Ballinamallard United Reserves 8-0 Mountjoy

A Justin McBride hat-trick helped Ballinamallard to a convincing 8-0 victory over  Mountjoy, as they started their division two campaign in impressive style.

Last year’s unbeaten division three champions cruised through their opening fixture, with two goals from Jack Beatty and one apiece for John Edgar, Dylan Donnelly and Cameron Lucas.

Manager Ally Irwin felt the score line was an accurate indication of their supremacy, and a deserved reward for the hard work his players have put in during pre-season.

“I thought we were dominant in all areas,” he said.

“It was as complete an attacking performance as you could get, but what was even more pleasing for me was to limit  Mountjoy to as few shots as they got and to keep a clean sheet.

"I’m delighted for the boys because it is a wonderful reward for them after five hard weeks of pre-season.

"Through pre-season, a lot was asked of them, but I always knew we would have a positive start to the season because no matter how much we asked of them, at no point did anyone complain.

"They knew this was part of the process and everyone has been switched on to what we want to do this year.

"It is a nice reward for them and it is a nice start, but it is only that. We still have 17 more games to go.

The Mallards made a fast start and John Edgar, who committed to the Reserve side during the week, was central to their early play.

He set up Jack Beatty, and although his shot from eight yards was well saved, from Shane Speak’s resulting corner the debutant striker headed in past Gareth Barbour.

The home team continued to press forward and  Edgar fired over the bar, Conor Stewart had a shot saved and Barbour made a diving stop from Beatty before they added a second when Cameron Lucas and Stewart combined down the right and Stewart’s low cross was side-footed home at the back post by McBride.

Edgar had a goal-bound shot blocked by a defender before right-back Lucas added a  third with a low shot across the keeper after Beatty held the ball up on the edge of the penalty area.

Edgar then got on the scoresheet just before halftime when he collected  Beatty’s pass and rounded the keeper.

The goals continued to flow in the second half. Two minutes after the interval Adam  Wallace threaded a pass through for Justin McBride to fire high past the keeper to make it 5-0.

After an hour Beatty collected Lucas’ pass on the edge of the penalty area and turned to fire a shot low into the bottom corner, and three minutes later substitute Dylan  Donnelly added a sixth with a first-time volley from Aaron Smyton’s left-wing cross.

Adam McCreery headed wide of the post and Nathan Sheery had an effort that came back off the crossbar as Ballinamallard continued to create chances.

McBride spurned a great opportunity to complete his hat-trick moments later when he fired over the bar from six yards out, but he made amends with eight minutes remaining when he collected Smyton’s cross and curled an effort into the far corner to complete the victory.