U12 Cup V Herbertstown

Our U12 boys played Limerick side Herbertstown this afternoon in Ballinree. Conditions were perfect for today's match with both sides looking to progress to the next round. Ballymackey started the better with a high press and looked strong but we met a very strong defence and couldn't find a way through in the early stages. The negative side to a high press game is that you can get caught in a counter move. This is where Herbertstown were very dangerous and our back line had to be extra vigilant. Around 20 minutes in it was still hard to know who was going to score first because it was now end to end. Five minutes we used every available inch of grass on the left hand side to cross in a very dangerous ball that was put in the net by our in form James Ryan. The first half finished this way but it was by no means over.
The early period in the second half was frantic with Herbertstown looking for an equaliser and Ballymackey looking to put the game away.
Bit by bit though the fitness that our lads have started to tell and we were getting a strangle hold on the game. Another ball that travelled up the left wing found its way to Dan Daly who scored a proverbial screamer to make it 2-0.
Dan was a big threat all day and it was just reward for him. Colm O'Brien has legs that don't stop running and he simply terrorised the opposition from minute 1 to 60. Dara Wyles caused the defence to sweat more than they would have liked by running at them all day causing big problems. James Hanrahan is another man on the up, improving every game and James was on the ball loads. Matthew Bergin has to be one of our clubs best keepers with another fine display. Matthew made a good few saves and interventions early in the game to keep us in there.
Callum Ryan, today's captain led by example and Conall Hartnett, Donnacha Kelly and Dan Daly (when he went back) were like big boulders that Herbertstown couldn't breach. James Mounsey and Jack Gilmartin did everything necessary when called upon in midfield and both lads made some great challenges. The game finished 2-0 to Ballymackey and it was a very well deserved win.

Many thanks to Herbertstown for travelling up and giving us a mighty game. Thanks also to John Lyons, today's ref.