A tough start for Ballynahinch Olympic trying to find their feet for a new season
The NAFL Division IA – League Match,
Venue: Kilmore playing Fields,
Saturday 3rd August,
Ballynahinch Olympic 0 1 St Oliver Plunkett.
This was the first league game for both sides and in the first half there was little to divide both teams.
Both sides were competitive from the start and largely cancelled each other out with both sets of defences on top reports Cyril McKinney.
Neither side really troubled the opposing keeper despite a lot of endeavour but quality in the final third was lacking.
A heavy rain shower early in the second half made ball control more difficult but both sides started the half with great intent and it was the visitors who made the breakthrough on 53 minutes through inside forward number Ciaran Reid who was on hand to finish when a Breen shot was well saved by Olympic keeper Ryan Walsh only for Reid to show great composure and cooly fire home.
Back came Olympic but they just could not find a way past a resolute defence with Webb and Healy rock solid.
As Olympic pressed hard the visitors looked for the early ball out of defence with number 9 Breen always looking threatening and willing to chase and harry.
He did have a one-on-one with keeper Walsh but the keeper made a great stop to keep his side in the game on 74 minutes.
The game ended with Ballynahinch on the attack but on reflection St Oliver Plunkett just about edged it on the day.
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Olympic Lose Out To Kilmore Rec In Early Season Local Derby
NAFL Div 1A,
League Match,
Kilmore Playing Fields,
Ballynahinch Olympic 1 2 Kilmore Rec.
The sun was out in Crossgar for this league encounter between near neighbours Ballynahinch Olympic and Kilmore writes Cyril McKinney.
Right from the first whistle both sides signalled their attacking intent but both sets of defences held firm in the opening 15 minutes.
Home keeper Ryan Walsh had to be alert to deflect a Mahoney goal-bound shot onto a post before being scrambled away on 17 minutes before Kilmore took the lead through their number 9 Rhys Clarke on 21 minutes when sent clear on goal and with the keeper advancing Clarke flicked the ball past Walsh to put the visitors in front.
Olympic responded well to this setback but despite pressing forward they could not find a way through a resolute Kilmore defence wall with Larkin, O’Shea and Murray snuffing out the attacking threat.
As halftime approached Kilmore went further in front on 44 minutes through defender Christopher Magee who fired home at the back post from a right wing corner.
Olympic started the second half on the front foot and enjoyed a lot of possession with the lively Jones, Walsh and Quinn prominent in attack and they were rewarded on 72 minutes when Quinn got on the end of a right wing cross to power home a great header giving Kilmore keeper Laurence McGonagle no chance from close range to set up a tense finish.
With Olympic pressing forward Kilmore looked to counter attack and it needed keeper Walsh to be alert to prevent Kilmore substitute Philip Doran from scoring a third.
Kilmore held on to secure the points on this occasion but both sides will look to improve as the season develops.
Ballynahinch Olympic: Ryan Walsh, Jack Roddy, Niall Flanagan , Connor Reid, Jason Noade, Paul Dickson, Ryan Walsh, Owen Madine, Shea Quinn, Nathan Jones, James McClean. Subs: Joshua Fennell for James McClean, Michael Rice, Darren Lyons for Jack Roddy
Kilmore Rec: Laurence McGonagle, Christopher Magee , Jonathan Murray, Jack Larkin, Caolain O’Shea, Yaroslav Panfilov, John Mahoney, Caolan Conlon, Rhys Clarke, Patrick Grant, Joseph Burns. Subs: Philip Doran for John Mahoney, Anton McGrattan for Patrick Grant, Gary Kennedy for Rhys Clarke.
