Burke points Ballinrobe to victory

Burke points Robe to victory


DIVISION 1A
Ballinrobe 0-10
Ballagh’0-9

Mike Finnerty
Ballinrobe

THERE was no shortage of drama or excitement in Flanagan Park on Saturday evening as Ballinrobe held off a late rally from Ballagh’ to win a cracking game by a single point and get off to a flying start.
The homeside led by four points (0-10 to 0-6) after 51 minutes but Ballaghaderreen came roaring back in the closing stages as points from Joe Dillon, David Drake and Andy Moran closed the gap to the bare minimum at the final whistle.
However, Ballinrobe had done enough and, truth be told, they should have been much further ahead after dominating the third quarter. Sean Burke, in particular, was in scintillating form and his five points from play proved invaluable in the end.
Their victory came at a price though as captain MicheΡl Keane left the field during the second half with a suspected fractured cheekbone and eye-socket after an accidental collision with Stephen Drake.
Ballagh’ (who lined out without David Kilcullen and Barry Regan) will be disappointed with their overall performance. Midfielder James Kilcullen dominated his sector for twenty minutes either side of half-time but they were far too reliant on full-forward Andy Moran for ideas up front.
The county man was held to a point from play and found the going tough once Ballinrobe’s Sean Grimes and Ronan Macken wrestled control of the midfield combat zone. They got ample support from Mayo’s Donal Vaughan whose wing-forward posting worked well.
The visitors looked to be well in contention when the hard-working Barry Kelly fired over a point four minutes into the second half to leave just the minimum between the teams (0-7 to 0-6).
However, Ballinrobe then found their best form and the outstanding Sean Burke drilled a couple of inspirational scores before Mark Walkin fisted another to open up a four-point gap.
Norman O’Brien’s side looked home and hosed but, as is their wont, didn’t close the game out and Ballagh’ almost made them pay down the home stretch.
The winners led at half-time by 0-7 to 0-5 after a lively first half where both sides gave as good as they got and play ranged from end to end.
The locals started well and David Killeen sold a few dummies before curling over the first score of the new campaign after 30 seconds. However, Ballinrobe then lost their way a little, inviting Ballagh’ to come at them, but finished the half with a flourish and four points without reply put them back in the driving seat.
SeΡn Burke caught the eye with three superb points from play while David McDonnell, Donal Vaughan and Ray McGreal (free) also hit the target.
At the other end, Andy Moran led the line from full-forward and contributed three points (one from play) with other scores coming from the influential James Kilcullen and Joe Dillon.
The impressive Barry Kelly almost stole in for a goal too but Ballinrobe goalkeeper, Paul Tiernan, produced a smart save to keep his line intact.
Ballaghaderreen manager Paul McHugh will know that an improvement is required ahead of his team’s next day out while Norman O’Brien must find a way to replace MicheΡl Keane for the foreseeable future.

Ballinrobe
P Tiernan; E O’Malley, P Finnerty, R Keane; J O’Malley, D McDonnell (0-1), R McGreal (0-1, 1f); S Grimes, R Macken; D Vaughan (0-1), P Staunton, C Keane; S Burke (0-5), M Keane, D Killeen (0-1).
Sub used: D Reilly for Staunton; M Walkin (0-1) for M Keane (inj); K O’Malley for Tiernan.

Ballaghaderren
O Flanagan; K Rogers, S Drake, T Regan; D McGarry, G Conway, S Finn; J Kilcullen (0-1), R McGrath; J Dillon (0-2), B Kelly (0-1), B Solan; P Kelly, A Moran (0-4, 2fs, ‘45), D Drake (0-1).
Subs used: P Rogers for Regan; T Regan for Conway (inj).

Referee: M Kenny (Westport)