ON Saturday our U-16 Boys made the long road trip to Dunmore and came home with a place secured in the Connacht Plate semi-final.
Conditions were wet and windy, but spirits were high. Having suffered a close defeat to Dunmore only a month ago in the league, the Ballina boys were looking to reverse that setback, but little did they know the excitement awaiting them.
Ballina came out of the blocks like terriers with an early try after two minutes against the wind. Dunmore didn’t plan on lying down and battled back to score a try of their own and so the arm-wrestle began. Nip and tuck, tit for tat, what a feast of rugby.
There was little or nothing between the teams and Dunmore went to the interval leading narrowly 22-17.
The hard-fought nature of the contest continued after the resumption with both teams defending well but Ballina enjoyed the majority of territory and possession in the second half.
They powered forward again and again and were unfortunate not to cross the whitewash on a number of occasions as they piled on the pressure.
The Moysiders eventually broke through five minutes from the end to level the scores at 22-all and set up a grandstand finish.
Ballina caught the restart and went back to business. Under fierce pressure Dunmore defended well, but coughed up a penalty 30 metres out. Up stepped Finn Roche and he coolly slotted the kick between the posts.
The ref said there was still a minute to play and Dunmore retrieved the restart. However, intense pressure from the Moysiders forced the knock-on and the ref looked at the clock and blew the full-time whistle.
Scorers on the day were: Tries; Dalibor Pasiechko, Joseph O’Boyle (2), Finn Roche: Conversion: Finn Roche: Penalties: Finn Roche
This was a great victory for Ballina - one that will be recalled for years to come. Now, all eyes turn to the semi-final and the adventure awaiting there.
#ontothenextone

Tries: Dalibor Pasiechko, Joseph O’Boyle (2), Finn Roche.

Conversions: Finn Roche

Penalties: Finn Roche