Our U13 A team welcomed Milltown FC to Murt Scott Park on Wednesday evening for what turned out to be a great game.

Milltown as always looked well drilled and played a stylish brand of football but this was no match for the desire and heart of the Ballyhar boys, who played some lovely soccer too.
Ballyhar started brightly moving the ball well, however it was Milltown who struck first with a goal on 8mins. 0-1 This seemed to motivate the Ballyhar team who took the game by the scruff of the neck and wrestled it away from Milltown! Darragh Mcloughlin pulled the home team level just 4 mins later after a lovely floated free kick from Brian McMahon arrived at the back post where McLoughlin was waiting. 1-1
Ballyhar were on top now with the centre midfield pairing of Jack Duggan and Ruairi Casey controlling the game and winning ball back quickly. Up front Josh Nelligan and Tomás Bolger put intense pressure on the Milltown defence and turned over a lot of ball. At the back Ballyhar looked solid and dealt with anything Milltown tried. Diarmuid FitzGerald and Liam Smyth covering the right hand side with ease. On the left hand side of the Ballyhar defence Ollie Kirwin, giving a great display of leadership, kept the back line in tow commanding and controlling things. Outside him was a contender for man of the match Tommy Flaherty who gave a strong and solid full back display.
As the game progressed Adam Quirke in goals pulled off a few good saves from long range shots and his kick outs were the springboard for Ballyhar pushing on. H/T 1-1

The second half started well for Ballyhar and a new intensity, encompassed by Lorcan O'Mahony who came in to back line, resulted in a 38mins goal from Josh Nelligan after another mazy run. 2-1 Ballyhar were very much on top now with good chances falling to Ruairi Casey and Nelligan but the Milltown keeper was in fine form. The pressing game paid off and a Third goal followed when a beautiful corner was floated in and a goal mouth scramble resulted in Milltown turning into their own net. 3-1 Ballyhar continued to press and could have a had a couple of more goals on another day. Evan Greensmyth came into the forward line to raise the intensity as the two forwards had ran themselves ragged.
More New energy was brought on to see out the game with Elliot Lyne, Rian Comerford and Ewan Myers shoring up the team and helping get the result over the line.

Best on the day:
A great team performance but Adam Quirke’s kickouts, Tommy Flatherty in defence, Darragh McLoughlin who must’ve run 10k and Ruairi Casey’s ball winning skills all deserve a mention.