Feeney hat-trick keeps Ballina top of Connacht J1A League
Ballina’s Daniel Feeney scores his side’s second try against Ballinasloe during the Bank of Ireland Connacht J1A League played in atrocious weather conditions at Heffernan Park last Saturday night. Picture: David Farrell Photography
Daniel Feeney bagged himself a hat trick of tries as Ballina continued their 100% winning record in the Bank of Ireland Connacht J1A League following a hard-fought victory over Ballinasloe.
The hosts got off to a great start when Luke Sweeney crossed the try line with only four minutes played after great work in the build up from Calum Quinn, Thomas Hannigan, Cian Anderson and Liam Jones.
Feeney then got the first of his collection on 15 minutes. From a Ballina scrum, the ball was passed to Quinn, who made a great run before he was stopped by the Ballinasloe defence. Quinn kept the ball alive for Ballina however, and Feeney did the rest for the hosts second try, which would be converted by Anderson.
Feeney would then repeat the trick two minutes later as Liam Jones diagonal run broke through the Ballinasloe backline, and Feeney would pick up his second try of the evening.
Moments after the restart, heavy pressure by Ballinasloe's Shane Fitzpatrick saw him block down Cian Anderson’s kick inside the Ballina 22 and Fitzpatrick would run through and make it to the line, as Aaron McGreal converted for 19-7 midway through the first half.
Ballinasloe’s confidence was growing, while Ballina’s discipline was letting them down. Billy McVann picked up a yellow card and was temporarily sent to the sidelines, and the visitors hit a purple patch, with tries by Jack Codrye and Seamus Egan, both converted by McGreal, put Ballinasloe 21-19 up at half-time.
Dylan Rice, who would have a big second half for Ballina, turned provider for Craig McCormick to cross the try line, and converted by Conor Connolly, to put Ballina back in front.
Connolly soon followed with a penalty to stretch their lead to eight, but Ballina would continue to be their own worst enemies, as Alan Duffy was the second Ballina player to be yellow carded for indiscipline.
Andrew Mannion left three between them with Ballinasloe’s fourth try on 62 minutes, but Ballina made sure of the win and bonus point late on when Billy Ruane’s clever ball forward picked out Dylan Rice for a try, before Feeney completed his hat-trick in the final moments of the game.
