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Mayo derby ends in great win for Ballina
Michael Gallagher2 Nov - 11:38
Castlebar 13-20 Ballina
A hard-fought and entertaining Mayo derby lit up Cloondeash on Saturday night as Ballina edged past the home side to maintain their unbeaten record in the Connacht J1A League.
Castlebar were tough and defiant opponents at all times and enjoyed a six-point lead ten minutes into the second half, but Ballina finished strongly to win by seven.
Defences dominated the first half with big tackles setting the tone. Neither side constructed any effective sequences of play during the early stages of the game.
A crunching tackle by Thomas Hannigan which drove into the heart of the Castlebar defence set the stall for a Ballina scrum where the combined power of Sean O’Connell, Gary Kavanagh and Conor Mason proved too much for the Castlebar front row.
A high tackle on Cian Anderson was penalised, giving him the opportunity to put Ballina into the lead. Unfortunately the ball tilted just as the Ballina outhalf struck it and it flew off target.
Young Dylan Rice was next to shine for Ballina, breaking from the back of the lineout to track the ball to the Castlebar out-half, Sean O’Grady, who was tackled powerfully by the marauding Rice.
As the match progressed Stephen Rogan, the Castlebar full-back took the opportunity to kick a penalty, giving Castlebar a 3-0 lead.
Ballina looked to hit back and Brian Donohoe, another of the youngsters making an impact, took the game deep into the Castlebar '22 with a powerful carry and drive and the ball was moved quickly by Oisin Rouse Smyth to Eddy Dodd who was stopped with a Castlebar tackle. A penalty to Ballina for the tackler not rolling away, saw the men in green opt for a scrum to capitalise on their dominance. Castlebar were penalised again and a sequence of scrum, penalty, scrum, penalty, scrum, penalty followed.
The Ballina supporters anticipated a yellow card or a penalty try at that stage, but with nothing forthcoming from the referee, Billy Ruane broke left and was held up just short of the line and the teams went to the interval with Castllebar enjoying a 3-0 lead.
The Ballina coaches made changes at half-time introducing new personnel and new energy. Both defences continued to dominate, extinguishing opportunities promptly before Rogan added a further three points for Castlebar after 10 minutes of the second half.
This sparked off the Ballina attack. At last, a sequence of phases culminated with Ian West making a searing break, stretching the Castlebar defence before releasing Liam Jones with a time-perfect pass. Jones scorched through the gap to cross the line, touching down under the posts. Conor Connolly added the conversion.
Ballina had found their mojo and stepped up their attack.
Ronan Molloy made a great break, passing to Jones who was tackled into touch.
A clever line-out play from Conor Boyce released Luke Sweeney who gained 40 metres. This was carried onwards by Molloy. The threatening attack by Ballina fizzled out as a long pass out wide on the left drifted forward and referee, Eoin Staunton, whistled Ballina back.
Then, Connolly’s delicate chip over the top set Ballina off on a further attack. Paul Brennan this time capitalising on the work of Gerry McKenna and Mike Finnerty who were now powering the Ballina pack. Brennan’s burst outpaced his opponents, to score a fine try. Connolly added the conversion to put the score at 6-14 in favour of Ballina.
A powerful carry by Sweeney, decorated with a cheeky sidestep brought Ballina into the Castlebar half where a late tackle on Connolly was penalised. Dusting himself down, Connolly converted this from 40 metres.
Ballina were attacking again on the right when a floated pass was intercepted by Castlebar in their own half. A despairing tackle by West, followed by another by Ruane right on the Ballina line appeared to have saved the day for Ballina but referee Staunton interpreted it otherwise and awarded a penalty try to Castlebar, putting the score at 13-17 with two minutes remaining, but Ballina were determined not to be overtaken.
Jones attacked the kick off with his Gaelic skills to the fore, Danny Donnegan carried it onwards. From the ensuing proceedings, Ballina were awarded a penalty and Connolly had the last word, kicking for three points and victory for Ballina on a 13-20 scoreline.
Man of the match was the outstanding Dylan Rice.
That was Ballina's third league win on the road after victories over Creggs, Connemara and Castlebar and team-coaches Murphy, Morrow and McNulty should be smiling.
On Saturday next, Ballina will play Creggs in the Cawley Cup final in Crowley Park in Galway at 2.30pm.
That will be followed by league games against Buccaneers (away) on Sunday, November 30 at 2.30pm; Tuam at home on Saturday, December 6 at 7.30pm and Ballinasloe at home on Saturday, December 13.
BALLINA
Paul Brennan, Eddy Dodd, Oisin Smyth Rouse, Ronan Molloy, Liam Jones, Cian Anderson, Billy Ruane, Conor Mason, Gary Kavanagh, Sean O’Connell, Thomas Hannigan, Brian Donohoe, Conor Boyce, Dylan Rice, Luke Sweeney (Capt).
Replacements: Danny Donnegan, Gerard McKenna, Mike Finnerty, Ian West, Conor Connolly, Craig McCormick, Jason Duggan.
CASTLEBAR
Stephen Rogan, Enzo Rago, Luke Staunton, Matthew Flannelly, Cathal Fahey, Sean O’Grady, Conor McInerney, Sean Tonra, Carl Jackson, Excel Anselm, Kieran Doocey, Bryan O’Flaherty, Bryn Graham, Aaron Wootton.
