Ballina 36
University of Galway 20
Ballina are in the Plate final after this high-scoring clash with University of Galway on Sunday.
The Moysiders began with serious intent, attacking the University line with repeated assaults. However, the students were not to be rolled over by the incessant attacks, showing a solid defence.
Eventually, the inevitable materialised, with Sean O’Connell leading the way and Alan Duffy powered over the line to score out wide on the right. Conor Connolly added the conversion to get the scoreboard ticking over after five minutes.
Club captain Luke Sweeney brought delight to the match day sponsors, J Sweeney Bloodstock, when he secured the next score for Ballina, with a typically tenacious effort, driving through a melee of students after great work by Dylan Rice and Danny Donegan.
The students managed to break out of defence and with some good handling approached the Ballina 22 when they were awarded a penalty by referee, Cian Hough, which they kicked to put the score at 14-3.
End to end attack by Ballina, where Ben Matheson was spraying passes with aplomb, kept Ballina motoring. Craig McCormick, directing operations from full-back helped to launch an attack from which Brian Heffernan was to benefit, scoring a fine try which Connolly converted. Duffy added another try to put Ballina ahead by 26-3 at the halftime break.
Although the Ballina forwards were doing all the scoring, Ronan Molloy and Dan Sweeney in the centre were making great use of the possession to push forward. Paul Brennan and Cian Anderson were threatening on the wings. A slick move from the Ballina backline gave Ballina good position to allow Billy McVann to burrow over to score out wide on the left.
The students hit back with a try of their own before Mark O’Dowd and Michael Collins combined well to make space for Conor Boyce to get over for a score.
Ballina had made numerous changes at that stage, introducing Niall Feeney, Oisin Smyth Rouse and Ian West to push on. The college side concluded the scoring with two fine tries to put the final score at 36-20 in favour of men in green.
Ballina have now qualified for final versus Ballyhaunis on Sunday March 29th in the Dexcom Stadium.

BALLINA
Craig McCormick, Cian Anderson, Daniel Feeney, Ronan Molloy, Paul Brennan, Conor Connolly, Ben Matheson, Sean O’Connell, Billy McVann, Danny Donegan, Alan Duffy, Brian Heffernan, Conor Boyce, Dylan Rice, Luke Sweeney (Capt.). Subs: Mark O’Dowd, Michael Collins, Niall Feeney, Ian West, Oisin Smyth Rouse.
UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY
Fiachra O’Griofa, Ross Cleary, Jack Fitzgerald, John Kennedy, Eoghan Cullen, Ben Clarke, Dan O’Connor, Liam Melia, Oscar Soden, Jimmy Maunsell, Toto McCabe, Jacob Day, Pater Magliocco (Capt), Shane McDonnell, Shane Devlin. Subs: Sean Crowley, Marc McElhinney, Leo Layden, Dan O’Connell, Gavin Lawlor, Hugh Keavney.
Referee: Cian Hough