Ballaghaderreen win again on their travels in Erris

MAYO SFC ROUND 2

GROUP 3

Belmullet 1-7

Ballaghaderreen 1-10

TALLAGH

THE young men of Ballaghaderreen took a giant leap in their football progression today when grinding out a hard-earned victory in Erris. The East Mayo team hit the front early and were never pegged back by the home side who kicked a stream of wides in the second half.

Belmullet lined out without the injured Ryan O'Donoghue and the suspended Eoin O'Donoghue, but still created enough chances to win the game.

Shairoze Akram, Ryan Lynch, Matthew Connor, David Drake and Cian Hanley were prominent for the guests early on and they were three clear at the break, 1-6 to 1-3. Ballagh's goal came from Hanley after 21 minutes after combination play from Kuba Callaghan and David McBrien cut through the Belmullet cover.

The home side replied three minutes later when Seamus Howard knocked home a goal after good approach play from Shane Nallen and Fionnan Ryan.

The second half began with Belmullet on the front foot but they couldn't turn their dominance into scores while Ballaghaderreen goalkeeper Jamie Lunt denied them with some spectacular saves.

James Lavelle drove Belmullet up the pitch time and time again, but their inefficiency in front of the posts stalled their revival.

At the other end, Ballaghaderreen found the scores to stay just out of reach and they were four up with time ticking away.

Anthony Barrett came off the bench to close the gap to a goal as injury time arrived and the Erris men went in search of a goal to draw the game. However, when Darragh Kelly came out of a crowded goalmouth with the ball in his hands in the final play of the day, the deal was sealed and Tomas Morley's men had won their second game in succession.

A full report and aftermatch reaction with the winning manager Tomas Morley will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News.