All-Mayo showdown for Cawley Cup

All-Mayo showdown for Cawley Cup


Preview
Rob Murphy

NEXT Sunday’s tenth Cawley Cup decider is all-Mayo showdown as Ballina and Westport meet in the final of the competition reserved solely for junior clubs. The game will take place at Crowley Park, home of host club Galwegians.
Last Sunday, Westport came from 13-0 down against Loughrea with 23 minutes left to win 20-13. Two penalties from Lyndon Jones and two powerful tries from Liam Scahill did the trick as the Bulls made good use of the elements in the east Galway venue.
Ballina knocked out the holders OLBC on their way to the final, winning at the Sportsground with a Sam Johnson try. They also beat Carrick-on-Shannon but Sunday’s semi-final against Ballinasloe didn’t go ahead after the east Galway side withdrew.
The competition certainly has its problems – shoved in at the end of the season, almost as an afterthought, with the league champions excluded to allow them to play in the AIL qualifiers. Ballinasloe’s decision to withdraw on Sunday was down to their refusal to play three games in seven days as scheduled.
Yet each season, the final produces a full-blooded battle between two of the best junior sides in the province. Westport are looking for a fourth title, Ballina are looking for their third since the competition began in 2003.
Westport forwards coach JP Walsh expects a close game after each side had a win during the league campaign.
“The first game against Ballina was tough,” he told The Mayo News. “We were off form early season, but they were the most impressive team we played all season. They dropped off that pace mid-season, but they are back to it now. They even beat Monivea away in their final league game and it is some challenge for us.”
For Ballina coach Cory Brown, his side’s effort has been hugely encouraging over the past two months.
“Our aim was to win and improve,” he said. “The attitude in the squad has been outstanding all year – even the fringe players who haven’t got the game time but are showing up and giving every last drop of energy in training.”
Both Brown and Walsh expect a tough battle up front with the Ballina coach pointing to the physicality of the Westport forwards. That was in evidence in their comeback win away to Loughrea on Sunday and their early round wins against Tuam and Ballyhaunis.
A real battle is in store and both sides have the pace and creativity out wide to ensure that  big gains will turn into scores. This could be one of the better cup finals, but we’ll stick with the side that finished second in this season’s league.

VERDICT
Ballina by three

Fixture
Cawley Cup Final
Ballina v Westport

Sunday, April 14
Crowley Park, Galway at 3pm