Sponsorship for Saturday announced

This is a big week for United with their 5th Round Irish Cup tie with Danske Bank Premier League side Coleraine F.C. taking place this Saturday.

United will field on the day wearing a new all red strip sponsored by NFU Mutual – Downpatrick. In addition the team will warm up with training tops sponsored by BEC Electrical and B. Murphy Construction.

The team will take to the field led by young mascots from Ballynahinch and they will be attired with special commemorative tee shirts which have been sponsored by GML Electrical. Everyone at the club would like to express their appreciation to these sponsors, NFU Mutual, BEC Electrical, B. Murphy Construction and GML Electrical for this wonderful gesture which is much appreciated.

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Gilbert Cromie [Chairman], Colin Murray [Manager] and Michale Lurring [GML Electrical] with Mascots Robbie and Sam Lurring holding the special tee shirts.
However it is still not too late for other sponsors to come forward and assist the club as it undertakes this great challenge of representing County Down in this most prestigious of competitions.

The club would welcome contributions to assist with the cost of bus hire for the team as well as other associated expenditure on match balls, medical equipment etc – please get in touch.

Travel arrangements for Saturday’s game against Coleraine

A supporters bus has been booked that will leave the lay-by beside Ballynahinch High School at 12 noon on Saturday for the Irish Cup 5th round match against premiership side Coleraine FC.

It is a 65 seater and anyone wishing to travel with the club at the minimal cost of £5 return should contact a club member or ring the Club Secretary at 07436112954.

Ballynahinch United 0 v 2 Coagh United

INTERMEDIATE CUP 2ND ROUND

United entertained Irish League Championship Division 1 side Coagh United at Millbridge on Saturday before a large crowd, swelled by a big contingent from the County Tyrone village.

The early exchanges were quite even but as the game developed it was United who had the lion share of the play forcing a number of corners and interceptions from the Coagh United keeper.

The midfield of Hunter, Patterson, JJ Carlisle and Stuart McMullan were supplying good quality balls to Cheevers in particular who was causing all sorts of problems however no real scoring opportunities were created although Alan Patterson did cause the Coagh keeper to spill a few balls from crosses. Defensively United were strong with Boal, Hayes, Brashaw and Herron on top of anything that the visitors threw at them however it was obvious that they were going to be dangerous on the break.

Indeed that would be how the opening Coagh goal would come about when a long ball out from their defence fell kindly for their forward and as Hayes went to challenge him he noticed keeper Brian McMullan off his line and he lobbed a delicate shot over his head and into the net.

In the second half United continued to play neat attractive football and shortly after half time it took a superb save from the Coagh keeper to deny Stuart McMullan an equaliser. Soon after Coagh made it 2-0 when an attacking move down the left wing ended with a shot into the net from close range to give McMullan no chance.

United battled on in search of an equaliser and despite maintaining a good share of the play they failed to get on the score sheet. Substitutes Jay Smyth, Scott McKibbin and first team debutant McCauley Foster were introduced during the second half and they maintained the fluidity of the team but they were unable to break down an experienced and well drilled Coagh defence.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Festive wishes to all players, committee members, supporters, friends & sponsors who help make this club what it is.

Lets hope the good results and successes gained in 2012 can continue into 2013 and beyond.

Be good and stay safe!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

Club Notes

Both the Swifts and Albion’s league games were postponed due to waterlogged pitches at Civil Service and Drumaness respectively which means that neither will be back into action until Saturday 5th January 2013.

Everyone at the club – be they committee, managers, players and supporters are looking forward with anticipation to the forthcoming Irish Cup 5th Round Cup tie against
Danske Bank Premier League side Coleraine. The game takes place on Saturday 12th January 2013 and while United were drawn out of the hat first the cup rules mean that they must travel to their more illustrious opposition.

This has been a fantastic achievement by Colin Murray, his assistant Keith Hamilton and their squad of players who all work fantastically hard week in and week out in training and on the pitch. They are under no illusions that the task they face will be anything other than a David and Goliath struggle however each and every one of them will do their level best.

Every week both home and away the team are privileged to have an enthusiastic group of supporters who encourage them along and this will also be something very special for them to look forward to and enjoy no matter what the result is.

Club Chairman Gilbert Cromie who was present at the Cup Draw event joked afterwards that ‘he had been sent specifically to get a top Premier League side and that he had delivered’ however such an outcome has been almost unbelievable and many folk around the club are still in a state of shock. This is the third big success that the club have achieved in the second half of 2012 which has seen club man Jimmy Brown win the Hughes Insurance Volunteer of the Year followed up quickly by Hannah Majury recently winning a Female Coach of the Year award.

The Club Committee are now working hard to make arrangements for the big day and details will be made available shortly however anyone who would be interested in travelling with the club to this big match should contact a member of committed as soon as possible to book a place. Any local businesses or individuals who would be interested in sponsoring the club for match balls, training gear or the like thus taking advantage of the publicity that this game will attract should also contact the club as soon as possible.

The Committee, Managers and Players of Ballynahinch United would take this opportunity of wishing all of its supporters, sponsors as well as the local media a Very Happy Christmas and Happy New Year and our thanks for everything that you do for us.