Ballycran stage epic fightback to stun Ballygalget

Ballycran stage epic fightback to stun Ballygalget

30 September 2015

BALLYCRAN staged the mother of all comebacks to wrestle the Jeremiah McVeagh Cup out of Ballygalget’s grasp in an epic showdown at Portaferry on Sunday afternoon.

However, Ballycran’s magnificent victory was overshadowed by an accident to Ballygalget manager Johnny McGrattan later that evening.

He underwent an emergency operation on Monday night and remains in hospital.

A goal and four points without reply from the 49th minute onwards brought the cup north to Kircubbin and condemned Ballygalget to a heartbreaking defeat.

It was Ballygalget’s late collapse that cost them dearly as they were the better team for most of the duel, though they didn’t get off to the best of starts as Ballycran went 0-2 to 0-0 up.

By the 25th minute Ballygalget were very much in the ascendancy and they registered eight of the next ten scores before going 0-8 to 0-4 clear.

Declan McManus and Danny Toner were the main men in this period and their positive play lit up much of the first half. Ballycran did pick off another few scores in the lead up to half-time, but it was Ballygalget who went in leading 0-11 to 0-6.

With the second half getting underway Declan McManus had to retire injured. This was a big loss for his team, but a Gareth Johnson free soon doubled the ‘Galget’s advantage.

It was at this stage that Ballycran kicked in to gear and four points without reply dramatically swung them back in to the game. Against the run of play the ‘Galget reeled off three in succession with Danny Toner and Gareth Johnston on song. It was then that Ballycran turned the tables.

Scott Nicholson hit a 65’ and a free to edge his side back into contention.

A disallowed goal from substitute Paul Miskimmin threatened to put the brakes on Ballycran’s resurgence, but with time running out Miskimmin turned provider for Benny Ennis who finally got the goal.

This was the 62nd minute and the game was evenly balanced before a free and one from play from Scott Nicholson stole the show and earned Ballycran a dramatic county championship.

Ballycran captain Michael Ennis had to watch most of the game from the sidelines after going off with a knee injury, but he was delighted to witness his side’s fightback.

“It’s disappointing. I’ve done a bit of damage to my knee, but that’s life. I was just delighted to see the lads get over the line. We didn’t put a particularly good performance in, but we have won it and we now move on to the Ulster series.

“There was frustration looking on, we just couldn’t get any momentum.”

Ballycran: S Keith, S Ennis, A Bell, P Hughes, M Ennis, C Woods (0-2), M McCullough, M Hughes (0-1), S Nicholson (0-6, 0-2 f), B Nicholson (0-1), S Dineen (0-1), P Flynn, J Coyle (0-1), C Egan, E Gilmore (0-2). Subs: C Dorrian for M Ennis, B Ennis (1-0) for Coyle, M Nicholson for Flynn, J H Hughes for Gilmore, P Miskimmin for Egan.

Ballygalget: Graham Clarke, J Smyth, Gabriel Clarke, P McManus, J McGrath, D McManus, B Toner, J McManus, E Clarke, C Doran, G Johnson, B Byers, D Toner, S Bailie, J Doran. Subs: P Coulter for D McManus, C Coulter for P McManus, S Johnston for Smyth, L Clarke for Gabriel Clarke.