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Ballymena make the All Ireland Cup Final

Thursday, 26 January 2012

Centre Alistair Frazer scored the opening try at Old Belvedere.

After two disappointing All Ireland League Division 1B defeats to Ulster rivals Belfast Harlequins and Dungannon, Ballymena headed to Dublin on Saturday for their All Ireland Cup semi final clash against host club Old Belvedere.
Perhaps then it was without the pressure of the AIL that John Andrew's side deservedly progressed to April's final against Garryowen after a wind-affected 15-18 victory that showed so much about the desire and commitment of the largely local squad.
They certainly bounced back well after those two losses with the return to the side of inspirational second row Daryl O'Kane and much under-rated out half Martin Irwin so important to how Ballymena play. And with only Ricky Andrew of the club's Ulster Academy players in the starting line up too!
Ballymena led 5-15 at half time that included a well-worked try by centre Alistair Fraser that saw full back Roger McBurney and wing Caolan Fitzpatrick to the fore in the build up.
Then McBurney, recalled to the number 15 shirt after a couple of games on the wing, scored a fine individual try when he followed up his own chip ahead. His long-range drop goal and a David O'Hara penalty completed the first half points. An O'Hara second half penalty completed the Ballymena scoring as they held on despite Old Belvedere's best efforts to face Garryowen who defeated Saturday's All Ireland League opponents Buccaneers 14-3 in the other semi final.
As well as finishing as high as they can in Division 1B, Ballymena now have the opportunity to lift All Ireland silverware with the final - whose venue is yet to be decided - something for the players to look forward to at the end of the season.
Team: Roger McBurney, Ricky Andrew, Darrell Montgomery, Alistair Frazer, Richard Aingworth, Martin Irwin, David O'Hara, James Carson, John Andrew, Simon Shawe, Daryl O'Kane, Andy Kerr, Stephen Mulholland, Paul Pritchard (Capt), Ross Hackney. Replacements: Andrew Warwick, John Burns, Josh Christie, Adrian Hamilton, Ian Vance, John Nicholl, Paul Campbell.
Ballymena are on the road again this weekend when they head to Athlone to face Buccaneers in the All Ireland League. Buccaneers were beaten at Garryowen on Saturday and that result marked their third defeat in their last five All Ireland games.
A 19-14 defeat at Belfast Harlequins was their first loss of the campaign but two games later they went down 22-18 to bottom club UCC before exiting the All Ireland Cup on Saturday. However they have yet to lose at home so Ballymena have added incentive to make amends for their early season 10-16 loss to Saturday's opponents. Kick off in Athlone is at 7.30pm.
Ballymena's AIL Record. UCC 6-8 Ballymena, Ballymena 10-16 Buccaneers, Bruff 28-34 Ballymena, Ballymena 32-19 Galwegians, Ballymena 11-11 UCD, UL Bohemians 13-30 Ballymena, Ballymena 6-3 Ballynahinch, Belfast Harlequins 9-0 Ballymena, Ballymena 13-39 Dungannon
Buccaneers' AIL Record. Buccaneers 17-11 Bruff, Ballymena 10-16 Buccaneers, Buccaneers 23-17 UCD, UL Bohemians 8-12 Buccaneers, Buccaneers 24-17 Ballynahinch, Belfast Harlequins 19-14 Buccaneers, Buccaneers 33-20 Dungannon, UCC 22-18 Buccaneers, Buccaneers 12-6 Galwegians
Saturday's Fixtures. Belfast Harlequins v Ballynahinch, Dungannon v UL Bohemians, Galwegians v Bruff, UCC v UCD, Buccaneers v Ballymena
2nd XV way too
strong for 'Quins
BALLYMENA'S 2nd XV maintained their winning 2nd XV League record with a comprehensive and fully deserved 10-36 win at their Belfast Harlequins' counterparts last Wednesday evening.
With their pack dominant in the set scrums and lineouts and much more mobile round the pitch that allowed some fine ball handling throughout the side particularly in the first half.
They did though let their standards - playing and discipline - drop dramatically for the majority of the second period although two late tries showed the gulf between the two sides.
Ballymena started the game well and moved the ball across the pitch and were able to retain possession that eventually saw play move into the Harlequins' "22" from halfway. When they were awarded a scrum there, blind side flanker Craig Wallace powered his way over for an unconverted try that put Ballymena 0-5 ahead after 5 minutes.
When they were awarded a penalty the ball was put into the corner for a 5-metre lineout. After second row Chris Smith secured James Taggart's throw his fellow forward colleagues drove over the line but the ball was held up.
However, Ballymena were not to be denied as from the resulting scrum No.8 Adrian Hamilton powered over to move his side 0-10 ahead in only the 9th minute.
From effectively their first venture into the Ballymena half, Harlequins got points on the board when out half James Shields knocked over a 15th minute penalty following a deliberate knock-on in midfield to make the score 3-10.
However, Ballymena prevented any thought of a fight back when they scored their third try just 3 minutes later. Another penalty was kicked into the corner and after yet another fine Smith catch and drive it was the remaining member of the back row trio Willie McKay who was driven over. This time scrum half David O'Hara added the extra points to move Ballymena 3-17 ahead.
Ballymena continued to dominate but handling errors meant that they had to wait until the 37th minute to score their fourth try in a very on-sided first half. Off a scrum O'Hara broke blind where he set up a ruck from where McKay and Smith carried the ball.
Quick recycled ball saw it moved to the backs through O'Hara and out half Paul Campbell who found right wing Caolan Fitzpatrick coming off his wing into the midfield.

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