Ballynahinch are hailed champions

Ballynahinch are hailed champions

4 April 2012

BALLYNAHINCH have won a prestigious All-Ireland trophy for the first time in the club’s history.

Mark Graham’s men lifted the Irish Hockey Challenge cup after a stunning 4-0 win over Kilkenny in Dublin last Saturday, with the skipper leading by example, scoring two goals, with the other strikes coming from David Ross and David Bolton.

The locals have enjoyed a remarkable season and with just one league game to go, have three trophies in the bag. On New Year’s Eve they defeated the PSNI to lift the Sussex Regiment Cup and a few weeks ago Ballynahinch won the Senior Two league championship.

Last Saturday they were at full strength, even though regular ‘keeper Mark Brown was on holiday in America. His deputy Dave Chadwick — who would walk into any senior side — filled the breach and was named man-of-the-match by his team mates after a brilliant performance.

The weekend clash was graced with brilliant sunshine and the Ballynahinch finishing in front of goal was red hot, with the locals really unlucky not to have been awarded a fifth “goal” in the closing stages when a Ross strike was ruled out.

Ballynahinch had clearly reserved their best performance of the season for the final and were outstanding, but Kilkenny had done their homework and man-marked Ballynahinch striker Andy McIlwaine from the off.

And while the big man may not have got his name on the scoresheet, he had a hand in a number of his side’s goals and was too hot to handle when he switched to the wing in the second half.

Kilkenny had the best of the chances in the first half when Chadwick stood up to be counted and he clearly revelled in the big match atmosphere with a stunning performance. Ballynahinch created a few half chances but never really tested the Kilkenny ‘keeper but that all changed in the second half.

The locals took the lead in the 45th minute through their inspirational skipper Mark Graham. McIlwaine did all the donkey work to set up his captain and once the skipper collected the ball inside the penalty area there was only going to be one outcome.

Four minutes later Ballynahinch led 2-0 and the prospect of a hat-trick of trophies was more than a realistic possibility.

The goal came when skipper Graham collected the ball just inside his own half and went on a powerful, probing run which took him past a number of defenders into the penalty area where he unleashed a shot which gave the ‘keeper no chance.

Back came Kilkenny but Chadwick and his defenders Alex Millar, Grant Hayes, Andrew Mulholland, Leslie Harrison and Ashley Brown were in no mood to give anything away. McIlwaine then switched to the wing and it was a move which ensured the All-Ireland trophy was heading to Ballynahinch.

McIlwaine gave his marker a torrid team; time and again he beat him for pace and whipped terrific balls into the Kilkenny penalty area and midway through the half Ballynahinch scored to make it 3-0.

Mark and Gary Graham exchanged passes with McIlwaine and the latter picked out the unmarked Ross who scored and what a sweet moment it was for the player who was forced off with an injury in the opening minutes of the Sussex Regiment Cup final on December 31.

Superb sub David Bolton was thrown on up front and within minutes of coming up against the Kilkenny defence they knew all about him as he popped up in the right place at the right time to make it 4-0 after some great build-up play involving Mark Graham and McIlwaine.

Ballynahinch: Dave Chadwick, Alex Millar, Grant Hayes, Andrew Mulholland, Ashley Brown, Gary Graham, Mark Graham, Leslie Harrison, Stuart Hunter, David Ross, Andy McIlwaine. Subs. Lee Thomas, Jason Campbell, David Bolton, Scott Leitch, Lawrence Patterson.

Ballynahinch 4

Kilkenny 0

IRISH HOCKEY CHALLENGE