Balla nudged closer to trapdoor by next door rivals

Mayo SFC – Relegation Semi-Final 

Mayo Gaels 0-15

Balla 0-11 

John Paul Heaney at St Coman’s Park, Hollymount 

This was club football at its most exciting.

A great venue, a big crowd, good scores, fine saves, poor misses and two teams full of desire ensured an evening of top-class entertainment. Not a single soul could leave the famous venue until local referee Kevin Connelly blew for full-time, and it was the blue and gold of Mayo Gaels that were celebrating, coming away with a four-points victory over their great rivals.

Gaels are now secured in senior football for next year but how Balla came away in defeat is what puzzled so many on view.

To say Declan Sweeney and Alan Nolan's side were the better team for large periods of the opening 40 minutes would be an understatement. The West Mayo side led 0-9 to 0-4 at the break but also kicked seven wides and had three shots into the goalie's hands, such was their dominance. And how they lived to regret it.

Mayo Gaels outscored their neighbours 0-10 to 0-2 in the final 20 minutes to completely turn this game on its head. Despite their Moclair Cup dreams long since dashed, and the avoidance of relegation their goals, both sides showed flashes of what they were capable of. Conditions were not ideal, with rain and a strong breeze being present throughout, but this had little effect on Balla as they were so dominant in the opening half.

They went three up with Colm Murphy, corner-back Brian O’Donovan and Gary McHale, a free, all getting on target. By the midway point of the half, a two-pointer from midfielder Cillian Golding sent them 0-5 to 0-1 up, with a free by Peter Gallagher the only response at the other end.

It was at this point Balla should have increased their lead into almost double figures but they kicked three efforts right into the hands of Gaels goalkeeper Nathan McGurrin. However, the closing 10 minutes of this first-half became the Oisin Cronin Show as he registered three points from play. The former Mayo minor and U20 player made it look so easy and was causing havoc for the Gaels defence. His cousin Ger Flanagan played a huge role in breaking up an attack that began the move for the first of these three white flags.

There was finally some action at the other end and Johnny Morrin’s side did kick three from play, but still trailed by five at the break, with Ronan Commons getting his first, and two following soon after from the boot of David Quinn.

Mayo Gaels have talent in their squad, evidenced by their draw with a good Crossmolina side in the group stages, and if they ever needed to count on this talent to deliver, it was now. And they did. Balla would only score two points for the entirety of the second-half, from placed balls, whereas the Gaels forwards, led by the Gallagher brothers, Peter and John, began to deliver.

The introduction off the bench of both Conor Burke and Dara Patten also played a key role in the comeback by Mayo Gaels. Their sides kicked five unanswered points, four frees and one from play, to draw level at 0-9 apiece heading into the final quarter. Peter Gallagher kicked three of these, two frees and one from play, with John converting two further frees.

It was then left to corner-forward Ronan Commons and Liam Hughes, coming up from centre-back, to kick them two ahead, before a huge opportunity arrived for Balla – a penalty. Shaun Dempsey was brought to the ground in what was a clear foul, but Gary McHale’s low shot to the left was saved by Nathan McGurrin with the rebound sent wide, and Balla never recovered from this.

Mayo Gaels added four further points in the final seven minutes, including by Peter, John and Adam Gallagher, who was excellent at midfield, and a first from Jack Fallon. It sealed a derby victory that for Mayo Gaels will live long in the memory for its importance.

Gaels can now rest and recover over the winter months, with Balla facing a deciding play-off against Ballaghaderreen in two weeks to determine their fate for next year.

Scorers – Mayo Gaels: Peter Gallagher 0-0-5 (3f), John Gallagher 0-0-3 (2f), Ronan Commons and David Quinn 0-0-2 each, Liam Hughes, Jack Fallon and Adam Gallagher 0-0-1 each.

Balla: Oisin Cronin 0-0-3, Gary McHale 0-0-2 (2f), Cillian Golding 0-1-0, Colm Murphy, Brian O’Donovan, Liam Glynn (f) and David Dolan (’45) 0-0-1 each.

Mayo Gaels: Nathan McGurrin; Alan Brennan, Ruairi Keane, Jack Fallon; Ryan McGurrin, Liam Hughes, John Finn; Ethan Henry, Adam Gallagher; David Quinn, Kevin Lynch, Andrew Quinn; Peter Gallagher, John Gallagher, Ronan Commons. Subs: Conor Burke (for R McGurrin ht), Dara Patten (for Lynch 38), Jack Jordan (for Commons 60+2).

Balla: David Dolan; Jude Clarke, Ger Flanagan; Brian O’Donovan; Conor Dunleavy, Oisin Jordan, Patrick McLoughlin; Cillian Golding, Shaun Dempsey; Colm Murphy, Oisin Cronin, Ryan Fadden; Gary McHale, Conor Walsh, Luke Flatley. Subs: Odhran O’Connor and Liam Glynn (for Fadden and Flatley 49), Ryan O’Donnell (for Dempsey 57).

REF: Kevin Connelly (Hollymount/Carramore)