Ballyholland
squeeze past Glasdrumman
ACFL Div
2: Ballyholland 0-13 Glasdrumman 1-07
The
new season started on Sunday with
Glasdrumman making the journey to
Intermediate champions Ballyholland
as they attempted to build on their
league performance of last season
and consolidate their status in Division
2. Glasdrumman started the stronger
and were three points up within seven
minutes with two points from Cormac
Murphy and a point from Ronan McDowell
who didn't take long to settle into
his new role in the half back line
instead of between the posts. In the
twelfth minute Ballyholland opened
their account with a point from Aidan
McAteer. Five minutes later they added
a second when Paul Brennan tipped
a blistering shot over the bar from
Mark O'Hare. Two minutes later midfielder
James Patterson levelled the score
with his first point but Glasdrumman
responded almost immediately with
a point from a sideline ball from
Cormac Murphy.
Aidan McAteer again levelled the game
with a well taken point two minutes
later. In the twenty six minute the
Ballyholland attack found themselves
with two men clear with the goal at
their mercy only to be foiled by the
save of the match from Paul Brennan.
From the resultant forty five Aidan
McAteer put Ballyholland ahead for
the first time in the game with a
point but Cormac Murphy,s point on
thirty minutes left the half time
score Ballyholland 0-5 Glasdrumman
0-5.
Ballyholland started the second half
the stronger and went two points ahead
in the first five minutes with scores
from Aidan McAteer and John Barry
before Raymond Clarke pulled one back
for Glasdrumman. Collie Barry got
his name on the score sheet in the
ninth minute to restore the Ballyholland
lead. Two minutes later Glasdrumman
were awarded a penalty which Cormac
Murphy calmly planted in the corner
of the net to give Glasdrumman the
lead yet again. Two minutes later
the game was all square when James
Patterson slotted over his second
point of the game from a free.
Ballyholland gave themselves a two
point cushion with scores from John
Barry and Robbie Quinn which Raymond
Clarke reduced with a point in the
twenty fourth minute. Aidan McAteer
restored the Ballyholland lead with
a point in the twenty eighth minute
and James Patterson made it safe with
a point from a retaken free, which
he had missed at the first attempt,
to leave the final score Ballyholland
0-13 Glasdrumman 1-7.
Overall this was a very good performance
from a Glasdrumman side who played
with commitment and spirit and this
was a game which they could have won
with a wee bit more effort and a bit
of luck and if they continue with
this sort of form league points will
come their way.
Ballyholland:
K Murphy, Eugene Campbell,
Sean O'Hare, Collie Barry (0-1), John
Patterson (0-3), Darren McCrink, Ronan
Murphy, Paul Murphy, James Patterson,
Robbie Quinn (0-1), Johnny Shields,
C Smith, Mark O'Hare (0-1), Aidan
McAteer (0-5), John Barry (0-2),
Glasdrumman:
Paul Brennan, Francis O'Neill,
Kevin Burns, Shaun Brennan, Martin
O'Neill, Brian Burns, Ronan McDowell
(0-1), Cormac Murphy (1-4), Pat Mallon,
Shane Feeney, Paul McDowell, Raymond
Magorrian, Raymond Clarke (0-2), Gary
McGreevy, Sean McDowell.
Subs used: Mick Mooney for Gary McGreevy
** This week's senior game is at home
to Newry Shamrocks on Friday night.
** Congratulations to our U-14 and
U-16 player Paul Quinn on becoming
Ulster boxing champion for the third
year in succession and we wish him
well in the upcoming All-Ireland championships
