Louisburgh signal their intent

Louisburgh signal their intent


Quarter-Final
Louisburgh 3-18
Ballina B 2-8

Kevin Corcoran
Castlebar

LOUISBURGH powered through to the county semi-final after an inspiring second half-display is which they blitzed Ballina’s second outfit. Looking at the final scoreline, it is hard to believe that the scores were level at the break. Louisburgh outscored their opponents by 1-15 to 1-2 after the interval.
Ballina will be scratching their heads as to how they lost their game by such a large margin. Despite the result, David Kenny, Austin O’Toole and Rory Campion put in solid displays for Michael Tighe’s side.
James Gibbons’s men will be hugely boosted by this win as they enter the final four in this year’s championship. He will be impressed with his side’s huge score and the fact that they only kicked six wides during the hour.
Marcus O’Malley was solid at full back, with James Gibbons thriving at centre back. Brendan Heneghan and Jarlath O’Malley used their power and strength in the middle of the park. Thomas McDonagh and star man John Hegarty worked like Trojans, with the skilful duo of Kevin and Michael Gibbons providing the pace inside.
It was the North Mayo men that started brightest with a point from Rory Campion inside the opening minute. Kevin Gibbons got Louisburgh off the mark with a close-range point on five minutes. Frees from Kevin Gibbons and Thomas McDonagh were equalled by points from Diarmuid Conroy and Shane Barrett which left the scores evenly poised after the first quarter.
Louisburgh then hit a purple patch as they scored two goals in as many minutes. A goalmouth scramble let Jarlath O’Malley in on goal and he didn’t disappoint. Less than 60 seconds later, a fine run from Brendan Heneghan led to Michael Gibbons rattling the net with what proved to be the West Mayo men’s final score of the half.
Just as Louisburgh looked in control, a rattled and shocked Ballina responded superbly, scoring 1-3 in the final ten minutes. A fine move involving Shane Barrett, Austin O’Toole and Rory Campion provided Paul Barrett with the chance to have the green flag raised, and he delivered. A Brendan O’Hora free, another point from Shane Barrett and a ’45 from David Kenny left the sides tied (2-3 to 1-6) at the break.
Whatever James Gibbons said or did at half time worked a treat for his Louisburgh side. Incredibly, they kicked ten consecutive points in just 14 minutes. John Hegarty (three), Jarlath O’Malley (three, including one free), Brendan Heneghan (two), Kevin Gibbons and Michael Gibbons got the scores on the board and virtually ended the tie.
Substitute Adrian Kelly opened Ballina’s second-half account with a free on 46 minutes. Jarlath O’Malley and Brendan O’Hora traded more frees, while Stephen O’Grady split the points to leave a ten-point gap.
A goal from Adrian Kelly proved to be mere consolation as Louisburgh finished with another tally of 1-3. Wing back Alan Moran got the goal, with Thomas McDonagh (two) and Kevin Gibbons keeping the white flag aloft.

Louisburgh
P Reilly; J McDonnell, M O’Malley, J Reilly; S Gibbons, J Gibbons, A Moran (1-0); B Heneghan (0-2), J O’Malley (1-4, 0-2f); T McDonagh (0-3, 1f), S O’Grady (0-1); J Hegarty (0-3); K Gibbons (0-4, 1f), F Morahan, M Gibbons (1-1).
Subs used: E Morahan for S Gibbons; D Fetherston for F Morahan; D Morahan for J Gibbons.

Ballina
J Healy, N Campion, D Kenny (0-1, ’45), D Durkin; T Duffy, D Conroy (0-1), S Mullen; A O’Toole, B Devaney; D O’Hara, S Barrett (0-2), R Campion (0-1); B O’Hora (0-2, 2f), P Barrett (1-0), K Geraghty.
Subs used: K Twomey for Healy (inj); D Twomey for N Campion; A Kelly (1-1, 0-1f) for Geraghty; D Clarke for S Barrett.

Referee: E McAndrew (Belmullet)