Ballinrobe relegated to Division 1B by impressive Westport

Connacht Junior Rugby League Division relegation play-off

Ballinrobe 19 Westport 33

Oisín McGovern in Ballinrobe

BALLINROBE will play their rugby in Division 1B next year after an impressive Westport outfit saw them off in Round 1 of the relegation play-offs this afternoon.

Though the hosts had some good moments, the victory was rarely in doubt for a Sam Walsh-inspired Westport, who delivered one of their best performances in months.

A quadruple of Sam Walsh penalties in 26 minutes set the visitors up perfectly for the first half.

Ballinrobe struggled for possession and territory and failed to score until Liam Burke burst over the line on the wing after 28 minutes.

Six minutes later, Westport got their first try though Adam Sheridan. A fifth penalty kick from Sam Walsh had Westport 20-5 up at half-time, a lead which stretched to 18 points when Walsh kicked his sixth penalty shortly after the restart.

Ballinrobe had their highlights, particularly when Rory Murphy and Jamie Treacy crossed the whitewash at either end of the half.

However, further tries from Thomas Horscraft and Alan Masterson kept a wide gap between the Connacht Junior Cup champions and their opponents.

Westport now face a second relegation play-off to secure their Division 1A status.

A full match report, plus reaction from Joe O’Malley and Sam Walsh, will be carried in Tuesday’s print edition of The Mayo News.