Division 1A
Westport 2-9
Ballinrobe 1-7
Mike Finnerty
Westport
IT may have been a beautiful day for a game of football but there was very little by way of entertainment at St Patrick’s Park last Sunday afternoon as Westport ground out their first senior league win of the season.
The locals deservedly took the points on offer after a poor game but Martin Connolly and Shane Conway will know that a massive improvement will be required when their team go into championship action next Sunday away to Kiltane.
It will also be interesting to see if Westport continue with the experiment of playing Mayo minor and U-21 full-back, Kevin Keane, at midfield after he did well in the new position last weekend.
Despite their good start to this league campaign (winning their first two games), Ballinrobe must go back to the drawing-board, especially up front, after this poor performance and disappointing defeat.
Yet again their inability to create and take chances cost them dearly and they only managed a meagre 1-1 from play in over an hour’s football. They also went forty minutes without any score either side of half-time and no amount of hard work and perspiration can camouflage their shortcomings in front of goal.
It looked at one stage, early in the second half, that neither side were particularly interested in pushing on and winning this game. Perhaps it was the thought of a Bank Holiday Sunday night in the Castlecourt or Valkenburg but, for whatever reason, minds seemed to be wandering.
Deadlock had prevailed at half-time (1-4 apiece) and the entire third quarter passed without any score as both teams engaged in some huffing and puffing, running and chasing, and settled a few scores along the way.
Then came the game-breaking moment as Westport full-forward Stephen Broderick was pulled down in the square and got up to drill the resultant penalty past Paul Tiernan in the Ballinrobe goal.
The homeside were energised by this goal and tacked on four points (without reply) in the space of ten minutes from Damien Keane (3, two frees) and the aforementioned Broderick.
Despite playing with the aid of the stiff breeze in the second half, Ballinrobe had lost their shape and their way completely. However, with four minutes of normal time left, and trailing by seven points, they finally decided to have a go and substitute Mark Walkin clipped over three frees down the home stretch to pare back the deficit.
The dismissal of Westport midfielder Dermot O’Connor came too late to affect the final outcome, though, and Damien Keane’s sixth point of the day helped to gloss the final scoreline.
The first half, mercifully, was a much more competitive affair. Ballinrobe started positively and raced into a three point lead as Sean Burke, Peter Staunton (free) and Donal Vaughan all hit the target inside the first five minutes.
However, Westport’s new-look midfield partnership of Dermot O’Connor and Kevin Keane gradually got on top and a steady supply of ball allowed Damien Keane (free), Ruaidhrí Connolly and O’Connor to level the game after 14 minutes.
The locals then hit the front for the first time when Connolly goaled three minutes later but this was cancelled out soon after when Sean Burke rattled Tom Higgins’ net at the other end.
The status quo remained at half-time and we hoped that the game would come to life. Alas, both teams got bogged down for long spells before Westport took the initiative — and the points.
Westport
T Higgins; B Higgins, T Gavin, D Keane; L Joyce, L Keegan, J McHale; K Keane, D O’Connor (0-1); M Gill, D Keane (0-6, 5fs), E Walsh; S Broderick (1-1, 1-0 pen), P Keegan, R Connolly (1-1).
Subs used: R Gibbons for Walsh; R Cafferkey for P Keegan; N O’Malley for K Keane; G Keane for Gill.
Ballinrobe
P Tiernan; E O’Malley, P Finnerty, R Keane; J O’Malley, D McDonnell, C Killeen; S Grimes, R Macken; C Keane, D Vaughan (0-1), P Staunton (0-1, 1f); S Burke (1-2, 2fs), D Reilly, D Killeen.
Subs used: K McTigue for D Killeen; M Walkin (0-3, 3fs) for C Killeen.
Referee: L Devenney (Ballina)
