Match Report

'Entertaining League Encounter At Ballyvarley'

Date Filed: 22 June 2010

Ballyvarley’s search for that elusive first home win in Division One continues to elude them as four first half goals from visitors, Portaferry, undermined all their enterprising play and proved to be the Red’s undoing in this entertaining league encounter at Ballyvarley. Amid an ever-growing injury list Ballyvarley played some fine hurling in this evenly contested game but the concession of five fairly easy goals provided the visitors with a comfortable cushion throughout the game.
Portaferry opened the scoring with an early point but Ballyvarley were combining well in their forward play and Jamie Murray and Colm O’Neill finished off two well worked points to give the home side the lead. The Reds were playing well but then came the first Portaferry goal and the ease with which the corner-forward rose to breach the home defence sent alarm bells ringing throughout the team. Ballyvarley were visibly shaken and conceded two further points before they got back on track again with Paul and Colm O’Neill combining to place Patrick Mackin who beat his marker to fire over a fine point. A Paul O’Neill point from play and another from a free seemed to have steadied the home side but then came three more quick-fire goals from the visitors and Ballyvarley’s hopes were left in tatters. Four more points from Portaferry added to their woes but the move of James McGrath to full back seemed to plug the gap at the back and gradually Ballyvarley eased their way back into the game. Another fine individual point from Patrick Mackin and three more from Paul O’Neill lifted Ballyvarley slightly before they went in to face the music of a half-time team talk.

Half time:  Ballyvarley  0-9  Portaferry  4-8

The second half went much better for Ballyvarley and with James McGrath and Sean Kennedy solid at the back, Colm O’Neill and Ciaran Connolly on top in midfield and Paul O’Neill, Patrick Mackin and Jamie Murray producing some enterprising play up front, the Reds flirted with an unlikely comeback. Paul O’Neill and Patrick Mackin produced two more excellent points before Jamie Murray capped a promising individual performance by rounding his marker and accurately slotting the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. Substitute James McConville also got into the act and his telling pass provided the opportunity for Paul O’Neill to fire over his seventh point. This scoring spree from the home side lifted flagging spirits but Portaferry were too accomplished a side to be out of the game for long and they gradually tagged on three more points before their fifth goal killed off any lingering hopes of a significant home revival. Further points from Colm O’Neill(2) and Paul O’Neill ensured that Ballyvarley at least matched Portaferry on the second half score-sheet but those defensive lapses in the first half had already guaranteed that the honours were always going to the men from the Ards.

Final score:  Ballyvarley  1-15   Portaferry  5-15

Sean O’Neill; Steven Daly, Niall Higgins, Thomas Lennon; Conor McClorey, James McGrath, Sean Kennedy; Colm O’Neill(0-3), Ciaran Connolly; Paul O’Neill(0-8), Niall Savage, Colin O’Neill; Leigh McConville, Jamie Murray(1-1), Patrick Mackin(0-3).
Subs: James McConville, Stuart Cartmill, Gavin McGreevey