Ballinrobe Town get off the mark

Ballinrobe get off the mark


Manulla    1
Staunton 45+2

Ballinrobe Town 3
O’Gorman 33, Reilly 35,
Budzynski 90+3

Daniel Carey
Carramore

MANULLA goalkeeper James Jennings warned his team-mates to “expect the unexpected” in the early stages of last Sunday’s game at Carramore. But few would have predicted the final result, as Ballinrobe Town picked up their first points of the season.
Two first-half goals in as many minutes put the visitors in a strong position, and though Manulla pulled one back, a third in second-half injury time put the seal on a day to remember for the south Mayo side. Manulla will want to put this behind them, with one club stalwart branding the performance “an embarrassment”.
There was a lively start to proceedings. Ballinrobe’s JP O’Gorman got in behind the Manulla defence, but Paddy Canavan kept his shot out. Damian Budzynski almost slid in the opener soon after following good work by O’Gorman. But it wasn’t one-way traffic by any means, and Ballinrobe’s Paul Tiernan was called on to save from Stephen Fadden.
Clarke had a great chance after ten minutes, firing wide in a one-on-one situation after good interplay between Declan Tonra and the lively David Gallagher. With Manulla beginning to get on top, Seamus Staunton’s volley from the edge of the box went just wide.
The busy Shane O’Malley had a pop from distance for Ballinrobe, who took the lead after 33 minutes. Tiernan had just saved from Fadden at one end when JP O’Gorman opened the scoring, getting the ball past Jennings and holding off a defender to ensure the ball rolled in. “They’ll be hard beat now,” one Manulla fan mused, and the home side’s task was made harder two minutes later. Ballinrobe got the ball up field quickly – O’Gorman was again involved – and the effective Enda Reilly stroked a delicate lob into the net from the edge of the box.
Manulla needed something fast, and they almost got it immediately. Fadden’s right-footed shot came off the inside of the post, and while Tonra almost put in the rebound, somehow the ball stayed out. In first-half injury time, however, Johnny Hennelly took a free kick for handball, and Seamus Staunton took the congratulations of team-mates as he made it 2-1.
Though Manulla had much possession in the second half, they only created a few clear-cut chances. Roger Clarke found himself in space from a free kick in the 54th minute, but headed wide. Johnny Hennelly’s corner caused problems for Ballinrobe, while Ronan O’Dea made one vital intervention to deny Gallagher.
Given the slippery conditions, referee Tony Cosgrove tended to give tacklers the benefit of the doubt – on another day, there might have been red cards. While often content to hold what they had, Ballinrobe created some opportunities of their own. Pierce Sweeney’s shot was blocked by Cillian McGlade (the only Manulla sub on a day when suspended manager Paul Large watched from outside the fence), while O’Gorman headed against the bar following Shane Ryan’s deep cross.
Roger Clarke had a half-volley saved in second-half injury time (“Our only shot this half” one Manulla man reckoned), but Ballinrobe sealed the deal before the end. O’Gorman turned provider, crossing for Budzynski, who took full advantage of the space afforded him to clinch victory.

Manulla
J Jennings, C McDonnell, J Hennelly, B Cuffe, P Canavan, S Staunton, D Gallagher, R Clarke, D Tonra, M Mongan, S Fadden.
Sub used: C McGlade for Mongan (58 mins, inj).

Ballinrobe Town
P Tiernan, P Costello, T Walsh, J Doherty, R O’Dea, S O’Malley, P Sweeney, E Reilly, D Budzynski, JP O’Gorman, S Ryan.
Sub used: R Mellett for Sweeney (87 mins).

Referee: T Cosgrove