Cumann Pheadair Naofa Footballers were welcomed to Ballyholland on Friday night. The Point men came into the game on the up with a great performance against Mayobridge while Ballyholland have been fairing well in league so far with some tough performances but on the wrong end of the game seeing them failing to win 4 of their 6 games. Both teams were out to lift themselves into 5th or 6th place in the league and the game promised to be a battle of tactics.
Minutes into the game became clear that the game would not be one for the spectators as Ballyholland game with a heavy defensive strategy which saw nearly all of their men behind the ball, this causing difficulty for any Point attack with a crowded Attacking Third.
The point men however managed to break though the defensive flanks of the Harps and with 25 minutes gone in the first half the game was level at 3 points a piece, With Ross McGarry and Jamie Grant scoring for the Blues. The entirety of the first half saw a very physical game being played by both teams with some hard hits and unfortunately some cynical fouling from the Ballyholland team, this being part of the gameplan the took to the Warrenpoint men trying to distract them from their own set up and therefore allowing Ballyholland to get the better of the Young Point side.
The first half ended 0-03 to 0-03 with the highlight of the first half being a fantastic attack set up from a Won kickout by Ryan Mallon who played Captain Ryan Boyle through for a goal chance, however the Ballyhollandkeeper saved from close range.
The second half started with consistent fouling from the Ballyholland team with an uglt challenge on Ross McGarry from Tony Havern saw the Harps man being sent off with a straight red. The second half was littered with negative periods of play with off the ball challenges across the pitch but Referee Paul Faloon got control of the game with a series of black cards and a red for Cormac McCartan for the blues.
Ballyholland had the Point men where they wanted them at this point and managed to capitalize with a goal with ten to go and began to pick up points from frees in their Attacking Third. The Blues managed to pick up only 2 scores in the second half with Ross McGarry picking up both.
Ballyholland in the end come away with 2 points to see them level on 4 points a piece with the Blues. Cumann Pheadair Naofa face Longstone next who are bottom of the league on 3 points but with Glenn, An Riocht, Ballyholland, Burren and Byransford on 4 and 5 points respectively with 6 games played this years league is shaping up to the the most competitive league in years, a win is a must vs Longstone with an away match vs Glenn the following week. The pressure is on.
