win

The potential shown by our wonderful U14 team all season came to glorious fruition in The Sportsground this afternoon when they got the better of a fine Galwegians team to win the Connacht Cup in stunning style.

The fundamentals, flair, passion, poise, precision, hard-work, dedication and determination required to win big games was on view on College Road today as the team from the Moy deservedly claimed a famous victory.

Ballina began brilliantly and were 19-8 clear at the interval after tries from highly influential duo, Sam Callinan and Fiachna Barrett and kicks from outstanding out-half Harry West.

The large Ballina following knew that the cup was far from won at that stage and that indeed proved to be the case as the Galway side came right back at them early in the second period.

Galwegians looked to spread the ball to their wingers at every opportunity and got in for a converted try just minutes after the resumption. That closed the gap to 19-15 and the Galwegian following found their voice in no uncertain fashion.

However, Ballina were in no mood to be overhauled and every single boy in green stood up and was counted. The tackles were ferocious, the line speed was decisive and Galwegians weren’t allowed a moment’s peace on the ball.

Then, a fine Ballina try from the powerful Seamus Mason unleashed scenes of great jubilation in the crowd and West’s conversion left the scoreboard reading 26-15.

The game was going Ballina’s way at that stage and Galwegians knew they had to pull something out of the hat if they were going to turn the tide. The Blues swarmed forward but a moment of magic from West finished the game as a contest.

He gained possession just inside his own half and set off on a run that set The Sportsground alight. He slalomed his way past flailing opponents and touched down to the delight of the Ballina battalions, before converting his own score.

The fine Galwegians team never threw in the towel and deservedly got in for a late try but they were never going to catch the Ballina side who celebrated joyously at the final whistle.

This was a victory for the collective – a total and complete team victory. Each and every squad member played their part and wrote their name in club history.

The performance today says a lot for the talent and desire of this squad. On Saturday night in Dublin, Jack Ginty was very narrowly pipped to an Irish boxing title in The National Stadium, yet he proudly wore the green on the wing for Ballina in The Sportsground today.
Many of the squad also played GAA Feile matches yesterday for their local clubs and left heart and soul on the pitch before preparing for BRFC’s big day in The Sportsground.
That, sporting ability of this group has been harnessed, developed and inspired wonderfully by their coaches Richard West and John Gawley and both men deservedly wore broad smiles in Galway this afternoon.

Well done guys! Enjoy the celebrations!

BALLINA: Alex Moran, Darragh Walsh, Daniel Boland, Sean Murphy, Jack Gawley ( C ), Alex Hennigan, Ciaran Boland, Fiachna Barrett, David Feeney, Harry West, Seamus Mason, Sam Callinan, Liam Golden, John Ginty, Paul Brennan, Patrick Morrin, Ronan McLoughlin, James Rafter, Liam Connor, Iarla Quinn, Mark Barrett, Michael McHale, Tagdh Staunton, Kian Meryeink, Eoin Fox, Cormac Jackson, Aaron O’Malley