Ballyholland Harps recorded a 0-14 to 0-12 victory over Cumann Pheadair Naofa on the Friday 22nd July in the backdrop of a calm evening in Pairc Liam Uí Ír. The game was played in a sporting manner and was a tight affair throughout. Ballyholland opened the scoring after two minutes before two Ross McGarry scores either side of an opportunist Niall McGovern point left the blues two to the good; 0-3 to 0-1. Ballyholland replied with a point but the seasiders stretched their advantage to three halfway through the first half after McGarry struck twice from dead balls. Ruairi Cowan saw red after a second bookable offence. Ballyholland were also reduced to fourteen men just minutes later. Both sides fired over two points, but it was the Harps who finished the half strongly with two unanswered points to leave the game finely balanced 0-7 to 0-6 as the teams headed for the dressing rooms.
The blues started the second period brightly with two scores from Sean Gallagher and Ryan Magee respectively who drove forward from the back to give the blues a three point advantage. But Ballyholland refused to be deterred and answered with two impressive scores of their own. Johnny Murchan sailed a sweet point between the posts, however, it was Ballyholland who seized the initiative reeling off three consecutive scores to leave them in front by the narrowest of margins; 0-11 to 0-10. The home side hit back with a left-footed score by Ross McGarry followed by a stunning score from Johnny Murchan from the right hand side of the field for his second of the game to leave the Point one ahead entering the final ten minutes. However, a Tiarnán Rushe free followed by a fisted Ronan Murtagh score left the Harps leading by a point as injury time approached and Tony Havern sealed victory in the dying minutes with a right-footed score.
The team can be encouraged by some strong performances, despite the disappointing result. There were stand-out performances from Patrick Murdock, Ciaran McCartan, Ryan Magee and the Boyle brothers, John and Ryan. Cumann Pheadair Naofa remain on thirteen points in 9th position in the league. Next up for the seniors is an away trip to Mayobridge on Friday 19th August where the Blues will look to bounce back from this defeat.
