As is always the case, East Antrim Battalion Boys Brigade holds its 5 a-sides over three Saturdays in January and Saturday past was the turn of the senior boys. This competition is for boys in the BB from 5 th year and above and is always the most keenly contested of the three events.

Companies from Larne, Carrickfergus, Whitehead, Ballyclare and Ballyeaston were all represented through 11 companies in all.

The two teams from Ballyclare area, 1st Ballyclare and 1st Ballyeaston both did themselves proud. Ballyeaston were put in a difficult group, with 2nd Carrick and 1st Whitehead both expected to qualify but Ballyeaston upset the form book and won three of their four matches. Their only defeat in the group stages was to 1st Whitehead, a narrow 2-1 reverse. This saw Ballyeaston comfortably through as runners up in the group, deservedly knocking out more illustrious opponents such as 5 th Carrick and 2nd Carrick.

1st Ballyclare had a much more difficult progression to the semis, somewhat of a roller coaster ride! Traditional rivalry against 7th Carrick was first up and Ballyclare were very slow to get going. 7th capitalised on this and came away with a 1-0 win. Disappointing start for Ballyclare but a well deserved defeat.

Second match was against 4th Carrick and Ballyclare got into the groove. A very comfortable 3-0 victory was gained, goals from Graeme Gould, David Thompson and Steven McMullan. Third match was another comfortable affair, hammering 5 against 5 th Carrick B without reply. Graeme Gould got two in this game, as did David Thompson with Graham Montgomery getting the other.

This set up a crunch final game against 1st Larne. Only a win would guarantee progression. A defeat would be virtual elimination. The pressure seemed to get to the players and they crashed to a 3-1 defeat. Trailing 2-0, David Thompson pulled one back but Ryan Garrett, who tore the Ballyclare defence apart throughout, added a third for Larne and saw them through as group winners, due to face Ballyeaston in the semi.

1st Ballyclare now had to hope 4th Carrick could take something from their final game against 7th Carrick. A win for 7th would lift them above 1st Ballyclare; a draw would take Ballyclare through on goal difference. A nervous 5 minutes was ahead for the travelling Ballyclare support and players and 7th taking an early lead did not help. 4th were thrown a life line when the referee awarded a penalty but 4th captain Paul Stewart missed, hitting straight at the keeper. 7th looked to be holding on when a debatable equaliser was scored by 4th . The match finished 1-1 and Ballyclare, very fortuitously, were through.

The first semi final saw Ballyeaston play 1st Larne and after full time, the game finished 1-1. Ballyeaston were the better team and will be disappointed not to get through but they now had the agony of penalties to go through. Three penalties each and a single miss from Ballyeaston saw them eliminated. 1st Larne progressed to the final.

The other semi was 1st Ballyclare against 1st Whitehead and an early 2 goal lead for Ballyclare was enough to see them through to the final. Goals from Steven McMullan and Graeme Gould gave Ballyclare another opportunity to win the senior title, one they have never won before.

The final was an entertaining game. Ballyclare dominated throughout and had the better chances but could not put any of them away. The Larne keeper made a succession of superb stops, most memorably a double save to deny Steven McMullan and then David Thompson. Graeme Gould did a marking job on Ryan Garrett and prevented him having the influence on the game he had in the group match. Unfortunately, luck was not with the Ballyclare boys in the final and a swift counter attack, when the excellent throughout David Thompson let his man get goal side, led to a goal for Larne so late in the game that Ballyclare did not have the time to reply. The game finished 1-0 to 1st Larne and 1st Ballyclare would have to wait another year to get their names on the trophy.

The full Ballyclare squad will all be eligible to play next year and hopefully this continuity will bring the trophy home next year