sen) eventually
got the sliotar and was fouled
in the process of making the
clearance. From the resulting
free, Donal Mc Cann found
himself in the unusual position
of being over the half way
line, he struck a fine point,
much to his and everyone from
Ballela’s amazement.
This left Ballela trailing
by one goal as the match entered
injury time. As the Ballygalget
crowd and bench urged the
ref to blow the whistle, the
sliotar made its way to Eugene
Magee, he collected, twisted
and turned his way round his
markers.
Time stood still as he sprinted
in on goal with the Ballygalget
defence chasing after him.
As Eugene neared the goal
he flicked the sliotar into
the top corner. The reactions
from both teams and benches
told the story. Ballygalget
players on the ground as Ballela
players celebrated the goal
which kept them fighting in
the championship for another
week.
Much credit must go to both
sides as this was a very physical
but fair encounter and was
a credit to the game of hurling,
which was played in poor conditions
in stages.
If Ballela can reproduce the
2nd half form in the replay,
they should be through to
the semi final although the
shooting would need to improve,
as the total of wides was
unacceptable and on another
day they would have been out
of the championship.
This game had epitomised Ballela’s
season, good and bad in one
game.
FT – Ballygalget 3-07
Ballela 3-07
All players are to meet at
Katesbridge at 5.45 for replay
in Kilcleif on Tuesday night.
Throw in 7.15pm.
Once again it would be great
if people could travel to
support the lads.
*Ballela are hosting a sports
day on Sunday 24th august.
There will be lots of activities
and events on the day with
burgers and refreshments available.
More information will be in
next week’s notes.
*Last weeks lotto numbers
were: 1, 5, 15 and 17. J Mc
Cusker was the only £10
winner and Tom Montgomery
won the sellers draw.
The jackpot remains at £5000.
Saturday night’s lotto
draw was held in Mc Cuskers
pub. The numbers were: 7,
14,15, and 16. No one matched
3 numbers and Sean Burns won
the sellers draw.
Please contact a committee
member to buy tickets. Tickets
can be bought in advance so
you don’t miss out on
a week’s draw during
the holidays. Yearly tickets
can also be bought from any
committee member.
* Ballela whist is on Saturday
24th august.
* Ballela Under 8’s
and under 12’s are away
to Ballyvarley on Saturday
16th august. Throw in is at
1pm.
* The club would like anyone
interesting in playing or
sponsoring the Club’s
annual Golf classic at Banbridge
Golf club to get in contact
with any committee member.
The Golf Classic will take
place on Friday 5th September.
Players and members are reminded
that we need the four balls
sorted ASAP.
*Ballela will be running the
Cul Camp from 18th August
to 22nd August. It is essential
that all parents contact Brendan
Mc Clure to confirm if their
child/children are taking
part in this year’s
Cul Camp.
*Senior Hurling Training continues
at Pairc Na Naomh every Thursday
night at 7pm. Match report
of the replay will be in next
week’s notes.
*If anyone wishes to avail
of Pitch side advertising
at Pairc Na Naomh, please
contact a committee member
for further information. With
a lot of matches being played
at Pairc Na Naomh this season,
this is an ideal opportunity
to get your advertising across
to a wide range of people
from all over the country.
Please contact any committee
member for details.
* The club would like to invite
sponsors for a new scoreboard.
Ballela will be hosting various
inter county matches this
year at Pairc Na Naomh. This
is an ideal opportunity for
various sponsors to get their
advertising across and reach
a broad range of people from
all over Ireland.
