Ballyhar U12s kept up their winning ways in the Cup last Friday Night as they came through their toughest test yet facing Park C who were going for a double.

It was a perfect evening for soccer and an extremely tense affair. Park, who are an extremely well drilled side, came out of the traps attacking Ballyhar from the start and keeper Gavin Sheehan made at least four superb saves to keep a clean sheet for the away side. At the back Paddy Hurley, Dermot Nealon, and Noah Finn put their bodies on the line, time after time, to keep Park out and instigate some attacks for Ballyhar. Tiernan Scanlon was playing a sweeper role to try and handle the expected pressure from Park and stuck to his task, growing into the game more as it continued. Then 5 mins before half time, after weathering the early onslaught, Ballyhar got a corner. Jack Sheehy put in a fine delivery with Dermot Nealon taking some Park defenders with him and thus creating an opening for Fabian Mrotek to hammer the ball into the net at the back post.bPark were stunned but came back attacking. H/T 0-1

Ballyhar started off the second half better and had some fine attacking play with Jack Copper pulling the strings and Sean Evans who worked hard upfront to give his defense some breathers. The longer the game went on, Park were getting frustrated with even their keeper pushing into our half to add an extra man. Ballyhar used their bench of Tadgh Fitzgerald, Michéal Griffin and Dylan O'Sullivan who ran their legs off to keep Ballyhar on top. For the last ten minutes, Park threw everything at Ballyhar and showed why they sit atop of the league, but Ballyhars superb defending and determination to carry the ball forward and keep attacking attack, kept Park scoreless and this tense affair ended in a huge memorable win for Ballyhar. F/T 0-1

The Ballyhar lads gave everything on the pitch and the effort and teamwork shown was something to be very proud of, especially against a team just above them in the league.

We would like to wish Park all the best in their remaining games this season and thank them for this hugely sporting game.