Edeh magic brings Ballyheane to the Boyle
Ben Edeh Mayo League against Roscommon League in the Oscar Traynor Cup in Solar 21 Park Castlebar. Photo: © Michael Donnelly
Ballyheane have reached the national stages of the FAI Junior Cup after putting three past Roscommon & District League side Boyle Celtic last Sunday afternoon.
The scoreline may make it seem like it was a comfortable outing for the two-time Super League champions but this game was in the melting pot until injury-time. A heroic display by Boyle goalkeeper Kyle Sweeney kept the visitors in the game but as Boyle pumped balls into the Ballyheane penalty area, they were caught in possession inside their own half as substitute Rory Morris made sure Ballyheane were in the pot for Round 4 of the competition.
It was a good performance overall,” head coach Ashley Stevenson told the Western People after the game. “We got the result, which is the main thing at this time of year. Some good football, patchy at times in the first half. There was areas we were good and areas we were slow in getting going. I think we were comfortable winners, we left it late to get the goals. Their ‘keeper pulled off a couple of worldies in fairness to him. He kept them in the game. But overall, good performance and fully deserved overall.” Boyle will owe much to their shotstopper for keeping them in the game but almost gifted Ballyheane the opener on 16 minutes. Dylan Stevenson’s corner was fumbled by Sweeney but his blushes were spared as Jack Tuffy’s effort came back off the post. Sweeney’s performance would redeem his error as he denied Ben Edeh, Nathan Reilly Doyle and Dylan Stevenson throughout the first half.
Boyle’s best period of the game came midway through the first half. The industrious Shane Carroll was causing problems in the Ballyheane defence and his pinpoint delivery found Michael Corrigan on 20 minutes but the centre-forward couldn’t get a clean strike off. Carroll himself was in two minutes later only for Luca Meldrum to be quick off his line to clear.
The best chance of the half came the way of Michael Fahy on 35 minutes. Another dangerous set-piece by Dylan Stevenson caused havoc in the Boyle penalty area and were grateful to one of their own to clear Fahy’s shot off the line.
Edeh’s influence on proceedings grew as the game went on, and was an outlet for Ballyheane on the right side. One run early in the second half saw him drive a cross to Nathan Reilly Doyle but Doyle’s shot was scuffed. Doyle came very close minutes later with a rasper from distance but Sweeney pulled off a brilliant save.
It became clear a piece of magic would be required to break the deadlock and Edeh would deliver. On 65 minutes, Fahy picked him out inside the penalty area and Edeh would cut inside before firing a magnificent shot into the bottom corner to give Ballyheane the lead.
Ballyheane pushed on in search of a second. Sean Rabbette saw a header go over while Tuffy was denied brilliantly by Sweeney.
Nerves began to play a part for the hosts as Boyle enjoyed possession in the latter stages but never looked like making the breakthrough. Ballyheane put the game beyond doubt in injury-time when a mistake in the Boyle defence allowed Rory Morris to win possession and he powered on to fire into the net before Dylan Stevenson added a gloss to the score in the final moments with an excellent finish.
