CCFL Review

BALLYMACKEY

By John Delaney

Ballymackey produced a superb comeback to earn a deserved draw against Mountmellick United in their Combined Counties Football League Premier Division clash at Connor Davis Park.

Mountmellick led at the break thanks to a headed goal from a corner. The visitors then faced a mountain to climb when the home side doubled their advantage on 65 minutes after Ballymackey failed to clear the ball from their box despite several opportunities to do so.

Ballymackey responded brilliantly, raising both the intensity and quality of their play. A superb pass from Emma Nolan out wide on the right put Amber DeLewis in behind the high Mountmellick defensive line, and she kept her composure to commit the goalkeeper before coolly slotting the ball home.

From that point on, the momentum was with Ballymackey and an equaliser looked increasingly likely. It duly arrived with ten minutes remaining. Christine O’Keefe did well to press the Mountmellick centre-backs, forcing a turnover in possession before being fouled for a penalty, which she confidently converted herself.

Ballymackey pushed hard for a winner but ultimately had to settle for a draw, which was still a satisfactory result given they had been two goals behind with 22 minutes remaining.

It was a highly physical and competitive match, played in a sporting manner, and a fine showcase for women’s football. Emma Choptiany made her club debut and Sadhb Connolly was Ballymackey’s player of the match, setting the tone for her teammates with the level of commitment she showed throughout the contest.

KILLAVILLA UNITED

By Gary Culbert

Junior ‘A’: Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong for Killavilla United when they travelled to Stanley O’Hara Park on Saturday night to take on Premier Division side Clara Town, in the quarter final of the Paddy Cotter Cup.

Storm Dave dominated proceedings, with howling winds and heavy rain effecting the play on the astro.

Clara took an early lead through their pacy counter attackers. The already horrible night took a bad turn on quarter hour when Johnny Corboy hyper extended his knee. Clara’s Barry Flynn sprang into action from the sideline to assist Corboy during the serious injury. The decision was taken not to move the Birr man, and so, both sets of players waited half an hour in the elements of Storm Dave for an ambulance to arrive.

In the end, Clara were clinical and stormed on to a 6-1 win thanks to their pacy wingers. For Killavilla, there was a clear gap in the levels of the two sides but having played three Premier Division sides in the cups this season (St Peters, Mullingar Athletic, and Clara Town), Villa now know the standard that they need to reach in order to be competitive next season when they rise to the next level.

Killavilla host Rosenallis in Villa Park this Sunday at 11.00am.

Junior ‘B’: Killavilla United advanced to the semi-final of the CCFL Shield thanks to a 6-1 win over St Michael’s Athletic in Templemore on Sunday.

A Dan Ryan hat-trick and a goal apiece from Bryan McCabe, Craig Phelan, Michael Fitzgerald did the damage for Adrian Elbert’s side.

Villa travel to Longford Shamrocks for a 2.00pm in the third division this Sunday at 2.00pm.