It really was a game of 2 halves on Sunday afternoon for our U16's, who turned things around to rescue a draw at Kilbrien Park in the Bottom 5 playoffs of Division 1.

The lads started the first half OK, but a lively and solid Mastergeeha side looked the more threatening right from the first whistle. Their No.9 caused a lot of problems for our backline and was the man who got on the scoresheet first, following a long ball over the top that wasn't properly dealt with by a retreating Ballyhar defender, with the forward nicking in to poke it past Eoin O'Mahony in the Ballyhar net after 20 mins. With Ballyhar trying to work it through the channels in midfield, they were dealt a big blow when left winger Lee Cirilio pulled up with a knee injury and had to come off. Eoin O'Sullivan was introduced and immediately made an impression, with a great cross that just needed a man in blue to tuck it away. It didn't arrive and 2 mins later another huge kick out from the Mastergeeha keeper deceived the Ballyhar defence again, and the home side took their opportunity to make it 2 nil before the break.H/T 2-0

Ballyhar were 2 down despite not playing very badly and needed a bit more bite in midfield to lay a platform they needed. The introduction of Conor Giles was that platfrom as Ballyhar came out with a lot more purpose in the 2nd half. Giles and Tom Costelloe solidified the midfield allowing the ever bust Ross Lally to come more into the game. Helped by Davin Quilter, Anthony Cremin and Eoin O'Sullivan, Ballyhar were soon back in the game with a fantastic team move that started and ended with Ross Lally on the ball, who through a great passage of play found himself in put through a number of defenders to finish it to the net. Game on. What followed on 55 mins was again, some more fine team work, with passing that went from side to side and ended out right at O'Sullivan's feet, who thread a ball through to the on-running Quilter who made no mistake to draw the teams level. Unfortunately as much as Ballyhar pressed and pushed the Mastergeeha defence, they would not be broken again, with the only real clear chance after that falling to Lally 6 yards out, who directed a Cremin corner into the relieved home keepers arms. F/T 2-2

Thanks to Mastergeeha B for a good, exciting and hard fought game. Best for Ballyhar were Eoin O'Sullivan, Marcus Clifford, Davin Quilter and Ross Lally.