Mayo Super League

By Patrick Hennelly

Ballinrobe Town 0

Claremorris 1

AT The Green on Thursday evening Claremorris collected a vital three points at the expense of their hosts, and in the process register their first league victory of the season.

The first chance of note of this joust occurred on 14 minutes, when a long ball from Ballinrobe’s Maurice Walsh, found J. P. O’Gorman but the striker saw his effort go the wrong side of Shane Macken’s posts.

Claremorris almost pinched the lead on 19 minutes, but following an excellent delivery from Paul Maloney, Niall Kitching saw his close-range effort whistle wide of Damien Fitzpatrick’s goal.

On 25 minutes, the only goal of the game occurred and it was certainly misfortunate from a Ballinrobe perspective. A corner-kick from Maloney, caused confusion in the Ballinrobe goal area and James McTigue headed the leather past his own goalkeeper, much to the dismay of the midfielder.

Claremorris then missed a gilt-edged opportunity of extending their advantage on 30 minutes; however Mick Melee scuffed a close-range effort off target, much to the relief of Damien Fitzpatrick.

On 34 minutes, Ballinrobe could well have garnered the equaliser. But following a neat lay-off from O’Gorman, McTigue failed in his bid to atone for his earlier own goal as his stinging drive was parried away to safety by Shane Macken.

Three minutes inside the second period, Ballinrobe created the first chance of the penultimate half. A tidy corner-kick from Shane Ryan, found Shane O’Malley but his effort in front of goal sailed over Macken’s crossbar.

Ryan then came very close to restoring parity but after a tricky run inside the area the Kilmaine native saw his shot aptly dealt with by Macken.

Ballinrobe continued in vain to search for the equaliser but efforts from O’Malley and Kevin Keane on 62 and 71 minutes respectively, were off target.

As the full-time whistle drew near, Ballinrobe could well have gleaned the equaliser on 87 minutes. A telling cross from the busy Ryan, was met with by a powerful header from Enda Reilly, and his effort cannoned back off the crossbar and the danger was cleared away by a mightily relieved visiting defence.

Ballinrobe did their level best during the remainder of the game to try and net the leveller but no goal was forthcoming and in the end Claremorris hung on to collect what could be an invaluable three points.   

Ballinrobe Town: D. Fitzpatrick, B. Grimes, M. Walsh, D. McDonnell, J. Fitzpatrick, J. McTigue, K. Keane, S. O’Malley, J. P. O’Gorman, S. Ryan, S. Donnellan.

Subs: E. Reilly for Walsh, N. Moran for J. Fitzpatrick (both 61), P. Feerick for McTigue (82).

Claremorris: S. Macken, J. Mitchell, F. O’Connor, M. Sullivan, N. Kitching, D. Grant, P. Maloney, B. Gallagher, M. Melee, B. French, S. Byrnes.