Goals come too late for Davitts to deny Ballina
A goal and six points from Conor McStay saw Ballina Stephenites coast to victory over Davitts on Sunday.
Mayo SFL Division 1A – Round 7
Ballina Stephenites 1-14
Davitts 2-5
At Davitt Park, Ballindine
The two teams began the day level on points in the Division 1A table but it was the visiting Ballina Stephenites who proved too strong for Davitts in last Sunday’s Division 1A clash at sunny Ballindine.
It was a third win on the spin for the county champions, having bounced back from a home defeat against Charlestown Sarsfields with maximum points from games against Belmullet, Ballyhaunis and now Davitts. It places them second in the table, above Knockmore on scoring difference.
Niall Heffernan’s took the lead in the opening minute, courtesy of Luke Feeney, and never relinquished it. Conor McStay doubled their advantage in the ninth minute and while Ronan McNamara opened the Davitts account in the 11th minute with a fine point, Ballina extended their lead to three with points in the 13th and 19th minutes by Sean Fitzpatrick and Conor McStay again.
Scores were hard to come by in the tight exchanges but Davitts points from Brian Clarke and Ronan McNamara in the 21st and 25th minutes cut the Ballina lead, but Aodhan McCann and Conor McStay pointed for the Green and Red in the 27th and 29th minutes before the latter, on the stroke of half-time, benefitted from a defensive error to fire home his side’s only goal of the game. This left the visitors ahead by 1-6 to 0-3 at the break.
Ronan McNamara pointed for Davitts in the third minute of the second-half with Conor McStay following suit for Ballina three minutes later. Tommy Waldron, for the locals, and Ciaran Boland for the visitors exchanged points in the 37th minute, but Ballina were able to stretch out their lead with points from Conor McStay, two, Dylan Neary and Luke Feeney between the 39th and 54th minutes.
His side eight points adrift, Thomas Ronayne got on the end of a fine Davitts move to finish to the net in the 56th minute and spark feint hopes of a comeback. Ballina, however, responded with points from Adam McAndrew and Ciaran Boland before Fionn McLoughlin got the game’s final score, another well-worked Davitts goal in the last minute.
Best for Ballina were Oisin Farrell, David Tighe, Ciaran Boland, Luke Jordan, Dylan Neary, Conor McStay, Luke Feeney and Mark Birrane. Davitts had battling performances from Brian Birmingham, Thomas Ronayne, Colm Boyle, Charlie Phillips, Fionn McLoughlin, Darragh McGale, Ronan McNamara and Tommy Waldron.
Scorers – Ballina Stephenites: Conor McStay 1-6 (0-5f), Luke Feeney and Ciaran Boland 0-2 each, Sean Fitzpatrick, Aodhan McCann, Dylan Neary and Adam McAndrew (f) 0-1 each.
Davitts: Thomas Ronayne and Fionn McLoughlin 1-0 each, Ronan McNamara 0-3, Brian Clarke and Tommy Waldron 0-1 each.
Davitts: Dylan O’Brien; Jordan Flanagan, Cathal Higgins, Brian Birmingham; Thomas Ronayne, Colm Boyle, Sean Keadin; Charlie Phillips, Jack Melvin; Fionn McLoughlin, Brian Clarke, Brian Óg McTigue; Darragh McGale, Ronan McNamara, Jack Devane. Subs used: Tommy Waldron, Stephen Nyland, Donie Ronayne, Micheal Hett.
Ballina Stephenites: Eoghan Coleman; Sean Doherty, Oisin Farrell, Thomas Doherty; Brendan Collins, David Tighe, Ciaran Boland; Luke Jordan, Dylan Neary; Aodan McCann, Conor McStay, Ben Thornton; Sean Fitzpatrick, Luke Feeney, Mark Birrane. Subs used: Dylan Thornton, Marcus Lacuesta, Daniel Winters, Adam McAndrew.
REF: Michael Daly (Ballyhaunis)
