Bredagh 2-12 v Ballymartin 0-11
Bredagh stay in the top five in Down Division 2 with 10 points, thanks to a terrific victory over Ballymartin in Cherryvale on Friday night. Just like the three previous games, Bredagh finished the last 10 minutes of the games the stronger team and pulled away from the opposition.
Ballymartin started the game brightly with Michael Higgins pointing in the 1st minute, Joe Shields equalised from distance before corner forward Ryan O’Hare and towering midfielder John Caldwell stretched the visitors lead to two points (0-01 to 0-03). Bredagh’s Michael Robinson reduced matters to a point in the 8th minute but Cathal O’Doyle raised the white flag for Ballymartin, Donal McKegney stuck the ball over the bar for the Harps on 21 minutes before Ross Cunningham pointed to keep Ballymartin in front (0-03 to 0-05).
The hard working Bryan Rice fisted over the bar on 22 minutes and the versatile Chris Savage levelled for the home team on 25 minutes before Ballymartin took the lead again in the 27th minute from corner back Conor Crawford. Bredagh finished strongly with Donal Hughes tapping over a 28th minute free and midfield powerhouse Benny Hasson went on a 20 metre drive, gave goal keeper Colin Trainor the eyes and blasted to net to leave a goal in it at the interval (1-06 to 0-06).
As expected, the visitors started the second half strongly, scoring three points in the opening 10 minutes to level matters (1-06 to 0-9). Conor Francis, who had a huge influence on the game throughout, edged Bredagh ahead in the 41st minute and Ballymartin’s full forward Ciaran O’Hare responded seconds later with his 2nd point of the game.
Bredagh got some breathing space when Donal Hughes palmed into an empty net on 42 minutes after a mesmerising run by corner back Michael Magee. The home team dominated the final 10 minutes of the game, racking up 5 points with a sublime “45” from Joe Shields, a monster kick from at least 55 metres from full back Deckie O’Hara, two points from Donal Hughes (1st one set up after a great interception in defence by the industrious Kealan Devlin) and that man Chris Savage scoring his 2nd point of the game.
Ballymartin got a consolation point deep in injury time with a free from Ryan O’Hare in the 64th minute before referee Ronan Barry blew matters to a close, Bredagh 2-12 to Ballymartin 0-11.
Next up for Bredagh is an away game to Rostrevor (also on 10 points) in Pettit Park at 7.30pm on Friday 9th June.
Parador Man of the Match: Conor Francis
Bredagh: Odhran Devlin, Connell Tolland, Declan O’Hara (0-01), Michael Magee, Michael Woods; Kevin Dornan, Donal McKegney (0-01), Benny Hasson (1-00), Joe Shields (0-02), Michael Robinson (0-01), Kealan Devlin, Chris Savage (0-02), Bryan Rice (0-01), Donal Hughes (1-03, 0-1 frees), Conor Francis (0-1).
Subs: Sean Blaney for K. Devlin (59); P Hannity, Fergal Nolan, Conall O’Rawe, Ruairi Muldoon and Niall Devlin
Yellow card: Donal Hughes (20)
Ballymartin: Michael Higgins (No 12) 0-02; Ciaran O’Hare (No 14) 0-02; Ryan O’Hare (No 15) 0-03, 0-0-2 frees; John Caldwell (No 9) 0-01; Ross Cunningham (No 10) 0-01; Cathal Doyle (No 11) 0-01; Austin Crawford (No 4) 0-01.
Yellow cards: No 2 Austin Crawford (23); No 14 Ciaran O’Hare (43)
Referee: Ronan Barry
