Ballynahinch just champion

Ballynahinch just champion

14 March 2012

BALLYNAHINCH are Senior Two league champions.

Mark Graham’s men secured the title with a 5-2 win over Portrush last weekend in Ballycastle and now the players are turning attention to the Irish Hockey Challenge final at the end of the month against Kilkenny.

Ballynahinch have lost only once all season and have just two league games to go, at home to Parkview and away to derby rivals Down at Malone Park.

Ballynahinch have been scoring goals for fun all season and rattled home another five last weekend, with Gary Graham weighing in with a hat-trick. Ballynahinch’s other scorers were Stuart Hunter and Andy McIlwaine (inset).

Ballynahinch were always in the driving seat and fully deserved their win and three points which gives them a 10-point cushion over second-placed PSNI.

The visitors were determined to win the title on the pitch and were delighted last Saturday’s game went ahead as it gave them a chance to show why they have dominated the league from start to finish.

Ballynahinch started on fire and Portrush knew they were in for a game against worthy champions. The visitors took the lead through Andy McIwaine whose goal created something of a record.

The big man has scored in every league game this season and hopes to be on the scoresheet in his side’s two remaining Senior Two games.

McIlwaine fired his side ahead after good build-up play involving David Ross, the versatile Leslie Harrison who switched to right full back with Alex Millar on duty with the club’s seconds in Cookstown, and Stuart Hunter. Hunter’s shot was saved but the ball broke to McIlwaine who fired it home.

Ten minutes later Ballynahinch went 2-0 ahead when Andrew Mulholland’s drag flick effort from a short corner was saved.The rebound was collected by the alert Gary Graham who scored the first of his three goals.

There was an air of disappointment at the break as Ballynahinch had allowed Portrush to pull a goal back, but they simply put their foot on the gas in the second period to blow the home side away.

Hunter made it 3-1 from a clinical short corner strike within 12 minutes of the restart and then Graham scored his second of the game from another short corner to make it 4-1.

With a three goal lead, Ballynahinch were in a class of their own , but Portrush pulled a goal back as a result of some slack marking in the visiting defence to make it 4-2.

But back came the visitors and Graham capped a brilliant performance when he scored to make it 5-2 from another short corner to herald the start of his side’s championship celebrations.

With the league championship and Senior Two Cup safely in the bag, Ballynahinch are looking to the Irish Hockey Challenge at UCD’s ground in Dublin on March 31.

Portrush 2

Ballynahinch 5

SENIOR 2