Sweet Swinford strikes seal Tonra triumph
A goalmouth tangle involving Swinford’s Evan Rowley and Ballina Town’s Jamie Moyles. Pictures: John Corless
Two quality second-half goals deservedly secured the Tonra Cup for Swinford in ideal conditions on Saturday evening in Umbro Park.
Joe Slevin’s header on 56 minutes looked like it might go wide but came off the inside of the post to beat Neil Langdon in the Ballina goal. Aiden Dunleavy’s shot three minutes later was an outstanding strike and put the destination of the cup beyond all doubt.
There wasn’t much between the sides in the first half. The teams had to get used to the vast pitch and the opportunities it would provide and the demands it would make.
The excellent Dylan Toner headed one over for Swinford in the eighth minute and a few minutes later at the other end, Jamie Mulligan shot wide from a Jack O’Brien pass, after a good run. John Durkan miscued badly after a good run by Ryan Moran, and Moran had two attempts in the one move near the half hour but sent the ball to the wrong side of the net.
The game changed four minutes before the break when Swinford were forced to make positional changes when Evan Rowley came on for the injured Robert Jordan. Rowley was superb throughout and ran the midfield. He was very unlucky not to pick up the player of the match award.
Swinford captain, Joe Slevin, had a good game too, picking up the official player of the match award for his toil. He is very comfortable on the ball, and his one touch passing is great to watch. Up top, Aiden Dunleavy looked the most likely player on the field to score. Ryan Moran and John Durkan were a threat for Ballina Town B in an even enough half.
If the first half was even, Swinford were far superior in the second and had threatened the Ballina goal on a number of occasions before Slevin put them in front. They were hungrier and pressed Ballina relentlessly. Much of it came from Rowley who tortured Town in the middle and out wide. Dunleavy forced an early corner, and Slevin had a shot saved. At the other end, Moran put Durkan through, but goalkeeper, Jamie Leahy was quick off his line, advancing to deny the veteran striker.
When Dunleavy broke and sent a powerful low drive to force another corner, it seemed the East-Mayo side would soon make the breakthrough. Then Slevin met Rowley’s cross to head home, and Swinford were deservedly in front. Duleavy’s unstoppable shot from twenty-five metres put too much daylight between the sides, for Ballina to respond. They found it hard to get out of their own half and on the big pitch, they began to tire.
Ballina tried a few subs in an attempt to get something from the game, but Swinford had too much and seemed more likely to add to the margin, than Ballina to reduce it.
Toner, Slevin, Dunleavy, Niall Egan and Rowley were excellent for Swinford. Marcus Laquesta, Moran and Durkan, before he tired, caught the eye for Ballina.
“The hard work all season got us here, and we kept getting better and better,” Slevin told the . “We were better in the second half today. We didn't really say too much in the changing room, at half time, just apart from maybe we could go up by 10%. We came out then, made a couple of chances and we kind of just got on top, especially when Evan Rowley came on. He made a massive difference. He really stretches the pitch. He's obviously got fantastic feet and he gave me a lovely assist for my goal. I’m delighted we’ve brought something back to Swinford. It's a really, really proud moment for me”
Swinford manager Aidan Dunleavy Snr, said he was absolutely delighted with the win. “I’m super proud of the boys, the management, team, everyone,” he said.
“We really came out in the second half. We had been quiet in the first half. We got a few tactics sorted, and very happy with the second half. It’s been a very good season. We have promotion, and we still have a chance of winning the league and we're in the semi-final of the Mayo [Premier] Cup. So it has been very good so far and hopefully it will get even better.”
Ballina manager, Aidan Cowan, was naturally disappointed with the result. “All credit to Swinford, they came out in the second half that bit hungrier,” he said. “But I’m really happy with the lads in the first half. We controlled the game well, just didn't get our noses in front. We have a young team, so we’re happy with our progress now. This is twice now we're coming back into Umbro Park to finals in two years, so the overall picture is good for us in that sense. But disappointed for the lads, but fair play to Swinford, all credit to them. They really put it up to us in the second half. Goals win games and they managed to get in front and close it out then.”
Aidan said the bigger picture for Ballina was to get their B team into the Premier League, with the B teams of Westport, Castlebar and Ballyheane.
“From a big town team, we've achieved our goals of getting promoted and it's not over yet. We could be league winners yet, with a chance for that as well, but happy enough with the overall season.”
Ballina Town ‘B’: Neil Langdon, Martin Delaney, Marcus Laquesta, Jamie Moyles, Alex Monaghan, Jamie Mulligan, David Cassidy, Jack O’Brien; Ryan Moran, John Durkan, Sam Monaghan. Subs: Kyle McLoughlin (for S Monaghan 66), Cathal Finnerty (for Delaney 80), Shane Devers (for Durkan 84), Oisin Mullarkey and Jamie Langdon (for Mulligan and A Monaghan 88).
Swinford: Jamie Leahy, Robert Jordan, Daniel Harrington, TJ Groarke, Zack Stone, Neven Grufferty, Dylan Toner, Niall Egan, Jack Murphy, Joe Slevin Aiden Dunleavy. Subs: Evan Rowley (for Jordan 41), David Taylor (for Stone 70).
REF: Tom Jennings.
