Tom's top 10 helps topple champions

Connacht PPS Senior ‘A’ Football Championship – Group 2 – Round 2 

Ballinrobe CS 2-18 

St Gerald’s, Castlebar 2-15 

Stuart Tynan at Flanagan Park 

Not that there should be any doubt at this stage, but Ballinrobe Community School belong at the highest level of Connacht Colleges football after a stirring comeback win over St Gerald’s College last Wednesday afternoon.

Central to their win was the performance of Mayo U20 attacker Tom Lydon, who kicked 10 points. Conditions were perfect for a forward of his calibre and The Neale sharpshooter kicked a variety of stunning efforts to guide Damien Egan’s charges to a win that has serious ramifications in the group.

Each of Ballinrobe, St Gerald’s, Summerhill College and St Colman’s of Claremorris each have one win apiece ahead of the final group games on January 8. With all their destinies in their own hands, the final two games will certainly go to the wire as Ballinrobe take on Sligo’s Summerhill while Colman’s face Gerald’s in an all-Mayo derby.

One of the final contests of 2024 before new football rules come into effect next year (although the current rules will remain for this competition), you’d wonder why any changes are needed at all after watching this thriller. An end-to-end, man-to-man affair, this game was a breath of fresh air with players and management alike be commended for an excellent game that was also played hard but fair.

Ballinrobe Community School got off to a blistering start and hit the first three points through Tom Lydon, Evan Lydon and Rossa Burke. St Gerald’s, the reigning Connacht champions, hit back through another former Mayo minor Dara Neary, a free, and a mark from Evan Walsh.

Tom Lydon responded with a mark of his own as Ballinrobe appeared in charge in all aspects but St Gerald’s, last year’s Hogan Cup semi-finalists, struck back through a Jude Lavin mark. The Breaffy man then found the net seconds later as a breaking ball was pounced on by Luke Lydon who raced through the centre of the Ballinrobe defence before laying the ball off to Lavin to finish.

St Gerald’s would score three of the next four points through Neary, Lavin and Patrick Garvey as the Castlebar school began to find joy in attack, but Ballinrobe moved back to within a point when Finian Walsh netted the rebound after Tiernan Egan’s rasper of a shot was saved well by Euan McGowan.

Ballinrobe, however, scored just once more point in the half, a Tom Lydon pointed free, as Evan Walsh (two frees), Luke Lydon, Joe Forry (a monster of a point) and corner back Sean Reid all raised white flags to put the Boys in Blue 1-11 to 1-6 up at half-time.

Within six minutes of the second-half that lead was evaporated. Tom Lydon pointed his fourth before corner-back Luke Muniz burst through and his shot just edged over the goal line.

Tom Lydon put Ballinrobe ahead briefly before the sides were drawn level by Dara Neary.

Ballinrobe were back in front through Finian Walsh but St Gerald’s got a second goal, against the run of play once more. Joe Forry ran through but was fouled just inside the 45-metre line. His quick free found Lavin and he placed his shot again into the bottom corner.

Two long-range Tom Lydon points made it all square again only for Gerald’s to go and score three of the next four points through Evan Walsh, Patrick Garvey and Riley Cowan, to sit two clear with seven minutes remaining. But just when it appeared the game was getting away from the home side, up stepped their main man Lydon, who kicked two spectacular efforts from distance, one from a free, to level matters.

It was all Ballinrobe at this stage and Finian Walsh, Lydon’s tenth point of the day was added to by midfielder Tiernan Egan’s first, to make sure of a memorable win.

Scorers – Ballinrobe CS: Tom Lydon 0-10 (5f, 1m), Finian Walsh 1-3, Luke Muniz 1-0, Rossa Burke 0-2, Evan Lydon, Rossa Burke and Tiernan Egan 0-1 each.

St Gerald’s College: Jude Lavin 2-2 (0-1m), Evan Walsh 0-4 (2f, 1m), Dara Neary 0-3 (1f), Patrick Garvey 0-2, Joe Forry, Luke Lydon, Sean Reid and Riley Cowan 0-1 each.

Ballinrobe CS: Dylan Walsh; Luke Muniz, Daithí Butler, Eoin O’Dea; Caoimhín Donnelly, Barry Langan, Rossa Burke; Tiernan Egan, Evan Lydon; Cian May, Finian Walsh, David Cameron; Tom Lydon, Rory Gilrane, Aaron Crowley. Subs: Jack Tuffy (for May 13), Donagh Gilligan (for Crowley 44), Sequoyah Duffy (for Burke 54).

St Gerald’s College: Euan McGowan; Sean Reid, Seanie O’Reilly, Connell Durcan; Caolan Moran, Conor Kavanagh, Adam Burton; Luke Lydon, Matthew Flannelly; Harry McHale, Dara Neary, Joe Forry; Jude Lavin, Patrick Garvey, Evan Walsh. Subs: Oisin Costello (for Durcan ht, inj), Oisin Mulroy (for Moran 41), Jack Diffilly (for Flannelly 46), Riley Cowan (for O’Reilly 53).

REF: John Glavey (Aghamore)