Rampant Robesiders make it Super back-to-back wins

Elverys Sports Super League 

Ballinrobe Town 4 

Manulla 1 

Patrick Hennelly at The Green 

A dazzling second half display from Ballinrobe Town saw them record back-to-back Super League victories following Thursday evening’s 6-3 win against Ballyheane.

Played in glorious summer sunshine at The Green, the Robesiders nudged in front on nine minutes. Jose Poblaciones was the playmaker and his eagle-eyed vision resulted in the ball finding Dean Shaughnessy, with the latter rifling home an unstoppable drive.

Four minutes later, Ballinrobe conceded the equaliser. The blue and white peppered the Ballinrobe goal and the host’s inability to clear the danger was punished when James Bolster and Dylan Padden contrived to tee-up Gary McHale and his header rustled the back of the net.

The fast paced action continued and Ballinrobe almost regained the advantage on 19 minutes but JP O’Gorman saw his strike saved, following some good approach play by Dean Shaughnessy.

Both sides created further chances as the half wore on but the sides remained deadlocked at the interval.

After a scrappy opening to the second half, the Robesiders regained the lead on 67 minutes. Possession fell to the lively Dean Shaughnessy and his right-wing cross found the poaching O’Gorman, whose close-range strike rustled the back of the net. The goal occurred just before the one minute water-break and it was perfect timing for the hosts as it gave them a chance to regroup and reenergise.

With the game on a knife-edge, a moment of brilliance took place on 84 minutes. Ballinrobe were awarded a free-kick just outside the 18 yard box and after Lawrence’s brilliant decoy run up to the ball, Oisin Connolly followed up with an inch-perfect drive that arrowed its way into the bottom corner of Livingstone’s net.

The Town were then awarded a spot-kick on 90 minutes, after Poblaciones was fouled inside the 18 yard box by the retreating and under-pressure Dylan Padden. O’Gorman was coolness personified from the spot and another three points were garnered by the Robesiders.

Ballinrobe Town: Sean Shaughnessy, Sean Hughes, Danny O’Toole, Oisin Hanlon, Oisin Connolly, Rory Walsh, Jonathan Lawrence, Shane Ryan, J. P. O’Gorman, Jose Poblaciones, Dean Shaughnessy. Subs: David Kerr (for Ryan 76), Connor Ryan, Ben Place and Isaia Caldaras (for O’Gorman, O’Toole and D Shaughnessy 90+2), Iarla Killeen (for Hanlon 90+4).

Manulla: Jack Livingstone, Lee Lyons, Gavin Jennings, Shaun Dempsey, James Dunne, Dylan Padden, Sean Redmond, James Bolster, Gary McHale, Aidan Dunleavy, Thomas Groarke. Subs: Callan Jennings (for Redmond ht), Paddy McHale (for Lyons 58), Conor Coffey (for G Jennings 76).

REF: John Mulroe.