Ballagh’ seem set for success
Sean Rice
THEIR physical attributes outstrip all others in the competition. Individually, their skills stand comparison with the best. You wonder, then, why Ballaghaderreen have not blossomed these past couple of years when it seemed they were the best team in the county.
Maybe they are ready now. Their defeat of Crossmolina last Sunday has moved them to within an hour of accepting the trophy they have not touched since their last victory way back in 1972. Maybe at last they have found the secret to success.
Complacency is unlikely to be entertained as they prepare for their clash with Charlestown in the final on Sunday. The alarm bells of their hairsbreath escape from disaster against Ballintubber will guard them against the peril of overconfidence.
That experience alone, however, is not sufficient protection from defeat. In Charlestown they will find an enemy every bit as grisly as Crossmolina proved on Sunday. Charlestown know how to win, and from watching last Sunday, they will have a fair idea how to deal with the vulnerabilities of their opponents.
They will have noted Ballaghaderreen’s sluggish start and the fleetness of Crossmolina in picking up broken ball. They will have noticed how Crossmolina upset their opponents’ rhythm by tackling in numbers. They will endeavour to close off the supply trail from James Kilcullen to Andy Moran which was the spark that ignited Ballaghaderreen’s recovery.
Above all, they will have observed how quickly Crossmolina’s golden oldies ran out of steam.
To a great extent Crossmolina relied on the experience of Ciaran McDonald, the Nallens, Joe Keane and Paul McGuinness to compensate for any diminution of their staying power.
But when Ballaghaderreen got ahead, those old stars were unable call on the reserves of energy that have stood them well in the past. If Charlestown’s experienced players suffer similar fatigue, Ballaghaderreen are equipped to cash in.
Crossmolina looked a tired team in the end. Raw courage kept going in the final minutes, and very nearly got them back into the game. Brian Benson’s penalty miss was the straw that finally killed off hopes of a seventh county medal for the older members.
The question now is: were we watching the end of an era on Sunday? Have we seen the last of a group of players who have given sterling service to their club and county for well over a decade? Can the great Nallen brothers, Joe Keane etc motivate themselves for a return next season?
Charlestown must have hoped for a return to glory sooner that the seven years that have passed since they embraced the Moclair Cup.
Their second title, in 2001, was their first in almost a century. It will stand out as a signal honour in the annals of the club’s achievement. But they still walk in the widely flung shadow of what Ballina and Crossmolina have achieved.
They’ll not match either in the honours list. But a second title would admit them to the ranks of the greats of this decade. And Sunday may be the last chance they’ll have to achieve that distinction.
At least nine of that all-conquering side of 2001 still shoulder the responsibility for success, and their experience is vital. Enda Casey, the Higgins brothers, Kevin Deignan, David Tiernan, Richard Haran, Mark Caffrey, Paul Mulligan and Ollie Conway are the foundation on which their hopes are built.
Annually, they have been in contention for top honours since 2001, and were somewhat unfortunate to concede to Ballina in last year’s final. The hurt will have steeled them for Sunday.
The great duels will be at midfield. On David Tiernan and Mayo’s Tom Parsons Charlestown will be depending for the main source of supply for their forwards. In their semi-final against Claremorris neither dominated the area. Each did some good work, but Brian Gallagher also emerged with his reputation enhanced.
Tiernan’s experience was more evident in their win over Castlebar Mitchels. Without his intervention late in the game, Charlestown’s interest (like Ballaghaderreen) would have ended in the quarter-final.
In general, however, the performances of Ginger and Parsons have been a highlight of Charlestown’s journey to the final and they are vital to the club’s success. No team can afford to be without players of their calibre. When the chips are down they, invariably, come up with the solution.
Parsons, still under 21, has been recognised as a quality fielder by selection on Sean Boylan’s international squad. His contest with James Kilcullen will be a feature of the game on Sunday. Parsons likes to field, but if Kilcullen is not able to match him in the air, he will try to break the ball . . . and Ballaghaderreen are not always eager to win the breaks.
The excitement will not be confined to the middle of the field. You could have a decisive tussle between Enda Casey and Andy Moran. Casey has been rock solid in the Charlestown defence since they won the title seven years ago. He is under rated as a defender, but his work rate and his interventions have been a mainstay of their victories.
Moran has been a slow burner this season. He likes a good service, but had to wait on Sunday until Kilcullen got his game together at midfield. Victory at the weekend may well be decided on the outcome of this battle.
Other significant battles will be waged between Pearse Hanley and Mark Caffrey; Sean Lenehan and Barry Regan; Stephen Drake and Tony Mulligan; Gary Conway and Richard Haran, Dermot Higgins and Andy Hanley and Aidan Higgins and Barry Solan.
Ballagh’ have been strengthened by the temporary return of Pearse Hanley from the Australian League. Although listed in the last two games at centre half-forward he has taken up position in both from the start at centre-half back. Although he struggled at times to shake off the dogged determination of Crossmolina’s tackling packs, he kept a tight rein on Ciaran McDonald for long periods and his muscle was of enormous value in the final minutes.
Stephen Drake won many plaudits for his performance in the semi-final and some drama is expected from his clash with the stylish Tony Mulligan at full-forward. How Sean Lenehan deals with Barry Regan is also of huge significance in weighing up the sides.
Regan has been a major force in Ballagh’s path to the final which will surely have won him a place in John O’Mahony’s panel for the coming season. The Charlestown full-back will have his hands full in dealing with Ballagh’s top scorer.
The balance of physical power weighs heavily towards Ballaghaderreen. But they have paid too much attention to this side of their game in the past and not enough about the mental prerequisites.
They found it hard last Sunday to shake off their inhibitions. There will be pressure on them next Sunday again to win, to produce the football they have been promising for the past three years. Charlestown have the experience to exploit that pressure, to frustrate them and maybe deny them their second title.
But somehow I think Ballagh’ may have at last reached a level of maturity that will stand to them on Sunday. I think they will have gained enough from their games these past two Sundays to make the breakthrough their efforts deserve. Another titanic struggle can be expected.
