Back to back wins for dark horses Ballagh’
Cian Hanley's first-half goal was a key score in Ballaghaderreen's three points win away to Belmullet.
There’s no journey further that Ballaghaderreen can make to play a game of county championship football so they were determined not to let their expedition to Belmullet last Sunday be a fruitless one. Also on their agenda was to prove that an opening round victory over Knockmore was no flash in the pan, and they did just that when staying in control of this tie for most of the hour.
The absence, however, of Ryan O’Donoghue from the Belmullet line-up should not be underestimated. The Mayo attacker might have had a significant impact were he not injured, particularly given how much possession his team enjoyed; in the second-half alone Belmullet kicked seven wides and dropped two balls short into Ballagh’ goalkeeper Jamie Lunt who also denied them goals on two occasions with excellent saves.
And yet it was easy to make the case that Ballaghaderreen were deserved winners, with Tomás Morley’s team looking highly organised throughout the contest, which took place in conditions that were unusually benign for this coastal outpost. There was a breeze but not so significant to influence the game dramatically; it was at Ballaghaderreen’s backs in the first-half but that they led 1-5 to 0-1 after 21 minutes was more due to good football than any great assistance from the elements.
Ronan Murray, from a seventh minute free, opened the scoring but Belmullet would have to wait until five minutes before half-time for their next score, during which period Ballagh’ tore into their challenge. A point by Keith O’Donnell and two from Ryan Lynch were sandwiched by a brace from Matthew Connor who, in the first-half especially, played like his famous Offaly namesake. The speed with which Shairoze Akram was able to transition defence into attack was central to his side’s early gains while the Ballaghaderreen goal, when it arrived, was also created by men familiar to the county jersey.
Kuba Callaghan and David McBrien attacked the left side of Belmullet’s defence and the latter popped a pass across the square where Cian Hanley was waiting to slam the ball past goalkeeper Shane Nallen, giving the visitors a seven points lead.
Belmullet needed to respond quickly – both on and off the pitch – and they did. Leo Howard was sprung from the bench to add some strength around the middle third and three minutes later, his brother, Seamus, was booting home a goal. The chance arose when Shane Nallen advanced to the opposition’s 45-metre line and landed a kick into the Ballaghaderreen goalmouth, with the ball breaking kindly for Seamus Howard who pulled first time to the net.
Matthew Connor retaliated with his third point from play but with Ronan Murray and Shane Nallen, from a free, striking the closing points of the half, Ballaghaderreen’s lead was now down to three, 1-6 to 1-3, despite having looked on top for so long.
Belmullet’s new found form continued into the early minutes of the second-half, with an excellent move involving Leo Howard, Darragh Dixon and wing-back James Lavelle ending with Padraig Cowman drawing a fine save from Jamie Lunt. Nallen converted the ’45 and with the breeze at their backs and only two points to make up, Belmullet will surely have felt confident within themselves.
However, they were to wait until the end of the third quarter for their next score, a Fionan Ryan point, by which time Kuba Callaghan had opened his account for Ballaghaderreen by converting a free earned by Ryan Lynch, who since half-time had switched from midfield to full-forward.
By now, the wides were beginning to rack up on Belmullet, with Shane Nallen, twice, Eamonn McAndrew, Colin Barrett and full-back Conan O’Connor all off target, the latter’s a goal chance after some excellent build up between Ryan and Dixon. There was a goal opportunity too for corner-back James O’Donnell, in the 52nd minute, whose first attempt was deflected by a defender and his follow-up palmed away by Lunt.
At the other end, Akram carried the ball deep into the home side’s defence before offloading to Cian Hanley whose effort to score a second goal flew just over the crossbar, and another direct run, this time by David McBrien, resulted in a point for Adam Phillips which extended Ballaghaderreen’s lead to four points, 1-9 to 1-5, with six minutes of normal time remaining.
With David Drake an imposing presence at full-back all game, the visitors shut up shop and while there were two late Belmullet points by substitute Anthony Barrett, either side of a pointed free for Ballagh’ by Callaghan, the goal that the North Mayo side craved never looked like arriving.
Ballaghaderreen’s place in the quarter-finals is assured while Belmullet, despite two defeats, still have a mathematical chance of qualifying – but would need a convincing win over Knockmore in the final group game to have any chance of doing so.
Scorers – Ballaghaderreen: Cian Hanley 1-1, Matthew Connor 0-3, Ryan Lynch and Kuba Callaghan (2f) 0-2 each, Keith O’Donnell and Adam Phillips 0-1 each.
Belmullet: Seamus Howard 1-0, Ronan Murray (1f), Shane Nallen (1f, 1 ’45) and Anthony Barrett (1f) 0-2 each, Fionan Ryan 0-1.
Belmullet: Shane Nallen; Donal Barrett, Conan O’Connor, James O’Donnell; James Lavelle, Marty Boylan, Riain Concannon; Evan Ivers, Seamus Howard; Colin Barrett, Fionan Ryan, Darragh Dixon; Padraig Cowman, Ronan Murray, Eamon McAndrew. Subs: Leo Howard (for Boylan 22), Anthony Barrett (for Dixon 48).
Ballaghaderreen: Jamie Lunt; Luke Connor, David Drake, Domhnall Forrest; Kane Phillips, David McBrien, Shairoze Akram; Ryan Lynch, Darragh Kelly; Adam Phillips, Keith O’Donnell, Matthew Connor; Callum Coleman, Cian Hanley, Kuba Callaghan. Subs: Seamus Cunniffe (for L Connor 38), Aaron Lynch (for K Phillips 39), Dylan Feeney (for Coleman 48), Arainn McDermott (for O’Donnell 57).
REF: Liam Devenney (Ballina)
