Ballina register first win of new campaign
Calum Quinn was among the try scorers for Ballina in their opening win of the AIL season against Tullamore.
AIL Division 2C
Ballina 26
Tullamore 18
At Heffernan Park
There’s nothing like a verse of ‘The Boys From The County Mayo’ on a crisp November evening! Ballina Rugby's victory song echoed over the Moy on Saturday afternoon to signal a special and well-earned All Ireland League win over Tullamore.
A superb start and a great finish secured the victory and produced a symphony of smiles all around Heffernan Park at the final whistle.
Ballina began with team captain and regular centre, Ronan Molloy packing down in the back row of the scrum as the Moy boys looked to secure their first win of the league season at the fourth attempt.
The team in green got the perfect start when Joe Murphy went over for a try in the second minute. Cody Chilcott kicked the conversion and things got even better after 12 minutes when the team captain touched down over the whitewash. Chilcott again added the conversion and Ballina took the 14-0 lead to the edge of half-time only to concede a try just before the interval.
The home side began the second half brilliantly when Calum Quinn got over for a fine try and after Chilcott kicked his third conversion of the day the scoreline stood at 21-5.
Serious questions were being asked of Tullamore at that stage and to their credit they answered those queries in fine fashion.
A penalty after 45 minutes, a converted try eleven minutes later and a penalty after 61 minutes closed the gap to 21-18. Momentum was with the Leinster men at that stage and the questions were now being asked of the home side.
That’s when the boys in green showed their true mettle. They stopped the rot and with the home crowd roaring them on went in search of a fourth try and a bonus-point win.
That desire was met in the final minute when Ian West finished a flowing move, and the roar could be heard all over the town. Ballina had won the game. Ballina were up and running and it was time to sing their song and enjoy doing so.
Ballina: Darragh Whyte, Bradley Nealon, Joe Murphy, Calum Quinn, Ian West, Cody Chilcott, Cian Quinn; Sean Hopkins, Brian Boland, Gary Kavanagh, Thomas Hannigan, Conor Mason, Ronan Molloy, Harry Regan, Blayze Molloy Replacements: Ben Matheson, Shane Clarke, Joe Sweeney, Gerard McKenna, Cian Anderson
