On Sunday the Lisburn under 16′s made the long journey up to Ballycastle for a crunch game against the McQuillan’s Club. Unfortunately Lisburn could only muster up fourteen players partly due to exams and to the fact an under 14 match was scheduled for the same day. Under the rules in the league this was allowed and St Patricks had to line out for a fourteen a side match with no subs. Ballycastle on the other hand had a full squad of twenty players. On a hot day in June this was going to be a big ask. Ballycastle started much brighter with a point after 1 1/2 minutes. Their next attack produced a free which the number 9 slotted over with ease. It looked slightly ominous for Lisburn as any attack seemed to be cut out by the Ballycastle full back line. Lisburn then got a free on the 45m line and A McDonald gathered and hit the back of the net. McQuillan’s hit back with a point within a few minutes followed by another to edge a point ahead, but then M Owens cut through form the left to split the posts to draw level again. In the next five minutes both teams exchanged points to leave it all level then it all seemed to be going wrong as Ballycastle won alot of dirty ball and cut through for next four points to leave the Lisburn lads stunned. Luckily before half time they were able to grab the last score of the half to put the score at :Ballycastle 0-09 Lisburn 1-03.
Starting the second half with thirty minutes of footbal to be played in warm humid conditions, with no subs, things did not look good for Lisburn. and indeed Ballycastle hit the first point of the half. The Lisburn lads then dug in and thanks to outstanding work by players in the back line like M Wolfe and D O’Hanlon they remained solid in the face of attack. M Fagan got the first score of the second half , followed by a point from D Burns . Then came the 3 pointer when the ball was passed to the ever running S. Mullan who slotted home for a goal. Suddenly Lisburn were a point up and it was Ballycastle, who at this stage had started to introduce fresh legs, looked as if they were dead on their feet. The next five minutes passed with Lisburn having alot of possesion but not getting a score. The Ballycastle side seemed to be rattled and on a number of occasions had a shot on goal only to be denied by the net minder R . Murtagh. However , as they piled on the pressure they eventually got through for a goal. This score put Ballycastle up by a 2 points. Despite the heat and the pressure the St Patrick’s lads did not lie down and a wonderful move from their own half back line saw M. Owens get through on goal only to be pulled down in the penalty area. The Referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty which S Mullan cooly placed in the bottom corner. Now a point up with normal time up it looked like the Lisburn lads were going to hold on for a result. They kept possesion well but the referee seemed to play an inordinate amount of injury time (six minutes) and in Ballycastle’s last attack they got a cheap free kick which they stroked over for the equaliser. Lisburn did have time to go up the field to win it but unforunately D McCanny’s belter of a shot was just wide of the posts.
This leaves Lisburn in joint third place with Ballycastle having identical results but a better scoring difference. It seems like a tough group but the Lisburn lads are hopeful that their place half way through will be maintained so that they get a place in the play offs.
Next match is at home to Moneyglass. All support would be welcome.
