SFC GROUP 2
Ballinrobe 2-13
Crossmolina 0-11
Mike Finnerty
Crossmolina
FOR years now Ballinrobe supporters have been waiting for the summer’s day when their senior team would throw off the shackles against one of the big teams and play the kind of football that their efforts deserved.
Last Sunday was that day.
Under a scorching North Mayo sun, their new-look team stormed the citadel that is St Tiernan’s Park, a venue that has so often left them cursing their bad luck and misfortune, and produced a performance that left Crossmolina breathless.
In the process, they blew this unpredictable-looking group wide open, and delivered a display that will re-energise the club in a year when they are celebrating their 125th anniversary.
This victory, and the manner in which it was achieved, was also just reward for veterans like team captain Seán Grimes and the Keane brothers, players who have shown great dedication to the cause since the late ‘90s.
But while Ballinrobe basked in the glorious sunshine afterwards, and the even warmer glow of victory, it was hard not to feel for Crossmolina.
It’s been quite some time since they were so comprehensively outplayed in their own backyard and this was a compelling reminder that they are now very much in a transitional phase under Michael Moyles.
Ballinrobe, who were 3/1 outsiders to win this game before a ball was kicked, made light of their recent departures (five of last year’s first fifteen are no longer part of Norman O’Brien’s panel) to score a famous victory.
They set out their stall early; fast and direct was their tactic of choice and it worked a treat as Mark Walkin and Alan Murphy went to work in the full-forward line.
The duo worked excellently in tandem from the get-go and with Donal Vaughan, Peter Staunton and Enda Reilly all supplying some quality ammunition, Murphy treated all and sundry to an impressive display of marksmanship.
The Mervue Utd midfielder, who also lined out on Friday night in the FAI Ford Cup, shot 1-6 from play; gunning points with both feet and drilling in a superb goal on 28 minutes.
That score was a major help to the visitors as they led at half-time by 1-8 to 0-7.
They had started impressively too with Ruairí Keane and Seán Grimes setting the tone in the defence and David Killeen using his physical presence around the middle.
Four points from the marauding Murphy and one from Walkin left Crossmolina trailing by 0-2 to 0-5 after 17 minutes, but the locals responded emphatically with five unanswered scores in the space of six minutes.
A Ciaran McDonald ‘special’ and a brace of stunning points from Ian Rowland were the pick of the bunch and, as they eased ahead, it looked like normal service had been resumed.
But there was something different about Ballinrobe this time; they continued to stick to their game-plan and were rewarded with a salvo of 1-3 before the break as Peter Staunton and Enda Reilly picked off points to supplement Murphy’s green flag.
Crossmolina threw James Cafferty into the middle of the field to try and turn the tide but their best-laid plans were torn up five minutes into the second half when John O’Malley was beaten again.
This time Donal Vaughan, who exerted a big influence in the second period, burst through and slipped in James Quinn who finished clinically to the net.
The winners outscored their hosts by 0-4 to 0-3 from there to the finish; Chris Myles, Peadar Gardiner, Cathal Carolan and Ciaran McDonald trying manfully to inspire a comeback with scores, but all to no avail.
This was Ballinrobe’s day. The trick now is to do it again.
Ballinrobe
K O’Malley (0-1, ’45); P Reilly, R Keane, E O’Malley; C Keane, S Grimes, D Reilly; D Vaughan (0-1), D Killeen; P Staunton (0-2, 1f), E Reilly (0-2), M Keane; J Quinn (1-0), M Walkin (0-1), A Murphy (1-6).
Subs used: J O’Malley for D Reilly; R Macken for Walkin; R McGreal for P Reilly; K McTigue for E Reilly.
Crossmolina
J O’Malley; C Myles (0-1), R Rochford, N Hegarty; P Gardiner (0-3), S Duffy, J O’Boyle; G Walsh, C Carolan; D Howley (0-1), C McDonald (0-1), P Duffy; T McNulty (0-1), J Keane (0-1), I Rowland (0-2).
Subs used: J Cafferty for O’Boyle; S Rochford (0-1, 1f) for McNulty.
Referee: M Daly (Ballyhaunis)
