Our U15's had a titanic battle in Limerick on Saturday, when they took on Breska Rovers in the 2nd round of the National Cup. It wasn't a game for the faint hearted, as nothing could seperate these 2 teams after 70 minis and extra time. There had to be a winner though, and thankfully the boys in Blue kept their nerve and go through to the next round.

It was an excellent game of soccer, with Ballyhar having the best of the opening exchanges and applying good early pressure on the home side. Breska settled into the game after that though and were the ones to break the deadlock first. Ballyhar scored a superb equalisier when Ryan Quilter volleyed a cross from Ryan Vicker’s to make it 1-1. Then just 3 mins before the break, Breska hit back to take the lead again and thought they would take that lead into the break. But from resulting kickoff Ballyhar pushed forward and got their just rewards in injury time of 1st half to make it 2-2.

The second half played out a lot differently with both teams playing a lot tighter and while there waS opportunities to score both defences held firm and we were headed for extra-time. F/T 2-2

Ballyhar started the first period of extra-time well and when Daniel Downes put Ballyhar in front for the first time in the game, it gave the lads a great lift. ET H/T 2-3. Breska to their credit never gave in and put Ballyhar under massive pressure and the lads nearly heald out, right up until 2 mins to go, when Breska found the back of the net to make it 3-3. The 2 teams had given it everything and the game would have to be decided by the dreaded penalties. Both teams found the net with their first 5 successful spot kicks so it had to go to sudden death. All the players from both sides did exceptionally well under the pressure and were clinical through 22 penalties, until Breska’s 12th hit the post. Then the responsibility fell on the shoulders of Conor Edwards, who stepped up and calmly slotted the ball home to give Ballyhar a memorable victory. Breska (3) 11-12 (3) Ballyhar.

Well done to all the lads on a hard fought victory on the road to a very good Breska Rovers side.