Ballinasloe Slip Up
Ballinasloe 13-19 Westport
Now we all know, all the questions have been answered and a myriad of speculative outcomes as to what could be and ultimately what should have been are finally laid to rest. Ballinasloe’s eventual fourth place in Div1A is testimony to a season of hard work and rich endeavour from a wholly committed squad and dedicated management team.
Going into Sunday’s final league game the contrasting fortunes of the protagonists could hardly have been more stark. A positive outcome for Ballinasloe and a favourable result from the Monivea v OLBC fixture could have seen them into the AIL round robin series while
Westport were definitely the hungrier team and their never let up attitude was just too much for the home side on a day where they never reached the intensity of their last three league matches (all away) when they pulled off three big wins. The tyres were a little flat on Sunday.
And so
Ruaidhri Doolan was off target for the hosts with a thirty five metre penalty in the 20th minute but was kicking into a tricky wind. There was a noted improvement to Ballinasloe’s game as the second quarter progressed and the visitors were no longer having it all their own way. The locals went over for their second try in the 25th minute, mauling their way from a lineout inside their opponents 22 with the honours going to Kevin Gavin. Again the conversion did not hit the target. Just as after the first try the visitors responded with their second penalty two minutes later with Dempsey again doing the honours. Ballinasloe had their best spell in the ten minutes leading up to half time with Aidan Doorley to the fore. They were unfortunate not to score a third try before the break when, yet again, they mauled their way to the
With the visitors upping the tempo and physicality stakes, Ballinasloe looked in trouble. Despite great fighting spirit they could not find a way through a strong and well drilled
In the 65th minute the home side were awarded a kickable penalty that could have put them back into the lead but, surprisingly, opted to kick to the corner with no material return accruing. The sharpness of recent weeks was now noticeably missing.
BALLINASLOE: D. Burke, J. Dillon, D. Freeman, R. Cullinan, Cian Loughrey, R. Doolan, R. Sheppard, K. Gavin, A. O’Hara(capt), T. Dolan, N. Staunton, K. Headd, A. Loughrey, J. Hayes, A. Doorley. Replacements: J.J. Carey, M. Harrigan, H. Reynolds, R. Wakefield, M.Tierney.
In other games over the week-end, the club’s second team lost out 14-11 to Corinthians in their league semi-final, away, on Friday night. Trailing by 14pts early on, it looked as if the city side would romp to victory but Ballinasloe steadied the ship with Kealin O’Neill kicking a penalty before half time. He was on the mark again in the second half and a penalty and try left only 3pts between the sides as the game kicked on but the locals had enough in the tank to hold out.
BALLINASLOE: A. MANNION, J. Carrig, D. Maguire, K. O’Neill, N. Burns, M. Tierney, R. Sheppard, G. Donnellan, A. Wade, J. Curley, T. Freeman, H. Reynolds, K. Dolan, E. Clogher, A. McGrath, Replacements: A. Moloney, M. Harrigan, P. McCormack, D. Tierney, A. Naughton.
The U15s made the long trip to Ballina on Sunday and came away with a big 21pts to 7 victory in their cup quarter final. They led 14- 7 at the break thanks to two tries from Oisin Reilly and Kevin Manning, both converted by Jack Canning. The visitors forwards played a major part in this win with a big second half effort while Canning capped a fine all round display adding a try and conversion in that period.
Liam Courtney, Club PRO.