Hard-earned win for our U18.5s

On a sun-splashed Sunday, our fine U18.5 squad went to Creggs and mined a hard-earned league win thanks to an almighty effort from all in green.
The Moy boys had the strong wind on their backs in the opening half and kicked well to the corners but found scores hard to come by, which meant that they trailed 12-7 at the short whistle.
The wind favoured Creggs in the second period and Ballina were up against it. The home side poured forward but the boys in green soaked up the pressure and when new players Niall Stokes and Dylan Egan forced a turnover, it led to a try for Craig McCormick which showed the home side that Ballina were up for the fight.
The impressive Brian Boland came off the bench in the 45th minute and he made some storming runs which led to him scoring a crucial try as Ballina fought their way into the wind as time ticked away.
That score inspired the Moy boys and they spent the next ten minutes in the Creggs half, which was hugely telling in the overall story.

The game had started with wind-assisted Ballina on the front foot and Craig McCormick sent a difficult penalty inches wide after just five minutes. However, the guests didn't have long to wait for the opening score when scrum-half Billy McVann crossed the whitewash in the tenth minute after finding room off a lineout and darting over. Craig kicked the conversion and the scoreboard read 0-7.

Impressive play from Creggs prevented Ballina from adding to their tally for the rest of the half and the home side got over for a try of their own in the 30th minute before adding another seven points just before half time to lead 12-7 at the break and install themselves as likely winners.

Ballina reassessed their opportunities at the interval and began the new half in determined fashion. Craig crashed over in the 47th minute to level the scores at 12 apiece and when Brian Boland began to make his presence felt, the entire outlook of the afternoon changed utterly.

Brian crashed over for a try in the 55th and when Craig added the conversion, Ballina were in front, 12-19 with time ticking away.
Creggs tried to find a foothold in the Ballina half, but the visitors were on fire and kept the home side pinned back in their own territory with composed and mature play.

This pressure led to Creggs infringing near their own posts five minutes from the end and Craig converted the penalty to leave Ballina in a healthy position, 12-22 clear with the clock in their favour.

To their credit, Creggs refused to throw in the towel and were rewarded with a try in the last play of the day, but it wasn't enough to reel in Ballina and the boys in green headed home with a precious win in their luggage.

BALLINA: Niall Stokes, Gerard McKenna, Sean Byrne, Dylan Egan, Stephen Gibbons, William Stevens, Conor Boyce, Christopher Healy, Billy McVann, Craig McCormick, Rian Donnellan Hegarty, Sean Treacy, Michael Collins, Davis Purins, Oisin Rouse, Brian Boland,