O’Donnell’s boys adapt best to conditions
Balla’s Oran Murphy celebrates his team’s Connacht GAA Post Primary Schools victory despite a heavy shower of sleet and rain at Bekan last Saturday. Picture: David Farrell Photography
He may be from Charlestown but Gareth O’Donnell won’t have to buy a pint anytime soon should he enter the Rendezvous, Shebeen or Mannion’s Bar.
Gareth is joint-manager of the Balla Secondary School team who had beaten an understrength Gortnor Abbey side in the group stage but who now faced the Crossmolina men at near full-strength (Josh Moyles missed Saturday’s game due to injury). The sleet and snow in Bekan meant free-flowing football was at a real premium but other qualities needed to win finals – a watertight defence, winning dirty ball – saw Balla crowned champions.
“There wasn't probably a lot of football played in the second-half there, we were 9-5 up at half-time and we were into a big breeze in the second-half but I think the lads have put a savage amount of effort into this over the last six months and you could probably tell there at the end,” said O’Donnell.
“I thought we were very well set up defensively and in this weather, just not giving them free shots at any time. I thought we were very disciplined and it's probably a credit to the work the lads have done over the last five years, but in particular the last six months.”
O’Donnell added: “We pride ourselves on that all year, breaking ball, good tackles. We have a very good attacking team but obviously in these conditions today, you weren't allowed to show that at all.
“I thought we worked a few scores very well in the first-half, we kicked a few lovely two-pointers. But in the second-half, it was all about just who wants it more, dying on the ball, and I thought our lads to a man and the lads we brought on, everyone stood up when it counted.”
Balla did get some tremendous scores nonetheless through Ryan O’Donnell and Mark Jennings, but Liam Glynn’s two-point free in injury-time was a courageous effort when it might have been easier to pass it to a teammate and run the clock down.
“I suppose I wasn't too happy that he took it on the sideline, I was thinking kick it over the end line and it might be over, but Liam is a savagely talented footballer, a brilliant free taker and has a great future ahead of him. All these lads do for Balla, Mayo Gaels, Ballintubber, Castlebar, they all have great futures in front of them if they stick at it.”
Carrigaline Community School from Cork await in the All-Ireland semi-final in a fortnight in what will be a busy time for Balla Secondary School, as much of their Gaelic side will be in action less than 48 hours later in the FAI U19 Senior ‘B’ Final.
“We'll have to plan that out good now over the next couple of weeks. We won't worry about that this weekend. We'll enjoy this week because these are hard worked for and you have to enjoy them when they come around. I suppose Wednesday or Thursday next week now we'll be getting to work on Carrigaline,” O’Donnell concluded.
