Ballinrobe girls are simply a class above the rest
Ballinrobe Community School, Connacht U17 'B' Girls champions. Picture: Andy Walsh
An avalanche of goals flowed for Ballinrobe Community School on Monday evening last as the Robesiders had too much firepower for a beleaguered Coláiste Éinde at The Green.
The hosts bamboozled their opponents during the embryonic stages of this clash and after just 12 first half minutes Ballinrobe had gleaned a commanding 3-0 lead.
The opening Ballinrobe goal of the evening arrived on six minutes, when Ursula Shaughnessy unleashed a screamer of long-range strike from outside the box, which zipped its way to the back of Sophie Hynes’ net.
Coláiste Éinde almost had the perfect response, but Mairéad Mulkerns saw her strike on seven minutes tail inches wide.
On 11 minutes, the South Mayo School doubled their advantage, when Shaughnessy’s inch-perfect corner-kick found Emma Dowling and the latter’s perfectly placed header was destined for the top corner of the net.
One minute later, St. Enda’s were left with a mountain to climb, as a superlative long-range strike from Shaughnessy sailed over the beaten Hynes and rustled the back of the Galway net.
Coláiste Éinde - who have players from the likes of Mervue United, Knocknacarra FC and Barna Furbo United - desperately tried to find a way back into the game, with their hard-working winger Kayla McDonnell forcing two fine saves from Ballinrobe’s Rylee Burke on 16 and 20 minutes respectively.
The Threadneedle Road based outfit tried to pepper the home goal, however, Ballinrobe led by Faith Durkin, Ali Hughes, Sophia McHale and Kayla Maloney, were more than capable of playing the ball out from the back, despite the intense pressure from their guests.
The next goal was always going to be crucial and it fell the way of the rampant local’s on 26 minutes. Emma Stagg collected possession outside the box and her daisy-cutter of a strike fortuitously deceived Hynes and the ball rolled ominously to the back of the net.
The Robesiders were motoring along nicely and two quick-fire goals from their dynamic midfielder Kate Brennan effectively ended the tie as a contest.
Just before the break, Ballinrobe’s Shaughnessy completed her remarkable first half hat-trick and the Pink and Black held an unassailable 7-0 lead during the half-time musings.
Half-time Ballinrobe substitute Rachel Gallagher almost had an immediate impact on proceedings during the early stages of the new half, but her angled drive was expertly saved by Hynes.
However, 15 minutes into the new half (35 minutes per-half), the South Mayo School notched an eighth goal, when the busy Shaughnessy cut inside the box and arrowed home a tidy finish to register her fourth goal of the joust.
The Edel Mullin coached outfit didn’t rest on their laurels and on 59 minutes the energetic Kate Brennan completed her deserving hat-trick, much to the delight of the home supporters.
Niamh McDonnell Connolly could well have added further gloss to the score-line for the soon to be crowned provincial champions, but after ghosting past the Galway defence, she saw her effort trickle narrowly wide.
There was some respite for Coláiste Éinde when Abi Gilligan pinched a consolation strike on 65 minutes.
However, five minutes later, the full-time whistle sounded to signal joyous celebrations for the Ballinrobe players, management and their supporters, as they savoured capturing a provincial title on home turf.
