Ardglass edge Ballynagross

Ardglass edge Ballynagross

24 August 2022

THIS was a game of firsts. The first game of the new season for both teams and the first in charge for Christopher Deegan as Ardglass first team manager. 

Ardglass have strengthened their team this season through the welcomed additions of Brendan McMenamin, Stephen Galbraith and goalkeeper James Crangle. 

For Ballynagross Philip Campbell remains in the main seat and will be looking for silverware after coming so close last year. Ballynagross have secured the signing of Aodhan Harney and Conor Campbell to boost their squad.

At a rainy Meadows pitch, it was full steam ahead from the start as Ardglass opened the scoring in the sixth minute. 

After working the ball from the middle of the park, a cross over from Ian Kearney was finished easily by Brendan McMenamin. 

Ballynagross ‘keeper Cathail Arnold shook the players up and it paid off in the 12th minute when Deaglan Craig made the run up the right wing and passed to Jo-Jo Burns, who steadied himself before levelling the scoring. 

Ballynagross took the lead on the 36th minute, when James Crangle took Craig down inside the box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. 

Connor Marron stepped up and shot low into the bottom right corner. Ardglass were pushing for a leveller before half-time and were rewarded when a Ryan McEvoy cross evaded ‘Gross defender Corey Davis and reached Ian Kearney, who was in the right place at the right time to convert.

Ardglass kept the pressure and speed of the first half after the interval with new signing Galbraith coming close.

It took until the 74th minute of the game that scoring resumed, when Marron made a high tackle on Dylan Watson which the referee felt justified a penalty. 

McMenamin, looking to get his second goal of the game, stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way. 

Ballynagross looked to quickly bounce back but Burns saw his goal chalked off for offside. Ardglass doubled their lead in the 85th minute when Dylan Watson scored, although Ballynagross players questioned the decision as the ball hit the post and came back out into play. 

However, the referee had adjudged that the ball had crossed the line for a goal. 

Ballynagross did find a late goal when Marron found Declan Dowie in the 88th minute. 

Ardglass slowed the pace down, taking throw-ins at all chances to keep their one goal lead. 

Both teams will be competing for the title, but time will tell who has the stamina to see the season out.

Ardglass FC: J Crangle, M Crangle, M Halpin, J Deegan, C O’Shea, M Rooney (capt), S Deegan, I Kearney, J Beattie, S Galbraith, B McMenamin. 

Subs: R McEvoy, S Dorrian, D Watson.

Ballynagross FC: C Arnold, C Kernan, C McKermitt, C Marron (capt), C Davis, C Campbell, S McComiskey, J Shields, D Craig, J Burns, A Harney. 

Subs: D Dowie, A O’Neill.