‘Tubber pull Belmullet into the relegation scrap
Seen scoring a goal in an earlier round against Knockmore, Tiernan Brady found the net again for Ballintubber in their Mayo SFL Division 1 win against Belmullet last Saturday evening. Picture: Tom Quinn
The race for Division 1 survival took another turn as Ballintubber picked up their second league win after victory over Belmullet on Saturday evening.
The victory for Damien Coleman’s side means Ballintubber leapfrog Belmullet out of the relegation zone into eighth place on five points along with Breaffy, and only a point behind Knockmore and Castlebar Mitchels. They still remain only a point above the drop zone but victory in the next game away to bottom of the table Claremorris will likely retain Division 1 football for next season.
Fionn O’Donoghue opened the scoring for Belmullet from a free inside the opening minute, but Ballintubber fired back with the game’s opening goal. David McHale’s brilliant diagonal ball found Tiernan Brady, and he buried his strike past Shane Nallen.
That goal was the difference with 22 minutes played. Although Balltinubber were playing against the wind, they managed the game efficiently and points from Stephen O’Malley, Noel Geraghty, Michael Plunkett, Josh Mahon and Keelan McDonnell continued the home side’s momentum. Belmullet were reliant on frees from Fionn O’Donoghue and Shane Nallen, the latter’s a monster two-pointer from 55 metres, while their first score from play did not arrive until the 22nd minute through Eamon McAndrew.
Moments after that point, Belmullet were somewhat fortunate not to be reduced to fourteen men after Evan Ivers appeared to strike Ciaran Gavin on the ground after an entanglement. Referee Paul Lydon elected to show the former Mayo panellist a yellow card.
The scores dried up for both teams as half-time approached, but efforts from Josh Mahon either side of a Fionn O’Donoghue single form play put Ballintubber 1-7 to 0-6 in front at the interval.
Belmullet took the lead for the first time since the opening score nine minutes into the second-half, when hitting 1-3 without reply. Another Nallen two-pointer, a point from Eamon McAndrew and an excellent finish by Anthony Barrett made it 1-9 to 1-7. However, Ballintubber would outscore their opponents 1-10 to 0-2 over the next 20 minutes to put the result beyond all doubt.
Fionn O’Donoghue’s point on 43 minutes, after efforts from Michael Plunkett, Stephen O’Malley and Josh Mahon, levelled the game, but Ballintubber would score seven without reply through Noel Geraghty, Stephen O’Malley, Josh Mahon, Ciaran Gavin, Stephen Burke and Mayo forward Cillian O’Connor, to put the home side seven in front.
Fionn O’Donoghue stopped the rot for Belmullet with his fourth free, only for Ethan Lyons to finish off Ballintubber’s second goal at the end of a fine move started by Cillian O’Connor, with Plunkett and Noel Geraghty also involved in the buildup. O’Connor, who had come off the bench, tapped over his second in added time in the final action of the game.
Belmullet will look to ease their own relegation worries in a tricky home tie against Westport next weekend, while Ballintubber make the short trip to Canon Gibbons Park to face Claremorris.
Scorers – Ballintubber: Josh Mahon 0-0-5, Stephen O’Malley 0-0-4, Tiernan Brady and Ethan Lyons 1-0-0 each, Michael Plunkett, Noel Geraghty (f), and Cillian O’Connor 0-0-2 each, Keelan McDonnell, Ciaran Gavin and Stephen Burke 0-0-1.
Belmullet: Fionn O’Donoghue 0-0-5 (4f), Shane Nallen 0-2-0 (2tpf), Anthony Barrett 1-0-0, Eamon McAndrew 0-0-2.
Ballintubber: Brendan Walsh; Jack Walsh, Brian Murphy, Ethan Lyons; Michael Plunkett, Finian Burke, Keelan McDonnell; Joe Geraghty, Tiernan Brady; Josh Mahon, Bryan Walsh, David McHale; Ciaran Gavin, Stephen O’Malley, Noel Geraghty. Subs: Cillian O’Connor (for McHale 41), Stephen Burke (for McDonnell 45), Daniel Malone (for Brady 57), John Kerrigan (for J Walsh 59).
Belmullet: Shane Nallen; Shea O’Donoghue, Eoin O’Donoghue, Rian Concannon; James Ivers, Oisin O’Donnell, Darragh Dixon; Evan Ivers, Seamus Howard; James Kelly, Fionn O’Donoghue, Darren McDonnell; Padraic Cowman, Owen McHale, Eamon McAndrew. Subs: Hugh Ruane (for E O’Donoghue 6, inj), Anthony Barrett (for Cowman ht), Paul Reilly (for S O’Donoghue 44), John Howard (for McAndrew 48).
REF: Paul Lydon (Kiltimagh)
