Ballygalget power through to decider

Ballygalget power through to decider

11 October 2017

BALLYGALGET are back in an Ulster Club Championship final for the first time in nine years following their comprehensive win over Lisbellaw at Corrigan Park, Belfast, on Sunday.

The Mitchel Park side will now face reigning champions Slaughtneil on October 22 after they got the better of Dunloy.

Ballygalget were always in control against the Fermanagh champions and jumped into a 0-14 to 0-1 lead by the 20th minute.

There was a feast of points from various scorers as Ballygalget went in at the break with a 0-17 to 0-4 lead and there was just no way back for a game Lisbellaw.

Second half goals from Caolan Bailie and Danny Doran put the icing on the cake for Ballygalget and the introduction of Gareth Johnson late in the game made life even harder for Lisbellaw.

Lisbellaw’s Ryan Bogue managed a sublime sideline cut late in the game, but Ballygalget had the last word with points from Conor Doran and Conor Bailie.

Ballygalget manager Paddy Monan was happy to get the potential banana skin tie out of the way and he can now look forward to an Ulster showdown with Slaughtneil.

“You could see in the first half that we were very economical in front of goal. We wouldn’t have been like that if it hadn’t been for our Down championship campaign,” he said.

“We haven’t talked about an Ulster final at all. I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but we’re just taking it one game at a time. We’ve won today and now we’re in an Ulster final against Slaughtneil. It’s going to be a huge ask.

“These boys are up for a challenge, there’s been questions asked of them all year in the Antrim League and the Down championship and they’ve answered them all.

“We’re not fearful of them, but we know how good a team they are and how big a task it is for us.”

Ballygalget: J Crowe, B Byers, E Clarke, J Smyth, E Coulter, B Toner, P McManus, D McManus (0-2), J Doran (0-1), J McManus (0-1), G Roddy, M Fisher (0-4, 2f), C Coulter (0-4, 2f), C Bailie (1-6, 0-2 frees), D Toner (0-5) Subs: D Doran (1-0) for D McManus, P McManus for M Fisher, R Watson for J McManus, C Doran (0-1) for J Doran, G Johnson (0-2 frees) for G Roddy.

Ballygalget 2-26

Lisbellaw 0-8

ULSTER CLUB SHC SEMI-FINAL