Brillant Balla secure Connacht title after competitive all-Mayo clash

Connacht PPS Senior C Final

Balla Secondary School 0-12

Gortnor Abbey 0-7

In Bekan

As the sleet fell from the heavens, Balla Secondary School produced a mammoth performance to claim Connacht glory when they outscored Gortnor Abbey of Crossmolina. 

In a low-scoring affair played in catastrophic weather conditions, a strong first half from the Balla students paved the way for their success. 

It was Gortnor Abbey’s Kobe McDonald who opened the scoring when he booted over from a free outside the arc. Balla, then found their groove and replied with a handful of scores as Dara Patten, Liam Glynn, Patrick McHale pointed while Ryan O’Donnell added a fine two pointer. 

Balla, who played with the advantage of the wind in the opening half were well set up and they gave little breathing room to Kobe McDonald and his colleagues. Operating around the middle, McDonald and Lorcan O’Donnell tagged on scores for Gortnor Abbey, but Balla hit back with an excellent two pointer from the boot of Mark Jennings. 

Going in at the break, Balla led 0-9 to Gortnor Abbey’s 0-5.

As time went on, the weather deteriorated and for large spells, the Connacht Centre of Excellence was like a scene from the Winter Olympics. 

It took 16 minutes of the fresh half before the first score arrived when Ethan Duffy wisely handpassed over from short range for Balla.

The North Mayo students reduced the deficit to just three when McDonald and Andrew Barrett pointed and they knew a goal would save them.

However, as the clock ticked on, scoring chances were rare and in the final moments, the deal was sealed when Balla’s Liam Glynn kicked an inspirational free which saw the orange flag waved. 

As the full time whistle sounded, the Balla contingent led by Gareth O’Donnell, Adrian Phillips and Darragh Acton celebrated joyously on the greasy Bekan surface. 

A full match report plus reaction will be carried in Tuesday’s edition of The Mayo News.

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