Wallace joy in Burney Cup

The winning goalscorer Ryan Getty said he was “speechless” after grabbing the winning goal just 20 seconds before the final whistle.

“It’s brilliant,” Ryan Getty said. “It’s a great way to send off the year.

“To win it with the last touch of the ball for Wallace is just brilliant,” he added.

Describing the winning moment, Getty commented: “I saw the ball come across to me and lucky enough I got a touch on it. I can’t describe how I feel right now, I’m speechless.

“That was my last game of hockey for Wallace and it’s the school formal on Thursday night, so this makes it 
extra special.”

Getty said he was “nervous before the match”, however his nerves didn’t show when it mattered as the midfielder scored twice in the final, with Andrew O’Hare also on target for Wallace.

“We have a great bunch of guys here,” Getty added. “All season it’s been brilliant. There’s a good mix of the senior guys with the Upper Sixths and then the fourth years coming through. The craic’s been really good and you could see that today in our passing game and the way we played together.

“It’s probably harder to retain the Cup,” he commented. “To do that against Banbridge, who are a quality side, is brilliant. We’ve had two games against them this season, both ending 2-1, one to us and one to them, so to nick it at the end is just brilliant.

“I’d like to thank our coaches Errol Lutton, Gareth Kidd and Neal McKnight for everything they’ve put in this season, without them we wouldn’t be here, and all the supporters who came down, who were just incredible.”

Wallace and Banbridge Academy delivered a thrilling final at Comber Road, as they once again locked horns for Burney Cup glory.

In an all action first 35 minutes, it was Banbridge Academy who opened the scoring, with Jake Rowe converting an unstoppable short corner for the Academy after two minutes.

Wallace tried to hit back straight away, with Captain Sean Murray having a short corner brilliantly saved by Academy keeper Luke Roleston.

On 13 minutes Wallace got the equaliser they were searching for when Ryan Getty slammed home the rebound from a short corner to make
it 1-1.

Wallace’s Andrew O’Hare gave his side the lead on 20 minutes, firing home to give the holders a 2-1 lead.

The Academy, however, are a force to be reckoned with and Johnny McKee brought the scores level once again on 26 minutes when he won a short corner with close control and converted into the top corner to level for the Academy 2-2.

The second half saw both sides have chances, but they were unable to add to the 
scoreline.

Wallace missed a couple of short corners, whilst the Academy had a couple of chances, but it looked like extra time was looming.

However, with just seconds left on the clock, Ryan Getty ensured his side retained the Cup, as he grabbed his second - and the winner - with a tap-in from a cross into the area.

Don’t miss our four page special on Wallace’s win in next week’s Star.