Ballymartin on course for double as Saul miss out

Ballymartin on course for double as Saul miss out

16 September 2015

BALLYMARTIN’S greater all round experience helped them overcome a concerted challenge from Saul in St Malachy’s Park, Castlewellan, on a dank Sunday afternoon.

Saul can be extremely proud of their display as they led Ballymartin a merry dance in the first half and held a 1-5 to 0-3 lead at the break.

The second half was a different matter as Ballymartin seized control, but Saul had enough chances to 

have taken something from this encounter.

Much against the odds, Saul took the lead in the first minute with a point from Ciaran Harney before Ciaran O’Hare brought the sides level. 

Saul then hit a purple patch with Ciaran and Lorcan Harney working the channels to great effect.

With five minutes gone Cathail Arnold converted a 30m free before Pierce Laverty had the ball in the Ballymartin net after a searing run from midfielder Chris Mullen to give Saul a 1-2 to 0-1 lead.

Ballymartin, meanwhile, were notching up wide after wide and after 15 minutes they wasted five excellent scoring opportunities.

Saul had no such problems in front of goal and two Ciaran Harney frees gave them a 1-4 to 0-1 lead before Adrian Doran registered Ballymartin’s second score of the game in the 26th minute.

As the half drew to a close Arnold and Ryan O’Hare exchanged points leaving Saul going in at the break with a 1-5 to 0-3 lead, but by this stage Ballymartin had registered 10 wides.  

Things changed dramatically after the break as Ballymartin suddenly found they range and points from Ciaran and Ryan O’Hare were quickly followed by a goal from Cathal Doyle after Saul gave the ball away on the halfway line.

Saul lost Philip Baker to a black card at this stage of the game and with 43 minutes gone Ryan O’Hare pointed Ballymartin ahead for the first time, 1-6 to 1-5.

Ciaran O’Hare and Ciaran Harney swapped points before points from Peter Fitzpatrick, Cathal Doyle and Ryan O’Hare nudged Ballymartin into a 1-10 to 1-6 lead. 

Back came Saul and two frees from Arnold left two points in it with six minutes to play.

Chances came and went for both sides before Rory Phillips gave Ballymartin some breathing space with a well worked goal in the 61st minute. Just for good measure Cathal Doyle tagged on a point to give his side an unassailable 2-11 to 1-8 lead. 

Fair play to Saul, they still refused to throw in the towel and they had the last say with the final score of the game from Arnold.

Ballymartin: P Greene, A Crawford, M Whelan, Paul Fitzpatrick, J Doran, A Doran (0-1), N Kerr, M Cunningham, Peter Fitzpatrick (0-1), R Cunningham, C O’Hare (0-3), S Hughes, R McCulla, C Doyle (1-2), R O’Hare (0-4). Subs: C Shields for Baker (black card), 

Saul: C Marron, R Fitzsimons, P Baker, R Tumelty, T Magennis, C Byrne, P Paverty (1-0), C Mullen, A King, M McGrady, P Traynor, C Mahoney, L Harney, C Arnold (0-5), C Harney (0-4). Subs: R Phillips for McCulla, M Phillips for Kerr