Doire Trasna kick-off Junior Championship campaign with defeat in Ballerin

Ballerin 1-7 ... Doire Trasna 0-6

A converted penalty on the stroke of half-time powered Ballerin to a winning start in the junior championship on Friday evening.

IN PICTURES: Action from Ballerin v Doire Trasna

The sides were locked at three points apiece when that goal from Paul Ferris arrived. Up to that point, it was a dull affair with very little to brighten a dark wet evening.

The home side were wasteful while Doire Trasna looked dangerous on the break, however, taking the wrong option or forcing things were to let them down.

The visitors had three points on the board after the opening quarter but did not score again until the clock was entering the final 10 minutes of the game, a period that saw the hosts hit an unanswered 1-6.

When the sides met in the league it was an ill-tempered clash but referee Sean Curran had little problems here keeping a lid on this one from the outset as both sides just went about their football. The home side’s victory was built on a solid defence while Sean Ferris was yet again their man in attack.

The full forward caused all sorts of problems making superb runs into space while also coming deep to gather a number of kickouts, sometimes closely followed by two Trasna men.

The visitors started the better of the sides, with Caolan Doyle dominant at midfield and Colin Murray catching the eye in attack.

The Trasna men were also sharper to the breaking ball and with this they led 0-3 to 0-1 after the opening quarter, Murray (2) and Caelan O’Connell on target while Ryan Doherty had Ballerin’s point from a free.

Ballerin who had eight wides in the opening half gradually gained control, Callum Bradley beginning their scoring spree with a fine score. Liam Brown landed the equaliser from a free on 20 minutes but with sloppy play it looked like the sides were going to go in level at the break.

However, Ballerin were to be handed the lead at the interval with a penalty out of nothing and one that the Trasna management will not be happy with as it was a needless one to give away.

A Paul Ferris effort was dropping into the hands of the ‘keeper Flynn Doherty but off the ball Sean Ferris was pulled down as he raced in to contest the dropping ball and Paul Ferris fired the spot kick to the net to leave it 1-3 to 0-3.

Eugene Mullan was introduced at the break by the hosts and it took little time for him to make a mark. He split the posts within two minutes and had a second soon after as Ballerin moved five clear.

Colm Ó Brolcháin in action for Ballerin. (Photos - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

Sean Ferris set up Jarlath Bradley to make it six and as both sides began to ring the changes a further point from Mark Ferris after superb ball from his brother Sean to move them seven clear.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, NaPiarsaigh hit their first score since the 15th minute when Ciaran McGown struck over.

Murray with a free and then a Doyle effort with two minutes remaining reduced the deficit back to four.

At the other end, Eugene Mullan stung the palms of Doherty with a pile driver. With the last play Trasna almost got a goal when Mark Magee tried to pick out Doyle at the far post but Ballerin scrambled it clear and with it the final whistle sounded and Ballerin were off to a winning start.

Both sides are back in action on Saturday with Ballerin back on home soil against Ardmore while Doire Trasna will welcome Lissan.

Teams & Scorers

Ballerin: Adam Reid; Hugh Higgins, Brian Deighan, Bobby Mullan; Daniel Walton, Shane McIntyre, Callum Bradley 0-1; Anton Bradley, Jarlath Mooney; Ryan Doherty 0-1 (f), Liam Brown 0-1 (f)), Paul Ferris 1-0 (p); Jarlath Bradley, Sean Ferris 0-1, Mark Ferris 0-1. Subs: Eugene Mullan 0-2 for Brown (ht), Darren Robinson for R Doherty (37), Sean Ferris for Mooney (37), Simon McGinley for A Bradley (47), Cormac Canning for J Bradley (55).

Doire Trasna: Flynn Doherty; Shane Lyttle, David Og Officer, Mark Healy; Daniel Doherty,Ciaran McGowan 0-1, Cormac Kelly; Caolan Doyle 0-1, Paul Quigley; Pol Brown, Tomas McCrossan, Caelan O’Connell 0-1; Shae Healy, Tom Casey, Colin Murray 0-3 (1f). Subs: Connell Guille for D Doherty (22), Eoghan Devlin for Healy (47), Mark Magee for Casey (47).

Referee: Sean Curran.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Sean Ferris of Bellerin was excellent and a real joy to watch. Small in statue but with a big heart and was winning balls he had no right to win all evening. His movement was too hot for the Doire Trasna team as they simply could not handle him. Shipped a few high challenges but never let this affect him as kept on going. As the game went on he came deep to make himself available for kickouts and was just a joy to watch.

KEY MOMENT - The penalty and goal on the stroke of half-time was the decisive moment. Needless from Doire Trasna as it looked like their ‘keeper had this under control but as Sean Ferris was a handful the fear was enough for the defender to take him down and Paul Ferris made no mistake from the spot to put his side 1-3 to 0-3 in front at the break.

SCORE OF THE GAME - The hosts second point on 19 minutes was the pick of the game. It came from half back Callum Bradley when he looked to have little time or space but he got his effort away and it sailed between the posts to begin an unanswered 1-6 for the home team.