Annual Dinner and Awards 2023-2024

Ballynahinch United held their annual awards dinner at Spa Golf Club on Saturday evening.

Club Chairman Gilbert Cromie welcomed those present and thanked committee, players, supporters and sponsors for all their hard work during what had been a successful season for both United and Swifts teams. 

Swifts Managers, Gareth Bingham and David Teggarty followed. With one game still to go on Tuesday night due to postponements, they were unable to present the Swifts’ Leading Goalscorer award with four players (John Stevenson and Cameron McKissick [6], Glenn Bennett [5] and Patrick Harkin [4] in with a shout of winning the award. 

However, they were able to present the Manager’s Player of the Year award to John McMenamin, the Swifts ever-present Captain.

John McMenamin is presented the Swifts’ Manager’s Player of the Year award by Gareth Bingham and David Teggarty.

The Swifts’ Players’ Player of the Year award was presented to runaway leader, Cameron McKissick after another solid campaign, including scoring 6 and claiming 2 Player of the Match awards.

Gareth Bingham presents Cameron McKissick with the Swifts’ Players’ Player of the Year award.

Manager Gareth King then presented the First-Team Awards, presenting Robbie Lurring with the Leading Goalscorer Award, with 15 goals.

Then Players’ Player of the Year was awarded to Robbie Lurring, pipping Greg Hall by a single vote. 

Robbie Lurring, First-Team Players’ Player of the Year, and Leading Goalscorer.

Manager’s Player of the Year was then awarded to creative midfielder, David Kelly, after an influential season, assisting 6 and scoring 4 and picking up 4 Player of the Match awards throughout the year.

David Kelly picked up Manager’s Player of the Year for the First-Team.

Gareth presented the club awards too, with Robbie Lurring picking up Club Leading Goalscorer with 16 total goals. Jamie McNeill lifted Most Improved Player after an impressive return following a nasty leg break.

Robbie Lurring, Club Leading Goalscorer (16) and Firsts’ Leading Goalscorer (15).
Jamie McNeill, Most Improved.
Sam Lurring claimed Club Young Player of the Year for the second year running.

Round up

And the winners are…

Club

  • Club Top Goalscorer: Robbie Lurring
  • Trevor McNeice Young Player of the Year: Sam Lurring
  • Most Improved: Jamie McNeill

Firsts

  • Firsts’ Players’ Player of the Year: Robbie Lurring
  • Firsts’ Manager’s Player of the Year: David Kelly 
  • Firsts’ Top Goalscorer: Robbie Lurring

Swifts

  • Barry Hayes Memorial Cup Swifts’ Players’ Player of the Year: Cameron McKissick
  • Swifts’ Manager’s Player of the Year: John McMenamin
  • Swifts’ Top Goalscorer: To be confirmed

Congratulations to all the winners.

Season Statistics 

A full overview of each player’s statistics are available.

Match report: B United 4 – 0 Ballywalter Rec 

Ballynahinch United lined up for their final game of the season against relegation threatened Ballywalter Rec.

United moved the ball well in the early stages with Jamie McNeill and Gregg Allison causing problems on the right.

Despite controlling possession, it took United half an hour to break the deadlock when Graeme McMullan danced on the edge of the box to work an opening to slide Greg Hall through who coolly finished. 

More opportunities fell United’s way but they were unable to convert.

At half-time, Manager Gareth King enticed the team to go out with a bang…

But in the second half, the home side started slowly and Ballywalter looked more dangerous, however 15 minutes into the second half, Gregg Allison received the ball near the half way line and used his pace and power to drive towards goal before smashing home to double the league.

A few minutes later, Sam Lurring set Gregg through one-on-one, and he added his second with a calm finish into the bottom corner.

Robbie Lurring exploited the space behind a tiring Ballywalter defence and addes United’s fourth.

Ballynahinch could’ve added more when Gavin Crawford hit the post, and through a goalmouth scramble that was cleared by the away side. 

A good performance to finish the season with four goals and a clean sheet for Stefan Graham. 

The result left Ballynahinch United on 30 points and a confirmed tenth place finish in NAFL Division 1C.

Player of the Match: Jamie McNeill and Gregg Allison 

Line up: Stefan Graham [C], Jamie McNeill (Cameron McKissick), Greg Hall, Sam Lurring, Scott Brashaw, Chris Coleman, Gregg Alisson, Alan Patterson, Glenn Bennett (Gavin Crawford), Graeme McMullan (John McMenamin), Robbie Lurring.

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Match report: B United 0 – 4 St Matthews

Ballynahinch welcomed league leaders to The Millbridge on a rare sunny Saturday.

It was a depleted squad with United missing multiple players through suspension, childcare and holiday. Nonetheless, United were the better team in the opening 20 minutes, playing out from the back despite the bumpy surface.

Continue reading Match report: B United 0 – 4 St Matthews