Match of the weekend was the U12 first division club derby between John McCarron and Oran Grimes’s Ballyraine Utd and Martin Donnelly’s Ballyraine Celtic at Errigal College pitch this morning.
A tightly fought game in the first half saw Ballyraine Utd take an early lead. A well-placed shot was delivered by Darragh Shovlin when the ball broke loose from a scramble in the penalty area.
The lead was short lived however with Ballyraine Celtic proving very dangerous on the counter-attack. They equalised through an exquisite lob from 20 meters by the manager’s son Shea Donnelly who ran onto a through ball.
The somersault celebration by this talented young gymnast that followed was equally as entertaining (Robbie Keane eat your heart out). Without doubt, an early contender for goal of the season.
The game opened up in the second half with some free-flowing football being played by both sides. It was tooth and nail stuff with the watching crowd on the edges of their seats. Ballyraine Utd started strongly and went in search of a 2nd goal. Good build up play from United was thwarted on numerous occasions by an excellent Conor Barron in the Celtic goals who had a fine game all round.
Eventually the second goal arrived for Ballyraine United with a fine strike from Konrad Krol. Heydon Gault completed the scoring with a fine brace to secure all three points for Ballyraine Utd.
Celtic were always dangerous on the break and this entertaining derby ended 4-1 to John McCarron’s lads.
Ballyraine United have secured maximum points from their first 4 games and stay top of the first division league table. A disappointing day for Ballyraine Celtic. However, if they continue to play like today wins, draws and more importantly points are sure to follow.
The real winners today were the 21 kids who took part in this historic game that will be in their memories for evermore.
Team coaches Martin Donnelly, Oran Grimes and John McCarron were spotted entering Arena Seven later on Sunday evening to do the post-match analysis over a few diet 7Ups (LOL!), sponsored by Enda Nicholls of course!
Ballyraine FC U12 Premier League team lost 0-2 at home to table toppers Illistrin FC. Two goals from Eoghan Scott in the first half secured the points for Illistrin FC. The Ballyraine FC team fought hard in the second half but could not make the break through against a well disciplined and well organised Illistrin team.
Oran Grimes’s and Barry Kreagh’s U14 Premier team secured their first point of the campaign with a 1-1 draw with Letterkenny Rovers.
Trevor Gordon’s Ballyraine Harps played Bonagee Utd in the U11 Development league on Saturday morning. Some great football was on display between these two well matched teams. The score of the game was not reported as the referee lost his notebook towards the end of the game. However, all the children had a great time.
Kieran Barron and Kevin McGettigan’s Ballyraine FC U14’s will play Mulroy on Wednesday evening and Aidy McElarey’s U16s will play on Tuesday against Dunfanaghy Youths.
It’s all go at this progressive Schoolboy Football Club.
Tags: