Mayo Super League

                                                                            By Patrick Hennelly

Ballina Town 2

Ballinrobe Town 1

IN a game in which Ballina Town will feel lucky to have garnered the full quotation of league points, Ballinrobe Town can certainly have been proud of their efforts on Sunday afternoon, as the South Mayo men deserved a share of the spoils, for their sheer work-rate and endeavour, at Beleek Park, on Sunday afternoon.

It looked like that was going to be the case until a free-kick from Ballina’s Gary Grant on 80 minutes, scuppered Martin McDonald’s troop’s hopes of salvaging a share of the spoils.

In the opening day of the new Super League season, Ballina got off to the perfect start as early as the fifth minute. A handball from a Ballinrobe player inside the area, forced Referee Pat Foley to point to the penalty spot, much to the disdain of the home bench. Philip Devers was coolness personified with the strike and the leather rustled the back of Damien Fitzpatrick’s net.

On 22 minutes, Ballinrobe could well have restored parity. A through ball from the visitor’s midfield, released J. P. O’Gorman but the latter scuffed his effort harmlessly wide.

There was always the threat of poaching Ballina counter-attacking moves and on 31 minutes, the Ballinrobe custodian Damien Fitzpatrick, was forced into action as he thwarted Vinny Lavelle’s well struck effort.

Ballinrobe’s best chance of the half occurred on 34 minutes. O’Gorman linked up with striker partner Nicky Moran, however the latter’s effort lacked power and accuracy, and the advancing Niall Gallagher made a routine save.

Just before the break, Ballinrobe almost pinched the leveller, but the industrious James McTigue’s strike from outside the area, whistled narrowly over the crossbar.

Following the half-time pep-talks’, it was evident that McDonalds’ troops were fired up for the second period and just three minutes into the second and penultimate half, parity was restored. A marvellous left-sided free-kick from the lively Kevin Keane, was sent into a crowded goal area and McTigue met the ball with a tidy header which rustled the back of the Ballina net.

Ballina are dangerous from set-pieces and on 56 minutes, Devers was unlucky to see his free-kick fizz inches over a relieved Fitzpatrick’s crossbar.

In what was an entertaining clash, the visitors could well have filched the lead on 58 minutes. Shane O’Malley and Shane Donnellan splendidly combined, as O’Malley launched a long ball, and after cutting inside the host’s penalty area, the marauding Donnellan saw his effort superbly pushed way by the advancing and alert Gallagher.

In the top flight of Mayo football, you cannot switch off at any stage of a league clash and on 80 minutes, the hosts took full advantage of perhaps a lack of concentration from the visitors. A free-kick from out near the left-wing, was taken by Gary Grant and his swerving strike deceived the Ballinrobe defence and their custodian, and the leather sailed into the top corner of the red and white net, much to the dismay of the away faithful.

With the last kick of the game, the visitors could well have snatched a share of the spoils. Following some neat build-up play, a through ball was sent towards O’Gorman but after cutting inside the area the striker saw his effort sail off target.

In the end, Ballinrobe deserved a share of the spoils, but the Super League is a tough footballing environment and sometimes you do not always get what you deserve.

However, similar performances from the red and white during the course of the season could well garner some vital league points.

As for the hosts, Ballina will have been happy to have got their season off to a winning start, as they hope to build on the promise which they showed during last season and once again launch a title bid.  

Ballina Town: Niall Gallagher, Dwayne Helly, Daniel O’Hara, Tom O’Connor, Derek Tansey, Gary Grant, Vinny Lavelle, Pat Duffy, Philip Devers, Michael Duffy, Eugene Gorman.

Sub: Anthony Breen for M. Duffy (80).

Ballinrobe Town: Damien Fitzpatrick, Shane Donnellan, Shane Ryan, Shane O’Malley, Dave McDonnell, Maurice Walsh, Enda Reilly, James McTigue, Nicky Moran, J. P. O’Gorman, Kevin Keane.

Subs: Pawel Kurleto for Ryan (inj, 54), Piotv Wala for McTigue (inj, 84).