Manulla too strong for Ballyglass in local derby
Manulla's Ruairi Henry tries to keep the ball in play as Ryan Duggan of Ballyglass watches on. Pictures: John Corless
Manulla cruised past Ballyglass on Saturday evening in a Super League game of low quality, dominated by high winds. But Manulla won’t worry about that. It’s all about the points in games like this and manager, Roger Clarke will be pleased with the clean sheet too – and Matty Flanagan’s penalty save from Ballyglass captain Darren Murray.
Ballyglass are having a difficult season. They have played six and have yet to register their first points of the campaign. The plight isn’t helped by their reliance on players who have not totally committed to the club or the game, and they are forced to put out makeshift teams as a result. They do their best, but on Saturday, their best wasn’t enough.
Darragh Byrne opened the scoring in the tenth minute when his wind-assisted lob from just outside the box dipped under the bar to deceive Eoghan Vahey, the Ballyglass goalkeeper. They had been on top and Lee Lyons came close before Byrne struck.
Byrne was lively right through the half and had a few shots at goal but couldn’t add to the score sheet. Gavin Jennings and James Dunne both saw their shots miss the target too, as Manulla applied the pressure.
It was 20 minutes before Ballyglass threatened. Ben Kileen’s shot from way out didn’t trouble Flanagan, but Murray’s unchallenged run through the middle might have, if James Joyce and Ryan Duggan weren’t denied by Ruairi Henry.
Manulla’s second goal just before half-time by Dylan Dunne killed the game off, when he connected with a spilled ball after Jennings’s free kick. It was heartbreaking for Ballyglass who were hoping to regroup and attack Manulla with the wind on their backs for the second half.
James Dunne and Byrne combined for Manulla’s third goal on 57 which substitute Seán Brohan finished. Ethan Moran had a low drive saved for Ballyglass when he ran on to Ryan Duggan’s pass, but a couple of minutes later Dylan Dunne got his second and Manulla’s fourth.
The wind died down a bit just before Murray sent his penalty to Flanagan’s right, but the goalkeeper guessed correctly and that was as near as Ballyglass came to scoring. Dylan Dunne set up James Bolster but the ball bounced awkwardly and the Manulla substitute sent it wide. And Conor Nolan headed straight at Vahey before Broghan got the fifth just before the end.
Ballyglass will have better days. It’s difficult when you don’t have a settled team. Manulla are on seven points now which sees them in fifth position, after referee Damien McGrath blew the whistle for the final time on Saturday evening.
Manulla manager Roger Clarke was delighted with the result. “It took us a while to settle into the game,” he said. “We didn't play that particularly well in the first half, but I suppose we got an early goal and then just before half-time, Dylan Dunne got the second to give us a nice lead to have at half-time.
“We needed that, then the second half, we ran the bench. It's great to have Seán Brohan back. He did well this evening when he came on. He made an immediate impact. He scored more or less within two minutes of coming on. It's great to have a few young lads there playing this evening. Liam Redmond made his debut and Dylan Dunne started for the first time as well, so it's been a positive evening all round.
“For us now the focus on the squad we have and to build and work with them. The squad we have this evening is not going to change too much for the rest of the season. It was nice to come in with a clean sheet. Matty Flanagan has been a huge addition for us as well this year. He saved the penalty brilliantly. He's very vocal in the goal and he's brave coming off the line as well.”
Manulla: Matthew Flanagan; Liam Redmond, Ruairi Henry, Andrew Shally, Niall Barrett; James Dunne; Lee Lyons, Matthew English, Gavin Jennings; Darragh Byrne, Dylan Dunne. Subs: Sean Brohan (for English 51), Conor Brett and James Bolster (for Lyons and Jennings 58), Conor Nolan (for Shally 69), Seán Scott-Keane (for Redmond 76).
Ballyglass: Eoghan Vahey; Dean O’Malley, Evan Connolly, Aaron Moran, Colm Tuohy; Ethan Moran, Darren Murray, Ben Killeen; Ryan Duggan, Eddie Lennon, James Joyce. Subs: John Delaney, Kevin Shannon and Oisin Cunnane (for E Moran, Killeen and Lennon 63), Alan Larkin (for Duggan 72).
REF: Damien McGrath.
