The race for the U15 Division 1 title heated up at a chilly Celtic Park on Saturday morning with Ballyhar coming away with a well-earned point. Playing with the wind in the first half, Ballyhar needed to get off to a good start  and not allow Celtic settle into a rhythm. They did just that with the threat of Cillian Slattery and Jim O'Dowd down each wing, causing Celtic issues, while Ross Lally and Tom Costelloe battled hard in Midfield. Slattery was a constant threat and had a hat-trick of chances in the 1st half, hitting the woodwork and the side netting. After his first mazy run and shot went just wide, Slattery did brake the deadlock on 15 mins when again, he latched onto a ball over the top, outpaced and out muscled the Celtic defence, and slotted home the opener. 5 mins later, it was deja-vu with another great run foiled by the Celtic keeper and his follow-up shot rattling the crossbar to keep it 1-0 at halftime.

Celtic came out with more intent at the start of the 2nd half, looking way more threatening and put some nice passing moves together. After forcing a mistake by the Ballyhar midfield just 5 mins in, they worked it down the left wing and put in a perfect cross for the oncoming striker to side foot home for the equaliser. Ballyhar needed to steady the ship and battle both the worsening elements and a Celtic side with their tails up and again up stepped Slattery. After some nice work by Jim O'Dowd and Davin Quilter, the ball was played out right for Slattery, who cut inside and blasted a shot into the net to give Ballyhar the lead again.

Celtic drove at Ballyhar again with Eoin O'Mahony showing a safe pair of hands from a few long-range efforts, as the back 4, led by the excellent Marcus Clifford, battened down the hatches. The lads fought hard, and on the majority of play, deserved more from the game, but one lapse in concentration is all it takes, and Celtic got their equaliser after dispossessing Ballyhar and working it quickly into their big striker who did well to strike it past O'Mahony.

Ballyhar dug deep for the final 15 mins to make sure they left with at least a point, with Man of the Match Costelloe breaking up play in Midfield again and again while Clifford clearing his lines and driving forward whenever he could, aided by Conrad Long, Jamie Fleming and Conor Regan down the flanks.
It was a great performance by all the lads, with Slattery, Clifford, and Costelloe key to a valuable point which keeps Ballyhar in the hunt for the league title.