Balla show ‘more Harte to secure second win of campaign
Six points from Gary McHale (pictured) and a goal by Jack Harte were key to Balla eventually getting the better of Aghamore in a well-contested Mayo SFL Division 1B clash.
Mayo SFL Division 1B – Round 7
Balla 1-12
Aghamore 0-14
Nathan Guilfoyle in Nally Park, Balla
On a perfect day for football, Balla emerged victorious in Sunday’s hard-fought senior league battle with an Aghamore side superbly led by Fergal Boland. The Mayo panellist was suspended for county duty on Saturday evening but was central to Aghamore being much the better side in the first-half of this Division 1B game the following day – and they held a deserved lead at half-time.
Sean Og Tighe, Brendan Harrison and Boland all scored during the opening quarter, while Balla stayed competitive with much-needed scoring contributions from Mattie Flanagan, Oisin Cronin and Luke Flatley. Aghamore could have been even further ahead if it wasnt for a fantastic save by goalkeeper David Dolan who denied Michael McNieve from close range.
Aghamore hit their purple patch soon after however, with a flurry of five consecutive points, including three impressive efforts from Liam Lavin and two long-range frees from Sean Og Tighe and goalkeeper Adam Byrne. Gary McHale stopped the rot with two frees, but Aghamore would still lead by double scores, 0-10 to 0-5, at half-time after further efforts from Lavin and Boland.
The second-half was a different story altogether as while Aghamore extended their lead early on through an accurate effort from midfielder Rob O’Flaherty, they would go the next 17 minutes without scoring at all.
Balla tightened up at the back where Conor Dunleavy, Ger Flanagan and Conor Walsh were all excellent. At the other end, Gary McHale added two points from frees before a superb Cillian Golding effort reduced the gap to three.
Balla would get a further reward for their improved performance as they entered the final ten minutes, with an opportunity on goal created superbly by full-forward Mattie Flanagan who slipped the ball expertly to sharpshooter Jack Harte, who finished with aplomb, levelling the game. Inside forward Oisin Cronin then gave Balla their first lead of the game a minute later, after further excellent work from Flanagan.
Although Fergal Boland would equalise minutes later, a point from McHale, followed by a brilliant score by Cronin, left Balla two ahead with three minutes remaining. A rasping effort on goal from midfielder Cillian Golding would have had the game decided soon after, if not for his unfortunate luck to hit the bar and the ball to bounce on the line.
Boland kicked two more points in stoppage time but a converted free from Gary McHale in between ensured that Balla dug out a badly needed victory, their second win in seven, which moves them to within one point of third from bottom Aghamore in the 1B standings.
Scorers – Balla: Gary McHale 0-6 (5f), Jack Harte 1-0, Oisin Cronin 0-3, Mattie Flanagan, Liam Flatley and Cillian Golding 0-1 each.
Aghamore: Fergal Boland 0-5 (1f), Liam Lavin 0-4 (1f), Sean Og Tighe 0-2f, Rob O’Flaherty, Adam Byrne (f) and Brendan Harrison 0-1 each.
Balla: David Dolan; Ben Freyne, Ger Flanagan, Jude Clarke; Conor Dunleavy, Val Rougheen, Conor Walsh; Cilian Golding, Shane Conway; Jack Harte, Luke Flatley, Gary McHale; Oisin Cronin, Matty Flanagan, Colm Murphy.
Aghamore: Adam Byrne; Jake Glavey, David Kenny, Liam Cassidy; Conor Morley, Brendan Harrison, Robert Lyons; Rob O’Flaherty Sean Og Tighe; Michael McNieve, Fergal Boland, Jack Concannon; Padraig Mooney, Liam Lavin, Darren Duffy.
REF: Shane Corcoran (Islandeady)
