Tag: John McMenamin

End of Season Awards 2021 – 2022

Ballynahinch United held their End of Season Awards Dinner at Spa Golf Club. A jubilant night despite the club’s final league standings. An exceptional meal was followed by the presentation of the club’s awards.

Diarmuid Lavery won the Swifts’ Leading Goalscorer award with 9 goals in 16 games, including a hat-trick away to Ballyvea IIs.

Managers Gareth Bingham and David Teggarty awarded their award to John McMenamin. The Swifts’ captain was a rock at the heart of the team’s defence. He proved this with outstanding performances for the first team at the latter end of the season.

The Swifts’ Players’ Player of the Year award was presented to Jamie McNeill. The young midfielder had an excellent season and continues to grow as a key member of the team. At just 18, there’s plenty of years ahead for Jamie at the club.

Matthew Shaw picked up United’s Leading Goalscorer award, bagging 14 goals in just 11 appearances, a goal every 66 minutes, including a hat-trick against both Barn United and Downshire YM. His goals also saw him pick up the Club Leading Goalscorer award.

The Manager’s Player of the Year went to Ross Murray. His performances saw him score 5 goals including the winenr against Downshire YM early in the season. His blistering pace and twinkle toes always cause trouble for the opposition.

The Big One, Players’ Player of the Year, went to Club Stalwart and ever-present Stuart McMullan. Having first picked up the award in 2012/13 and again in 2014/15, Stuart now has the coveted trophy for the third time. 25 consistent appearances and 3 Player of the Match awards and a hatful of assists helped the votes go his way.

Next, the Club’s Young Player of the Year award went to Luke Curry who performaned excellently for both teams when required.

Carlisles’ Fine Wines kindly donated a Gin Hamper to our raffle, this was won by Matthew Shaw.

Big thanks to Carlisles, Spa Golf Club and DJ Phil Cool who provided the entertainment on the evening.

Awards

Club

Young Player of the Year

  • Luke Curry

Club Leading Goalscorer

  • Matthew Shaw

Firsts

Players’ Player of the Year

  • Stuart McMullan

Manager’s Player of the Year

  • Ross Murray

Leading Goalscorer

  • Matthew Shaw

Swifts

Players’ Player of the Year

  • Jamie McNeill

Manager’s Player of the Year

  • John McMenamin

Leading Goalscorer

  • Diarmuid Lavery

Match Report: B United 2 – 2 Dundonald FC

Saturday 25 September

Match Sponsor: Ulster Property Sales – Ballynahinch

A point apiece

After last week’s Border Regiment Cup victory, Ballynahinch United returned to league action and entertained Dundonald at The Millbridge.

Continue reading Match Report: B United 2 – 2 Dundonald FC

Match Report: Barn United 2 v 2 Ballynahinch United

United travelled to Carrickfergus for this league encounter following their first win of the season the previous week. Barn United are currently positioned in the top four in the division so this would prove to be a stern challenge. The early exchanges were fairly even with United’s rear guard of Jack Davis, Alan Patterson, Scott Brashaw and Paul Dickson defending resolutely. In midfield Greg Allison, Gavin Crawford, David Kelly and Stuart McMullan kept possession of the ball whilst also preventing the home team from getting the ball to their dangerous forwards. Ian McMullan and Ross Murray worked tirelessly in their forward positions giving the Barn defenders little peace throughout the whole game.

United’s hard work was undone in the 35th minute when a Barn winger cut in from the left and ran across the penalty area before unleashing a shot which went into the net despite a great effort by John McMenamin to save it. Despite this set back United pressed forward and when they won a corner before half time Alan Patterson rose at the back post to head home Jack Davis’s superb delivery. The second half followed the trend of the first with the home team taking the lead again after 65 minutes through a slice of good fortune when a deflected shot crept into the net despite McMenamin clawing it onto the post in a desperate attempt to save it.

As United pressed for an equaliser the game opened up and the home team almost took a two goal lead however McMenamin pulled off a spectacular save to keep his team in it.

Manager Alan Davis introduced all three of his substitutes, Ben Wilson, Alex Burtney and Corey Fitzpatrick, in an effort to breathe new life into his team and it most certainly did the trick. Birthday boy Ian McMullan was the hero for United as he ran onto a through ball to crash the ball past the home goalkeeper to give United a deserved and hard earned point.

Next Saturday United entertain Portaferry in a league game at Millbridge.

Match Report: Ballynahinch United Swifts 2 – 1 Ballynagross Seconds

Ballynahinch United Swifts entertained Ballynagross Seconds at the Millbridge on Saturday last. Manager Alan Davis had to shuffled his squad due to a number of first team call ups and absentees however it gave him the opportunity to see some new faces and some players getting starting places for the first time.

From the start the Swifts settled quickly and played at a high tempo however it was the visitors who took the lead from the first corner of the game. Despite this set back the young Swifts team followed their game plan and were soon on attack and were level within five minutes when Gregg Allison beat the Ballynagross right back for pace to deliver and quality cross which Dave Griffiths slotted home.

Alan Massey and Aaron McCaffrey controlled central midfield opening up the game to both sides of the pitch. Graeme McMullan and Alex Burtney were providing the danger on the left wing with their superb linking overlapping and throwing in dangerous crosses.

Influential in creating the second goal was Craig Tate who pounced terrier like on a startled centre half and his poor clearance fell to Griffiths who struck a superb shot 25yrds out past a started goalkeeper.

In the closing stages of the first half Swifts keeper John McMenamin was called on to make several saves to prevent the half ending all square.

In the second half some adjustments to positions on the park for players ensured to all intent and purposes it was one way traffic as the Swifts tried to create a third goal to put the game out of the oppositions reach. New signing Niall Tyndall, Ben Onhua and Dylan Fitzpatrick coped with the Ballynagross breaks. McMullan who’d hit the bar earlier had another shot saved while Allison through some creative work went close twice but was thwarted by the Ballynagross keeper.

Massey and McCaffrey tried their luck from distance but that third goal proved elusive. New signing Lorenzo Fucas made a substitute appearance along with Blaine and Jay to keep the tempo going.

Ballynagross proved to be an extremely competitive team contributing to an exciting game that despite the Swifts superior possession defended resolutely whist being dangerous on the counter attack. In the end the home side managed the game well particularly in a final frantic five minutes to get take all three points and achieve their third victory of the season.

This weekend the Swifts travel to Kirkistown in the league.