Claremorris claim bragging rights
Claremorris continued their final preparations for the upcoming Super League campaign by seeing off Ballinrobe Town on Sunday. The double winners from last year were made to work hard for their victory at a breezy Concannon Park. Ballinrobe will take the positives from the game despite missing a plethora of chances.
The game started in frantic fashion as both sides eyed a tilt at the Connacht Shield. Ballinrobe conjured up the first real opportunity on four minutes. Jonathan Lawrence who proved to be a thorn in the Claremorris side whipped in a delicious cross for JP O’Gorman with the frontman’s headed effort screaming against the crossbar.
Ballinrobe had another chance to go in front, but Dean Shaughnessy failed to trouble Claremorris stopper Keith Saunders with a tame gambit. Claremorris made the breakthrough against the run of play on nine minutes. Simon Butler broke free and was prevented by Town keeper Sean Shaughnessy. The rebound fell kindly to Butler who teed up Mike Heaney who scrambled home to put Claremorris in front.
Claremorris were soon put under more pressure by Xavi Vázquez’s men as the dangerous Killian McHugh delivered a sensational cross to O’Gorman who fired over on 19 minutes. Ryan McLoughlin used the wind to his advantage with a looping cross from the right troubling Shaughnessy who was glad to see the ball flash the crossbar and go over.
Dean Shaughnessy ran onto a long ball over the top and was thwarted by Saunders with O’Gorman unable to place the ball into the back of the net on 23 minutes. The returning Mark Maloney was superbly kept out by Sean Shaughnessy with McLoughlin heading straight into the Town keepers’ arms.
Lawrence sent in a in swinging corner on 33 minutes which caused pandemonium in the Claremorris penalty area with Saunders pushing the ball onto the crossbar. Lawrence then sent in another arrowing corner which McHugh flicked on with no one in red accepting the invitation to level the game.
The Greens started the second half with purpose and Maloney used his blistering pace to get in behind the Ballinrobe backline on 46 minutes but fired over with Brandon Walsh on the edge of the box waiting for the cutback.
James Morley was next to try his luck, however, his attempt was blocked down magnificently by Oisin Connelly. Claremorris started to play their football that gained them promotion last term and a beautiful move saw Walsh deliver a cross for Butler who blazed wide on 59 minutes.
Ballinrobe continued to push for an equalizer in the dying embers of the game and O’Gorman repeated the feat of crashing the leather against the bar with Saunders beaten on 73 minutes.
Shane Ryan had one of the big opportunities of the game on 84 minutes. Ryan spun on the turn and hammered a shot wide of the target. Another Ryan effort from a freekick sailed over as the Claremorris rearguard was destined not to be breached.
Maloney burst through on goal but was hacked down by Darren McDonnell who left referee Jimmy Cawley with no choice but to brandish a red card.
Claremorris moved through with both sides’ attention now turned to the Super League curtain raiser next weekend.