Repacements: Richard Sweeney, Donnacha Flynn, Adam Murphy, Connor O’Neill, Oisin Moran
Castlebar were tough and defiant opponents at all times and enjoyed a six-point lead ten minutes into the second half, but Ballina finished strongly to win by seven.
Defences dominated the first half with big tackles setting the tone. Neither side constructed any effective sequences of play during the early stages of the game.
A crunching tackle by Thomas Hannigan which drove into the heart of the Castlebar defence set the stall for a Ballina scrum where the combined power of Sean O’Connell, Gary Kavanagh and Conor Mason proved too much for the Castlebar front row.
A high tackle on Cian Anderson was penalised, giving him the opportunity to put Ballina into the lead. Unfortunately the ball tilted just as the Ballina outhalf struck it and it flew off target.
Young Dylan Rice was next to shine for Ballina, breaking from the back of the lineout to track the ball to the Castlebar out-half, Sean O’Grady, who was tackled powerfully by the marauding Rice.
As the match progressed Stephen Rogan, the Castlebar full-back took the opportunity to kick a penalty, giving Castlebar a 3-0 lead.
Ballina looked to hit back and Brian Donohoe, another of the youngsters making an impact, took the game deep into the Castlebar '22 with a powerful carry and drive and the ball was moved quickly by Oisin Rouse Smyth to Eddy Dodd who was stopped with a Castlebar tackle. A penalty to Ballina for the tackler not rolling away, saw the men in green opt for a scrum to capitalise on their dominance. Castlebar were penalised again and a sequence of scrum, penalty, scrum, penalty, scrum, penalty followed.
The Ballina supporters anticipated a yellow card or a penalty try at that stage, but with nothing forthcoming from the referee, Billy Ruane broke left and was held up just short of the line and the teams went to the interval with Castllebar enjoying a 3-0 lead.
The Ballina coaches made changes at half-time introducing new personnel and new energy. Both defences continued to dominate, extinguishing opportunities promptly before Rogan added a further three points for Castlebar after 10 minutes of the second half.
This sparked off the Ballina attack. At last, a sequence of phases culminated with Ian West making a searing break, stretching the Castlebar defence before releasing Liam Jones with a time-perfect pass. Jones scorched through the gap to cross the line, touching down under the posts. Conor Connolly added the conversion.
Ballina had found their mojo and stepped up their attack.
Ronan Molloy made a great break, passing to Jones who was tackled into touch.
A clever line-out play from Conor Boyce released Luke Sweeney who gained 40 metres. This was carried onwards by Molloy. The threatening attack by Ballina fizzled out as a long pass out wide on the left drifted forward and referee, Eoin Staunton, whistled Ballina back.
Then, Connolly’s delicate chip over the top set Ballina off on a further attack. Paul Brennan this time capitalising on the work of Gerry McKenna and Mike Finnerty who were now powering the Ballina pack. Brennan’s burst outpaced his opponents, to score a fine try. Connolly added the conversion to put the score at 6-14 in favour of Ballina.
A powerful carry by Sweeney, decorated with a cheeky sidestep brought Ballina into the Castlebar half where a late tackle on Connolly was penalised. Dusting himself down, Connolly converted this from 40 metres.
Ballina were attacking again on the right when a floated pass was intercepted by Castlebar in their own half. A despairing tackle by West, followed by another by Ruane right on the Ballina line appeared to have saved the day for Ballina but referee Staunton interpreted it otherwise and awarded a penalty try to Castlebar, putting the score at 13-17 with two minutes remaining, but Ballina were determined not to be overtaken.
Jones attacked the kick off with his Gaelic skills to the fore, Danny Donnegan carried it onwards. From the ensuing proceedings, Ballina were awarded a penalty and Connolly had the last word, kicking for three points and victory for Ballina on a 13-20 scoreline.
Man of the match was the outstanding Dylan Rice.
That was Ballina's third league win on the road after victories over Creggs, Connemara and Castlebar and team-coaches Murphy, Morrow and McNulty should be smiling.
On Saturday next, Ballina will play Creggs in the Cawley Cup final in Crowley Park in Galway at 2.30pm.
That will be followed by league games against Buccaneers (away) on Sunday, November 30 at 2.30pm; Tuam at home on Saturday, December 6 at 7.30pm and Ballinasloe at home on Saturday, December 13.
BALLINA
Paul Brennan, Eddy Dodd, Oisin Smyth Rouse, Ronan Molloy, Liam Jones, Cian Anderson, Billy Ruane, Conor Mason, Gary Kavanagh, Sean O’Connell, Thomas Hannigan, Brian Donohoe, Conor Boyce, Dylan Rice, Luke Sweeney (Capt).
Replacements: Danny Donnegan, Gerard McKenna, Mike Finnerty, Ian West, Conor Connolly, Craig McCormick, Jason Duggan.
CASTLEBAR
Stephen Rogan, Enzo Rago, Luke Staunton, Matthew Flannelly, Cathal Fahey, Sean O’Grady, Conor McInerney, Sean Tonra, Carl Jackson, Excel Anselm, Kieran Doocey, Bryan O’Flaherty, Bryn Graham, Aaron Wootton.
Repacements: Richard Sweeney, Donnacha Flynn, Adam Murphy, Connor O’Neill, Oisin Moran
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