Balla Secondary School lose out to Oughterard in Connacht Final

FAI Schools Junior ‘B’ Boys Connacht Cup Final (Under 17, Small Schools)

Balla Secondary School 1

St. Paul’s Secondary School, Oughterard 3

In Headford

St Paul's of Oughterard are the FAI school's Junior B Connacht champions after a deserving 3-1 win over Balla Secondary School, in the Tuesday afternoon wind and rain.

St Paul’s were hungrier, they passed it better and were first to the breaking ball. With the wind on their backs, they dominated
the first half and took the lead after 34 minutes through Elliot McDonnell who fired home a free kick from 25 metres.

St Paul's had made their intentions clear from early on. Their big striker Jamie Davin had three very close efforts and McDonnell had a free kick blocked by the wall seconds before he scored. Balla's first attempt came in the 10th minute when Dylan Judge forced a corner, but Ryan Cunningham's placed ball came to nothing. Davin continued to threaten for St Paul's, but he couldn't extend their lead on his way to a man-of-the-match performance.

Balla nearly scored in the first minute of the second half when Ryan Cunningham's shot hit the side netting, but instantly at the other end, Davin had the ball in the net to put St Paul's two up.

Dylan Dunne won a header in the air, for Balla but Dylan Judge couldn't connect, in their only chance in the opening period of the second half, and then 19 minutes in, Nicky Fleming made it three after Davin's shot came off the crossbar.

Substitute Óisín Cunnane came close for Balla with a long range shot after 73 minutes and Dylan Dunne eventually pulled one back, five minutes before the end when he headed home a Cunningham corner, but it wasn't enough for a Balla revival. Keelan Corrigan and Ryan Cunningham were best for Balla, but the man of the match was Jamie Davin.

A full match report will be carried in next Tuesday's edition of The Mayo News.

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