Regal Roddy helps Muredach's boss all-Mayo colleges tie

GAA - CONNACHT PPS SENIOR A CHAMPIONSHIP

St Muredachs, Ballina 3-34

Ballinrobe CS 1-16

At Connacht GAA COE, Bekan

A blistering, dominant, and all-round top-class first-half performance paved the way for St Muredach's to continue their championship run with an emphatic win.

The floodlit Bekan turf was the stage for this all-Mayo affair, and the boys in red jerseys put on a show.

Whether it was top-class goals, jaw-dropping two-pointers, or an insatiable hunger to leave a mark, these lads had the lot.

Ballinrobe Community School were the unwilling dance partner on this occasion, but few sides would have been able to contend with a red-hot Nathan Roddy or the searing pace of Patrick Carr.

It was Seán Foody and his fellow corner-forward Carr who got the ball rolling on the scoreboard, before Rossa Burke notched a single for the Robesiders after driving through.

However, that would be as good as it got for the white-clad troops, as the Ballina students clicked almost immediately.

After seven minutes, midfielder Dylan Sweeney fetched a kickout from the heavens before unleashing what could only be described as a screamer into the top left corner.

Roddy had his first of the day before Carr joined Sweeney on the goals list. A soccer-style ball across the carpet from Foody was meat and drink for the number 15, who struck the ball off the turf and into the onion bag.

Within three minutes, the third net-shaker was on the menu. Roddy fetched the ball in an unreal display of sky-walking and offloaded to half-back Conor Breslin who played a one-two with Foody before finding the net.

After the goalfest, the half developed into a two-point frenzy. Roddy had four in ten minutes, while Carr also raised two orange flags for good measure.

A duo of singles from Carr rounded off a whirlwind first half. Muredach’s may have been playing with the aid of a hefty wind, but even the most optimistic among the Ballinrobe contingent would have been doubtful of overturning a 25-point deficit.

Even still, though, they tore into the unenviable task.

The spectacle in score-taking continued into the second half, and with the wind on their backs Luke Muniz and company showed what they were made of.

The pick of the scores in the half, and indeed the pick of the eleven two-pointers on the evening, came in the 47th minute. Aaron Crowley’s effort was outrageous, and even though it was assisted by the wind (which meant all orange flags were raised on the Knock Road side of the pitch), it was still a mighty effort.

Muredach’s only scored six points in the second half, being outscored by nine by their South Mayo counterparts, but they didn’t need to do much other than restrict their opponents.

From that perspective, it was job done, and chances for majors were few and far between.

Aside from when Aaron Crowley fired the ball under Conor Bohan, the rearguard was relatively unchallenged.

By the time John Glavey’s full-time whistle shrilled, the gap stood at 14. Muredach’s minds had already turned to their next game against Summerhill Sligo, while Ballinrobe will lock horns with St Jarlath’s, Tuam.

A full report will be published in Tuesday's edition of The Mayo News.