One step left on Ballina’s epic cup journey

The Ballina Town U12s will look to win a national title this Saturday when they face Verona FC in the SFAI Trophy Final at the Wayside Celtic Grounds in Dublin This team have embarked on a remarkable journey through the competition, showcasing determination, skill and resilience. Their run to the final was filled with dramatic comebacks, extra-time thrillers and penalty shootout heroics.

Their path began in Connacht last year on October 13, where they opened their campaign with a narrow but impressive 3-2 win away to Kilmurry. Adam Gallagher scored a brace while James Syron also netted.

Ballina twice fell behind in the game and had to dig very deep for the win. With a few lads missing it took excellent performances from all the squad and a great cameo from Corey Loftus (playing his first game with the team) to see it through.

Their second-round game would be the first of four games to go to at least extra-time. In a goal-filled epic, Ballina Town edged out Manulla 6-5 in what was a game for the ages. They pulled off a miracle result thanks to a hat-trick by Jack Molloy as well as goals by Adam Gallagher (two) and James Syron.

Ballina started very well and built a good lead; Caiden Naughton and Tom Moran, both playing out of position, starred. However, Manulla turned the game around in the second-half and deservedly brought matters to extra-time. In the first period Manulla went a goal ahead and all looked lost, but this Ballina team does not know when it is beaten and two superb James Syron crosses were turned in by Jack Molloy late on to see them through.

In the last round of the Connacht section Ballina faced an old foe in Claremorris, with the prize being a trip to Dublin to take on Raheny in the national section of the competition. With such pressure on the game, it was no surprise that it ended scoreless at full-time. Ballina pressed and pressed for the winner, led by the excellent Daire Cafferkey in midfield, and it eventually came early in the second-half of extra time when James Syron pounced on a misplaced Claremorris goal-kick. Jack Molloy struck late on the break and jubilant scenes ensued.

An extremely tough away assignment awaited Ballina in the last 32 of the SFAI Trophy in Raheny in Dublin. All the goals came in the first-half with Adam Gallagher and Jack Molloy (two) pouncing on any mistake Raheny made. There was a significant breeze against the Mayo boys in the second-half, and Ballina were also a man down. It took a monumental defensive stand, led by Fiachra Gill and Cillian Ruane, to keep hold of their precious one goal lead. Liam Burke brought great energy off the bench and Matias Peralto also pulled off three spectacular saves to deny the Dubliners on a 3-2 scoreline and see them into the last 16, which brought the toughest assignment of all – a 640 kilometre round trip to Tramore in Waterford.

In what proved to be another terrific spectacle, Tramore proved to be a side of exceptional quality and while Adam Gallagher finished clinically after 15 minutes, it was Tramore who ended the first-half much stronger and went in 2-1 ahead.

The Ballina boys lifted their game after half-time but just when it seemed an equaliser could not be found, Adam Gallagher found space for a shot which the goalkeeper saved only for Jack Molloy to knock in the rebound in the last minute.

The relief was palpable, and as the game went to extra-time. Tramore asserted themselves again and Matias Peralto’s goal led a charmed life, but the Ballina lads saw it through to penalties. It took 22 penalties to separate the teams with both goalkeepers scoring from the spot but, in the end, Ballina came out on top and were happy hitting the long road home.

Ballina finally got a home draw in the quarter-final against Wexford’s Glynn Barntown. It turned out to be another tense affair with both teams creating chances and playing good football.

Jack Molloy whipped in a dangerous corner and Jack Maughan pounced to put the Moysiders ahead early in the second-half. Unfortunately, Ballina could not hold onto their lead and it went to extra-time once more. The lads pushed for a winner but could not find the breakthrough. The defence, led as always by the imperious Fiachra Gill, held firm as Glynn Barntown also looked to book their place in the semi-final. It was another penalty shootout but Ballina won comfortably in the end thanks to the heroics of Donnacha Gavin in goal. The boys left the field to rapturous applause from the large home support.

Another away game awaited Ballina in the semi-final, this time in Limerick against Kilfrush Crusaders. The Ballina boys were focused from the start and dominated the early proceedings. Kilfrush defended well and had an exceptional goalkeeper between the posts which made it difficult to find the breakthrough. It was scoreless at half-time but the visitors lifted it for the start of the second-half and made the breakthrough when Jack Molloy whipped in a corner and Fiachra Gill’s header was saved only for Jack Maughan to strike the ball home.

The sizable Ballina crowd were jubilant and cheered the boys on as they pushed for a second. It may not have arrived, but the defence held firm, led by the ever-impressive Caiden Naughton and Cillian Ruane. Scott Clarke put in an imperious display in midfield and his drive and energy alongside Jack Maughan helped the lads reach the final whistle a goal to the good and onto an All-Ireland Final this weekend. An incredible feat for an incredible team.