Connemara and Ballina both started this game with somewhat depleted squads from recent fixtures but as expected these two sides served up a feast of entertaining rugby. Connemara opened the scoring with Henry O’Toole carving a line through the Ballina defence to score under the posts. Ballina were unfortunate to lose Gerry McKenna to a shoulder injury early in the game.

This concession fired Ballina into action. Dan Feeney exploded out of the midfield making 40 metres before offloading to his brother, Niall on the left wing who pushed on a further 20 metres to score out wide.

Good work by the Ballina forwards where Sean O’Connell and Brian Donohoe were outstanding, created the space for live wire hooker, Billy McVann, to burrow over to score. Craig McCormick added the conversion.

Ballina pushed on looking for another score and were guilty of wasting a number of gilt edged opportunities as the half wore on. A super lineout take by Brian Heffernan set a platform for the Ballina forwards who were dominating to put Donohoe in position to drive to the line and touchdown. Unfortunately the referee adjudged that the touchdown involved a double movement and disallowed the try.

Half time Ballina 12 Connemara 5

The second half exploded into action with Michael O’Toole getting over for a converted try.

With the Ballina backline enjoying good possession provided by their forwards, as Ben Matheson at the base of the scrum distributed left and right. The Ballina centre partnership of Dan Feeney and Ronan Molloy were making great inroads. Feeney scoring a brace in quick succession, an initial try on the right wing followed two minutes later on the left, with a slew of Connemara All Blacks left in his wake.

Ronan Molloy was soon to cut a line through the Connemara defence and sidestepped the fullback to score. McCormick converted and added two further penalties to put Ballina ahead by 34-14.

Harry Regan, recently back from injury was having a stormer from the back of the scrum at number 8. He almost latched onto a long pass with the line at his mercy. Unfortunately he became entangled with the Connemara defender, twisted awkwardly and had to depart from the game with an injury.

Connemara were not finished however, never giving up and got in for three converted tries from Niall Staunton, Marty Conneely and Henry O’Toole. Thankfully for Ballina, they still had a cushion of two points to win 37-35.

Ballina will play University of Galway in the Junior Plate semi final on Saturday or Sunday next in Heffernan park. Date and KO time to be confirmed.