Balla dispatch Mountbellew to set up all Mayo clash in Connacht Schools final

GAA - CONNACHT PPS SENIOR C CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL

Balla Community School 0-15

Mountbellew Holy Rosary 1-7

In Bekan

It was a good performance in sunny conditions on a slippery ground that carried Balla into the Connacht final.

"The lads have put in a massive piece of work and we're delighted to be in the final," said Balla coach Adrian Phillips after the match, speaking to The Mayo News: "The school hasn't been in the final since the 2021-2022 year. It was a close game, Mountbellew were a really strong side, they were very physical. The plan we put in place today worked, but we're going to have to put a different plan in for the kind of final."

The result looks closer than this game actually was. Even though Balla never racked up a huge lead, thanks to their defence, they always kept the Galway opponents at arm's length.

With a minute left on the game clock, the Mayo boys were up by eight points. A penalty scored by Mountbellew's Cillian Roche was essentially the last kick of the ball, which reduced the deficit to only five points. 

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Over the course of the full sixty minutes though, Balla were the better football team. Especially their full-forward line were dangerous. Most notably Mayo minor Charlie Fallon caught the eye. The Mayo Gaels club man was a focal point in attack, beating defenders, and showing his excellent handling skills. Fallon also contributed 0-2 from open play.

His colleagues in the forwards equally made an impression. Liam Glynn (0-3), Patrick McHale (0-3) and Oran Murphy (0-2) all got on the scoreboard and kept the Mountbellew defense guessing.

The player pulling the strings in midfield possession was to a large degree the man wearing the number two jersey, Ryan O'Donnell. The Balla prospect was almost impossible to turn over. O'Donnell was a calm operator, distributing passes and finding the open man, being the heart and soul of their direct attacking play.

Their wastefulness could have cost them on another day, as Balla accumulated seven wides in the first 20 minutes of the second half. 

"We probably weren't taking the shot from the right position," Phillips analysed: "To be honest, with the conditions in winter football, we were happy that the ball was going dead because we could press the kick-out."

Balla had more wides than Mountbellew. They will have to improve their efficiency as they face Gortnor Abbey in the final. A very talented team, with a notable Kobe McDonald and further promising players on their squad.

It's going to be an all-Mayo tussle for the Connacht crown.

A full match report will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News.

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