Search
01 Feb 2026
Search
01 Feb 2026
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
Connacht players Fiachna Barrett and Harry West pose with friends and family from Ballina RFC.
THE Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma echoed to a Mayo chorus on Saturday night as a group of friends from Ballina Rugby Club roared Connacht to a famous victory over Zebre in the United Rugby Championship.
The western province secured a bonus-point win over the home side when Oisin McCormack got over for a try in the eleventh minute of added time at the end of a thrilling encounter.
The Mayo contingent were in the ground to roar on two of their own, Harry West and Fiachna Barrett, who came through the ranks at Ballina RFC. West, had a fine game at centre before being switched to scrum-half later in the game. The Ballina native was central to Connacht's late surge and his smart and quick use of the ball kept the visitors moving forward.
Barrett came off the bench to take his place in the front row and the Geesala man used his heft and power to great effect as Connacht chased the fourth try late in the game.
The Ballina contingent in the stands raised the roof as Stuart Lancaster's pounded the Zebre line and when the bonus-point was delivered the cheers could be heard back by the Moy.
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
