Ballyglass’ O’Hara is the unlucky 13 for Achill
Thirteen-year-old Christopher John O’Hara Ballyglass lines up a shot during the U17 Shield final against Achill Rovers at Umbro Park. Pictures: Conor McKeown
A sensational first half showing from Ballyglass brought them a well-deserved 8-1 victory in the Henry Downes U17 Shield Final against Achill Rovers on Saturday evening at Umbro Park.
The hard work was mostly complete for the Candystripes by half-time as they led 6-1. 13-year-old sensation Christopher John O’Hara was the star of the show, netting four of the half-dozen haul for Ballyglass. The first came after just six minutes when he latched onto Colin Prenty’s through pass and finished.
Two minutes later, O’Hara was in again. This time captain Benjamin Killeen turned provider, but it was O’Hara who provided the magic, dribbling past the keeper and tapping in.
Killeen scored the pick of the goals after 12 minutes, curling in a long-range effort that completely caught the keeper out to make it 3-0.
Chances were few and far between for Achill but against the run of play, they got one back on the half hour mark. Harry Callaghan collected a long ball and finished coolly.
Rovers held possession bravely and looked for a goal to cut the deficit, but Ballyglass’s class shone through again and O’Hara made it a hat-trick on 39 minutes with a powerful strike.
Benjamin Killeen added his second of the half two minutes later, playing a one-two with Ryan Duggan that completely split the Achill defence open, before tapping in from close range. O’Hara scored his fourth just before half time.
It remained one-way traffic in the second half although the goals did not come as thick and fast. With 61 minutes played, Ryan Duggan scored a well-deserved goal. Muiris Vahey had little to do in between the posts for Ballyglass but after saving well following an Achill corner, he launched his kickout downfield and found Duggan, who held off the defender and applied the finish to make it 7-1.
It had been a tough day for Achill keeper Liam Gallagher, but he showed his class on the 70-minute mark, getting down to save Duggan’s penalty after the Ballyglass forward had been fouled in the box.
Duggan made up for the penalty miss right at the death however adding his sides eighth and final goal in the 91st minute to cap the victory.
