Ballinrobe finish their league campaign with victory over Castlebar Mitchels

SENIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1A

Castlebar Mitchels 0-13

Ballinrobe 3-6

Castlebar

A match with nothing of consequence riding on it and both teams missing a van-load of players turned out to be an intriguing, hard-fought encounter in Josie Munnelly Park today as Ballinrobe defeated the home side in damp, dreary conditions.

Neil Douglas opened the scoring for the hosts in the third minute, but the rest of the half belonged to Ballinrobe and they led 1-5 to 0-4 at the interval.

Ewan Duffy was running at Mitchels every time the ball came his way, while his brother Diarmuid was equally impressive. Eoin Gilraine was driving forward powerfully from centre-half-back while Ryan Corcoran was flying up and down the wing.

A goal from Ewan Duffy after five minutes was the pick of the first half moments and it signaled Ballinrobe's intent. They had come to the county town in determined mood despite missing a host of players and when Conor Jennings kicked a fine point after 27 minutes they were five clear.

Brendan Gaughan and Stephen Keane had been prominent for the under-strength Castlebar side and when they added Bob Tuohy, James Cunningham and Jack O'Reilly to their number for the second half it signaled a renewed vigour.

Conor Mulroy and Anthony O'Boyle kicked points within three minutes of the restart and Keane saw a goal chance well saved by Luke Jennings, as the Castlebar wave flowed toward the Ballinrobe posts.

However, everything was to change utterly in a blistering 90-second spell. A Ewan Duffy shot dropped short in the Castlebar goalmouth, Gillan Jennings got the rebound, fed Diarmuid Duffy and he palmed the ball to the net.

Moments later Cian O'Connell flashed home another goal and the scoreboard read 3-5 to 0-6.

It seemed all over at that stage but Ballinrobe would only score one more point for the remainder of the game. Mitchels set off in search of redemption with Cunningham driving forward and points coming from Douglas and O'Boyle.

Emmet Murphy saw a fine Castlebar goal effort fly inches wide as time ticked away and when injury time arrived the gap was down to three, 0-12 to 3-6.

Mitchels threw everything forward but Ballinrobe refused to give up a goal and although O'Boyle closed the gap to two with a late point the victory deservedly went to the guests at the end of a game where nothing was spared by either side.

Mitchels advance to the league final where they will face Westport in two weeks, while Ballinrobe will go away to prepare for the upcoming championship and the adventures that will bring.