BALLELA travelled to a sodden Kilcleif to play Ballygalget on Tuesday night in the Junior Championship replay.

There was a determination among the Ballela squad that they were going to put last week's poor performance behind them.

The game started at a ferocious pace with hurls breaking at every clash, this was a game were the young Ballela boys turned to men. Ballela soon got into their passing rhythm despite some hard challenges, which were going unpunished by the officials, and this was rewarded when Malachy Magee struck a fine point after an excellent team move. Ballygalget replied with a point to even the game and put the local support in good voice.

This was as close as Ballygalget got to Ballela for the remainder of the game as Ballela's hurling reached its peak during this game in the second half.

Ballela regained the lead with a fine length of the pitch move, which was finished by Eugene Magee as he turned and put the sliotar over the bar.

From the puck out Noel Burns won a free on the half way line. Malachy hurled the sliotar into the danger area with the Ballela forwards advancing; the 'Galget defence panicked as they dropped the sliotar into the roof of the net. Ballela could see the Ards team were there for the taking.

Despite this setback Ballygalget clawed a point back from a harshly awarded free.

Both teams were giving their all as they knew they had a semi final championship appearance waiting. Ballela built from the back as Mal Magee collected a short puck out from Gary, Mal then fed it into Noel burns in the half forward position and he struck over an excellent point despite being under severe pressure from Tom Coulter.

Indeed, this was a duel which would continue to the final whistle.

This score lifted the Ballela lads and they further extended their lead as Dan Doran rifled over from just over the half way line.

Ballela were now leading a rattled Ballygalget team by 1-04 to 0-03. The young Ballela side were playing entertaining hurling and this was too much for some as a 'Galget player was somewhat harshly sent off, despite being one of the least physical challenges of the game.

This seemed to galvanise Ballygalget as they went on to score two consecutive points to narrow the gap. Ballela retaliated with another point from Eugene Magee despite being tightly marked after his exploits last week.

Ballela's midfield partnership of Joe Cosgrave and Johnny McCusker were running the game as Johnny struck over his first and most important score of the match. This point silenced the crowd slightly.

Mal Magee then added to Ballela's lead with a third point from the half back who was having an outstanding game.

Noel Burns (jnr) then added his second of the game. Ballela had dominated the half and the lead of five points could have been a lot more.

Ballela stayed on the field for the halftime team talk as Ballygalget headed for the shelter of the changing rooms.