Harps
youngsters in tune
South
Down U12 League Final: Ballyholland 5-02 Mayobridge 1.05 - 06/08/03
Ballyholland
U12 League Champions |
|
Taken
from Newry Democrat Website
Ballyholland Harps
enjoyed their first major underage success in almost a decade with an emphatic
victory over Mayobridge in the U-12 South Down League Final, at Burren.
From
start to finish Ballyholland played the better football, looked the more confident
and most importantly, had the killer touch in front of goal.
Robbie White opened the scoring with a point, laid-on by Daniel Keenan, even before
most of the spectators had reached their places. Keenan again was the instigator
a few minutes later, this time setting up Mark Finnegan, who finished superbly
into the top-corner of the ‘Bridge goal.
Mayobridge had
an edgy start but settled down a little bit when Mark Annett opened their scoring
with a nice point. It always looked like it was going to be Ballyholland’s day
though and a wonderful goal halfway through the first-half underlined this. Mark
Finnegan showed great skills to flick the ball off the ground on the run, then
played a pass to Robbie White, who danced around two defenders before burying
the ball into the back of the net.
Brendan Cunningham tried
his best to lift Mayobridge and he got on the scoresheet with a long-range effort
and also set up Annett for his second point. The mesmerising Robbie White scored
another goal for Ballyholland before half-time though, to leave seven points in
it at the break – 3-01 to 0-03.
Ballyholland continued
where they left off shortly after the restart. Kevin McAteer did very well to
get a cross in from the left-hand side and Mark Finnegan duly arrived to hammer
home his second goal of the game.
This prompted Mayobridge
to enjoy their best period of pressure during the game. Joanne McCaffrey scored
a point and Cunningham got the goal he deserved, after finishing a move he began
in midfield. Just when it looked like Mayobridge could possibly get back in the
game, Ballyholland killed it off with yet another goal, this time from Daniel
Keenan, after good work from Robbie White.
Conor Madden
and Stephen Coulter finished off the scoring, both of which were fabulous long-range
efforts as Ballyholland ran out comfortable winners in the end.
Although
it’s never nice to lose a final, the Mayobridge boys can take great pride in getting
there in the first place. They tried hard and played some nice football but came
up against a Ballyholland team who were in clinical form. Kevin McClorey, Raymond
Barr and Brendan Cunningham especially had fine games.
Ballyholland’s
management team of John Keenan, Sean Ross, Cyril O’Reilly and Tommy Kane must
be absolutely delighted with the way their charges performed. They have nurtured
some wonderful talents, but it was particularly pleasing to see their team play
a fifteen-man game.
Every single player played his role
well and all looked very comfortable on the ball; indeed the handling and passing
throughout was particularly impressive. Team captain, Robbie White, was outstanding,
as were Mark Finnegan and Raymond Dunne, but Sean Anderson was a class apart on
this occasion. The young centre-back simply did not put a foot wrong; he was both
excellent in defence and brilliant going forward.
Hopefully
this is only the first of many big trophies that Anderson and his team-mates bring
to Father Lynch Park. It was brilliant to watch a young team play with such skill
and style. Congratulations and well done to you all.
Ballyholland:
S Metcalfe, C McCartan, N McQuillan, J McAteer, R Dunne, S Anderson, C Havern,
C Madden (0-1f), K McAteer, S White, R White (2-1), M Finnegan (2-0), S McDonnell
(R Kearney), D Keenan (1-0), R Keenan. Subs: D O’Hare, C Loughran, E Kane.
Mayobridge:
J Barr, B Polin, R Barr, C Polin, C McNamee, K McClorey, C Gribben, E Murphy,
K Quinn, P Gribben, S Coulter (0-1), M Annett (0-2), C Linden, B Cunningham (1-1),
J McCaffrey (0-1).
