Rovers pay the penalties in fiery Balla battle
Midfield action during the meeting of Balla and Crossmolina in Mayo SFL Division 1B at Nally Park last Saturday evening. Pictures: David Farrell Photography
Tempers flared at the final whistle, with some unsavoury clashes between players and mentors from both camps, after a pulsating league encounter on Saturday evening. But with seven points between the teams on the scoreboard, there could be no doubting who were the deserving winners of this fiery encounter, with Balla even further ahead before holding off a spirited comeback by the division’s table toppers.
It was a contest that took no time at all to catch fire as just moments in, Mayo U20 forward Oisín Cronin took off on a surging run and found the top corner of the net in stunning style for the first of Balla’s three goals on the evening. Balla’s early intensity rattled the visitors and they soon struck again, with Conor Walsh confidently dispatching a penalty low to the left after a foul inside the area.
With Walsh heavily involved in much of Balla’s early attacking play, Colm Murphy added a point from a free before Crossmolina eventually responded with a moment of pure class, as Kobe McDonald curled over a superb two-point free from off the ground to get his side off the mark. Cronin continued to torment the defence and won a second penalty for Balla, but this time Patrick O’Malley denied Walsh with a sharp save.
Walsh’s opposite number, David Dolan, kicked the resulting ’45, and the Balla netminder impressed throughout with his energy and positioning.
Fionán Duffy followed up with a delightful two-point free of his own, and Crossmolina slowly grew into the contest. Walsh again made an impact before three unanswered scores from Oisín Deane were supplemented by a brace from his teammate Duffy, to help bring the game back to life.
Just before the break, Colm Murphy landed another score for Balla to steady the ship, sending the sides in with the hosts leading 2-5 to 0-7.
The second-half began with a golden goal chance for Crossmolina. James Maheady was played through by a clever ball from Duffy, but David Dolan produced a vital save to turn the shot over the bar. McDonald and Duffy added further scores and with twenty minutes to go, just a single point separated the sides.
But Balla’s response was immense. They shut down the Crossmolina attack for a crucial fifteen-minute spell, during which they turned the screw at the other end. Gary McHale pointed from a three-up breach before clever contributions from Val Roughneen and Cillian Golding pushed them back into control.
McHale then rifled home Balla’s third goal after Walsh was fouled once again, which presented them their third penalty of the day. Cronin and McHale, a free, kept the scoreboard moving, while Jude Clarke saw black for a pull-down on Kobe McDonald.
Crossmolina threw everything forward in the closing stages. Conor Loftus looked to raise a green flag but his effort dipped over the bar, and McDonald added a point from play. Duffy knocked over a late free, but McHale’s response, another accurate free, helped Balla see it out.
Crossmolina’s defeat saw Garrymore join them on ten points at the head of the table, after the latter drew at Mayo Gaels. Cross’ have a game in hand however, which sees them host Westport next Saturday at 7pm.
