Ballina veterans and freshers are united in victory

One is a goalkeeper, the other a forward. One has long since had their name scribed in the annals of the history of Ballina Stephenites, the ink is still very much fresh on the other. There is an age gap of about 21 years between them as well, but that will do for the differences.

What man of the match Luke Feeney, the youngest player on the pitch for Ballina Stephenites on Sunday and playing his first year of senior football, and David Clarke, the oldest, have in common is that they are both proud club men and both had a smile as wide as the pitch at full-time after beating Breaffy in the county final.

The goalkeeper pointed to the work done over the last number of years as key towards Ballina’s success, as well as the influence of Niall Heffernan, the manager.

“We’ve worked hard the last three or four years. Five or six years ago, we were relegated to Division 2 and we got a big influx of new players. Different managements put a lot of work into use but especially Niall when he came in, we’ve only worked harder and harder.

“Everyone bought in and wanted to go back at it. There’s an enjoyment factor to being involved in something that makes you stress yourself and that’s a funny way to put it but that’s what fellas like doing. It helps them get the best out of themselves.” 

For David Clarke and Ballina Stephenites, it is a first Moclair Cup in sixteen years.

“I didn’t think I’d get this feeling again, I was kind of emotional afterwards. I was nervous the last couple of years going into these finals, you just want to win one when you’re getting older and older and thankfully, we got there.” 

As for the game itself, he said it was very much a war of attrition between the two teams.

“We didn’t make it easy there today but it is a great feeling. We had a lot of chances in the first-half, not a lot in the second-half, but we had the nerve.

“We’re lucky we went through some of these situations at training over the last number of months. We tried to hold our composure and the youngest man on the pitch held it the most for us.” 

He hailed the likes of Luke Feeney and Sam Callinan for the impact they have had on the Stephenites.

“These young players have been incredible. There are some really intelligent lads there, lads training to be doctors, they’re in Trinity. They have a lot of stuff going on but they’re willing to commit to us. They are a credit to their families.” 

While David, with all his experience is taking it in his stride, young Luke Feeney has stars in his eyes when he realises what he and his team have just done, not just for the Stephenites, but for the whole of Ballina.

“I can’t believe it. I know a lot has been said but this won’t sink in now for a while. You don’t realise the amount of joy this brings to people until it’s over, I couldn’t actually believe it.

“Never mind winning man of the match or anything like that, it doesn’t mean much. Of course, it is great but it is more so about the team.” 

Feeney, who was a member of the Mayo side that reached the 2022 All-Ireland minor final, said he had a feeling the game would be a cagey affair and was glad his team were able to keep their composure.

“The ball into the forwards was very limited but we knew it would be like that. We planned for that, planned for a cagey affair so I’m not surprised there was so few scores in this game.” 

Connacht will be the next challenge for Ballina Stephenites and while the town will be thinking fondly of 2005, Luke and company will enjoy this achievement in the days to come.

“We could definitely have a good run of Connacht anyways, hopefully even further, we have the potential. But the first thing I’ll do now is change out of the boots.”