Ballymena Guardian - Sports - Gap opens up in league table following deserved win

Sports

Gap opens up in league table following deserved win

Thursday, 4 February 2010

Prior to Saturday's snow-affected game at Eaton Park, Ballymena were expected to struggle against an in-form UCC side that was making a serious challenge for All Ireland League Division 1B honours.
As it turned out though they were never in any danger of losing the match as their 66th minute 19-0 lead underlines with a combination of their forward power and discipline and UCC's inability to round off a couple of possible scoring opportunities ended with Ballymena putting distance between themselves and those in relegation danger.
While Ballymena were turning in one of their best performances of the season in hardly the best of conditions, Ulster rivals Dungannon and Ballynahinch were both narrowly losing to Young Munster (13-12) and Galwegians (15-12) to leave their re-arranged clash even more important.
With two clubs being relegated at the end of the campaign Dungannon and Ballynahinch are both still in that battle although a Dungannon win over Ballynahinch should ease their fears. Likewise a Ballynahinch victory leaves both with something to worry about.
As for Ballymena the last two of their four remaining fixtures are against their Ulster rivals - home to Dungannon and away to Ballynahinch although they have to face Young Munster at home and Galwegians away before then.
Getting into the promotion battle at this stage is probably beyond John Andrews' side but they have opportunities to gather more points and if they can repeat Saturday's performance then they can certainly finish with a bit of style.
Consistency though has been the major issue this season, something that could be explained by the youthfulness of the side and also the number of players that have been missing due to injuries throughout the season.
Before second placed Young Munster come to Eaton Park on 20th February, Ballymena have Ulster Senior League matches at Rainey (this weekend) and at home to Ards the following week.
Both should be won relatively straightforwardly but certainly the intensity of the All Ireland League will be missing and so how Ballymena come back from the not so strong Ulster League could determine how they fare against Young Munster.
Ballymena head to Magherafelt this weekend to face a Rainey side who currently lie in the bottom half of All Ireland League Division 3 and fresh from a 23-12 win over second bottom club Naas last Saturday. Their Ulster Senior League record is very similar as they lie in the bottom half there too.