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U15s complete perfect season

U15s complete perfect season

Michael Gallagher24 Apr 2018 - 10:24
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Ballina 22-5 Galwegians

There were huge celebrations in Galway on Sunday when our U15s beat Galwegians in the cup final and completed a perfect season.
Already crowned league champions, they gleefully added the cup to their collection with a deserved win over the boys in blue.

It has been an amazing season for this unbeaten Ballina squad.
They won the league scoring 450 points and conceding just 63.
On Sunday afternoon they arrived with their numerous supporters to the Sportsground in Galway for a repeat of last year's cup final against Galwegians.
As it regularly happens at this venue the wind was a factor and following the toss the boys in green were playing into it. Straight from the kick-off Galwegians tore into the Mayo boys and proceeded to build pressure, driving Ballina back and testing the defence in close and out wide with Sean Murphy and Liam Golden throwing their bodies around in defence. Galwegians applied all this pressure but the only reward was a missed penalty.
Slowly the Moy boys grew into the game and worked their way up the park with breaks from Sam Callinan and strong drives from props Hedd Morgan and Patrick Morrin and the back three of Mark Barrett, John Ginty and Seamus Mason, resulting in a rare visit to the Galwegians 22 metre line.
Ballina were about to turn the screw when a turnover for Galwegians resulted in a quick break down field, Ballina stopped the attack but conceded a penalty which was taken quickly and was rewarded with a try out wide which was not converted.
Ballina rallied after this shock and were getting more possession with play taking place around the half way line. Then disaster struck, Jack Gawley who was having a fine game in the loose and the set pieces went down injured and had to be helped off but to the applause of the stands, he was replaced ably by Harry Reagan.
Ciaran Boland who was everywhere on the pitch in attack and defence , broke up field and drove deep into the opposition half, the ball was quickly recycled to Darragh Walsh who went on one of his trademark pick and go drives, the ball was shipped out wide but a ferocious tackle from the Galwegians fullback resulted in a knock on and a scrum awarded to Galwegians.
From the scrum Galwegians elected to shift the ball left, straight into a thunderous tackle from Alex Hennigan. Galwegians spilled the ball and in an instant Alex latched onto it and scored under the posts. The conversion from Harry West left Ballina 7-5 clear.
The Moy boys continued to apply pressure and pinned the Galway team in their own 22.
The Blues tried to run it out but up stepped our smallest player with the biggest heart, John Ginty, with a intercept try.
The supporters had to wait for what seemed like an eternity, as John was running, the defence closed in. The Geesala boy changed course and headed for the corner he was tackled but touched down. After consulting with the touch judge the referee raised his arm, to signal a try. John will never score a more important try for the club and it left Ballina 12-5 clear at the interval.
At the break management replaced both props with Daniel Boland and Cormac Jackson. The second half started with the boys in green gaining a foothold on the Galwegians try line, however Ballina failed to score.
Galwegians had a defensive system tailored to nullify the Ballina attack and the pressure applied on David Feeney and Harry West, Ballina's half backs was immense but slowly these two players wove their magic and drove on their team.
Paul Brennan was brought on at full back and he was called on to make a number of great catches. The game ebbed and flowed. Ballina worked their way up the field and applied pressure time and again, eventually a penalty was awarded which Harry West duly converted to leave it 15-5 and five minutes to go.
Galwegians drove up field looking to close the gap to give themselves a chance but the Moy boys turned over the ball in their own 22. The ball was transferred to the willing hands of flying centre Sam Callinan who drove through the cover, sped down the far wing handing off despairing tackles supported all the way by Seamus Mason, Sam was clear all the way to the posts to put the icing on the cake.
Harry West converted for a 22-5 lead before the referee blew full time and wild celebrations were unleashed.

BALLINA: Hedd Morgan, Darragh Walsh, Patrick Morrin, Sean Murphy, Jack Gawley, Alex Hennigan, Ciaran Boland (Capt), Fiachna Barrett, Davin Feeney, Harry West, Mark Barrett, Sam Callinan, Liam Golden, John Ginty, Seamus Mason, Liam Connor, Daniel Boland, Alex Moran, Thomas O'Boyle, John Ginty, Eoin Fox, Cian Meryerink, Cormac Jackson, Cian Gibbons, Harry Regan

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