Home News United fans in long haul trip to cheer on the lads

United fans in long haul trip to cheer on the lads

Friday, 26 June 2009

BALLYMUN United’s loyal band of fans got a welcome helping hand for the 300 mile round trip to the Brandywell to watch their local heroes do battle with the giants of Derry City in the recent FAI Ford Cup clash. Over 50 supporters took advantage of a free bus provided by Ford as part of the motoring company’s ‘Focus on the Footy’ campaign. United supporters were offered the bus after being selected as the away trip winners for the third road tie that pitched Ballymun’s minnows against the mighty Northern Ireland side. Club secretary, Bernard O’Connor, said he was delighted that his supporters were chosen, as it would have been extremely difficult for the majority of them to make the long trip to Derry. “It made a huge difference to the club as it enabled supporters to attend, a lot of whom were able to watch their friends and family members play and although the result did not go our way, it was also a massive boost to the players on the pitch to have supporters at the game to create some atmosphere and get behind the lads,” he said. “We greatly appreciate what Ford did, as it made a big difference to us as the financial burdens of getting supporters to Derry - particularly after a lot of away trips already this year - would have been a big strain on us and it’s great to see a company do this, especially in these tough times.” Sadly the travelling band of fans didn’t get to see their side win as the local lads were on the wrong end of a 6-0 drubbing. However, Derry didn’t have it all their own way with Ballymun restricting them to a solitary one goal lead at half time. A second goal just before the hour mark all but ended the dream and United simply couldn’t cope with Derry substitute Aaron Nash who blasted in a late hat trick shortly after taking the field. A sixth goal in the dying minutes put the final nail in the coffin but United’s travelling band of fans could still be proud that their team had managed to hold out for so long against the famous Premier League club.