Robesiders do the double over 'Heane
JP O'Gorman netted the third for Ballinrobe Town against Ballyheane.
A plucky Ballinrobe Town edged a high octane five-goal thriller at Pat Quigley Park on Saturday evening last with this game in the melting pot right up until the final whistle.
This is the second time this league season that Ballinrobe Town have defeated Ballyheane, with their clash back in May producing nine goals in a 6-3 victory for the Robesiders.
The pitch was in pristine condition and was ideal for a high tempo game, with slick and neat passing the order of the day, and Ballyheane made the dream start to this joust after only two minutes when the locals grabbed an early lead. A slick attacking foray saw Nathan Reilly Doyle collect possession and his delightful daisy-cutter nestled sweetly in the bottom corner of the net, much to the delight of the home bench.
Despite conceding so early in the game, Ballinrobe regrouped impressively and Xavi Vazquez’s troops could well have levelled matters on 10 minutes but after scampering inside the 18-yard box, JP O’Gorman’s attempt on goal was thwarted and the chance went a-begging.
Undeterred, the Robesiders continued to up the tempo and they netted a deserved equaliser on 17 minutes. In what was a spellbinding move, Danny O’Toole and Dean Shaughnessy combined on the right-side of midfield, with Shaughnessy’s precise delivery finding O’Gorman and the latter applied a tidy close-range finish to the back of the net.
Shaughnessy was a lively presence up front for the South Mayo outfit and could have nudged his team-mates in front on 29 minutes, but after racing onto a through ball, he curled his strike agonisingly wide.
Two minutes later, it was the hosts who were left ruing their misfortune in front of goal; when Rory Morris’ drive forced a parried save by Sean Shaughnessy, before Liam Morris skied the subsequent rebound.
Ballyheane nearly fashioned the lead three minutes before the interval, however, once again Shaughnessy kept his Ballinrobe team-mates in the game, as he pushed Nathan Reilly Doyle’s effort over his crossbar.
The sides were deadlocked at the break, however, Xavi Vazquez’s half-time pep-talk seemed to have worked wonders for Ballinrobe as the visitors snatched the lead inside the opening minute of the second half, courtesy of a sumptuous strike from outside the box by the dynamic Shaughnessy.
The visitor’s goal lived a charmed life during the second half, with Ballyheane coming very close to restoring parity only for Rory Morris’s effort to fly inches off target.
Ballyheane continued to pepper the Ballinrobe goal, and the hosts were also a threat from set-pieces. A raking free-kick from Dylan Stevenson found the poaching Adam Blake, but the latter’s free header flew inches over the crossbar, much to the relief of Sean Shaughnessy and his defence.
Both sides were full of endeavour, as the battle for the priceless league points intensified during a high octane second half. Indeed, the Robesiders could have mustered a two goal cushion on 51 minutes, when both Gary Mellett Connolly and Shaughnessy combined to set-up O’Gorman, however, the latter’s close-range header was just marginally off target.
With the game delicately poised, the locals could well have levelled matters on 61 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Reilly Doyle was fouled inside the 18 yard box. Dylan Stevenson was given the dead-ball responsibility, but his spot-kick flashed narrowly wide.
Ballyheane crafted some decent chances during the second half, but it appeared that the South Mayo side had sealed the deal on 86 minutes. Some beguiling build-up play from Garry Mellett Connolly saw the midfielder play a splendid slide rule pass into the path of the scuttling O’Gorman and the latter rounded John Vahey and guided the ball home.
One minute into stoppage time, Ballyheane’s Liam Morris pulled a goal back to set-up an anxious finale for the away bench.
However, Ballinrobe displayed a strong work ethic during the dying embers of the tie and the visitors held on to claim the spoils. They will now face their biggest test of the season thus far, with home and away league games against defending Super League champions and recently crowned Connacht Cup champions, Castlebar Celtic, this Thursday and Sunday respectively.
Meanwhile, Ballyheane will hope to get back to winning ways when they face an away tie against Crossmolina.
