Ballina relegated to junior rugby despite valiant display against Clogher Valley

ALL-IRELAND RUGBY LEAGUE DIVISION 2C

Clogher Valley 41

Ballina 12

Michael Gallagher in Cran

THE hope is the last to fade. Long after reality has left the building; long after possibility has headed for the exit, the last vestiges of hope still cling to the part of the brain where fairy tales abound.

On Saturday afternoon in the Tyrone heartland of Clogher Valley, the big electronic clock at the far end of The Cran stadium told everyone that there were just two minutes of the rugby season still to be played, but Ballina still believed.

Two quick tries would give them a bonus point and keep them in the All-Ireland League against all the odds. Of course, convention, common-sense and cold hard reality stated that there wasn't the slightest chance of such a fairytale occurring, but Ballina still believed.

Head coach Brian McLearn stood tall along the sideline flanked by coaches Aiden McNulty, David Newman and Andy Moynihan, injured club captain Ronan Molloy, renowned team-physio Gerry Maye, team manager Willie O’Connor, kit-man Davy Hunt and one the heartbeats of Ballina Rugby Football Club Daragh Quinn.

There were only 90 ticks of the clock between Ballina and a return to junior rugby, but they still believed.

That savage, unstinting belief came from the energy which runs deep in Ballina RFC. It drives boys and girls, men and women to play their hearts out in jerseys of green; it engenders a belief that anything is possible.

PARTY

EARLIER in the day the Ballina wagon-train had arrived in the rolling farmland between Dungannon and Enniskillen where the impressive Clogher Valley rugby club is situated. The welcome was hearty and genuine. The locals were friendly and courteous – after all, they were getting ready to party.

Clogher Valley knew they’d be champions if they secured a bonus-point win on Saturday and the Tyrone men were following a path carved by Ballina a few seasons previously, by tearing through the division after being promoted from junior ranks. 

There was a party atmosphere in the air at The Cran as burgers sizzled on the barbecue and a huge crowd streamed through the gates.

Both teams were out on the grass stretching, preparing and running through the prepared moves. In the Ballina changing room Gerry Maye was busy. The physio knew how much the next 80 minutes would mean to the club he loved so well. He had been preparing and repairing Ballina bodies season after season, in good times and bad and had been front and centre when the men from the Moy won all before them in Connacht, were promoted to the All-Ireland League and won Division 2C at the first time of asking.

In more recent seasons, retirements and emigration had stretched the squad to the limit and on Saturday afternoon they were just a point clear of Bangor at the foot of the table. However, the tasks awaiting both teams couldn’t be more different. Ballina were in Clogher Valley to face the league leaders who were seeking to win the league on home soil and secure promotion while Bangor were hosting mid-table Midleton, who had nothing to play for other than pride.

READY

The tension in the Ballina changing room before kick-off had to be seen to be believed. Words of pride and encouragement lined the walls. Former team captain Luke Sweeney had sent a message, as had legendary former player and coach, JP Leonard.

However, pride of place was given to the words of Olive O’Donnell. Olive’s late husband, Gerry, had been the heartbeat of Ballina RFC until his untimely death and everyone knew the former, player, captain, coach, president and club patron would have the best seat in Heaven on Saturday afternoon.

Before the team ran out for war, they gathered in the middle of the floor and team captain Gary Kavanagh took centre-stage. “This is the biggest game of our lives,” he told his men. “Nobody gives us a chance, so let’s go and show them,” the prop added before leading the men in green into battle.

GREAT START

BALLINA started brilliantly. Jordan Mills came within inches of a try in the third minute. Thomas Halligan got over the line moments later, but the referee said the try arrived at the end of a double-movement and chalked it off.

The Mayo men were on the front foot and Clogher Valley were making nervous mistakes, but as the half progressed the home side settled and thrived. 

Along the sideline the news was good. Bangor were losing 7-10 and the Ballina dream of survival was taking shape. However, a mad minute soon put a huge cloud over that assumption.

Two tries and a conversion for the home side left them 12-0 clear at half time and Ballina were taking water, but the dream never dimmed. The team gathered in a huddle at the interval, looked one another in the eye and set off in search of the fairytale. 

As they lined up for the start of the second half the booming voice of Ballina RFC President Adrian Bourke echoed across the ground. “Go on Ballina, we’re all with you,” he assured his fine young men.

The second half began well for the western warriors and when Bradley Nealon streaked over for a try they were back in business. That said, Clogher Valley soon took charge again and were 29-5 clear after 62 minutes when news came through that Bangor and Midleton were drawing 10-10.

If that scoreline remained until the end, Ballina would be relegated. But if the Moysiders somehow scored three tries to secure a bonus-point, they would have pulled off the great escape.

Suddenly, that prospect came a little closer when Nealon raced in for another try and Darragh Whyte converted. They poured forward in search of survival, but that sense of abandon was punished with two late Clogher Valley tries as time eventually ran out on Ballina’s great AIL adventure.

Afterwards, in the deathly quiet changing room the sense of devastation was powerful, but as the minutes passed, calm and powerful words were spoken. The dream of All-Ireland League rugby might have been extinguished earlier on the pitch, but it was reborn in the changing room. 

The dream was over, long live the dream.