Town make statement as they smash ‘Heane for six

Elverys Sports Super League 

Ballinrobe Town 6 

Ballyheane 3 

Patrick Hennelly at The Green 

A swashbuckling display by Ballinrobe Town saw the Robesiders record their first victory of the new league season and garner a priceless three points, at The Green, on Thursday evening last.

The opening quarter of what turned out to be a goal fest, was a cagey affair, as both sides probed for the crucial breakthrough. It wasn’t until the 17th minute that the first of the nine goals arrived and it fell the way of the hosts. Oisin Connolly was impressive in his centre-back role for the Red and White and it was his delightful through-ball which released the scampering JP O’Gorman who cut inside the box and guided home a tidy finish beyond the reach of Euan McGowan.

Gradually, the guests began to settle into this bubbly clash in South Mayo, with Nathan Reilly Doyle forcing a fine save from Sean Shaughnessy on 18 minutes, as the custodian just about reached the bottom corner effort.

Ballyheane upped the tempo, with Ben Edeh’s long-range strike on 28 minutes calling the Ballinrobe ‘keeper into action once again. However, four minutes later, Edeh’s and Ballyheane’s persistence paid dividends. The move emanated from a deep cross from the right-wing and Reilly Doyle was on hand to set-up the hovering Edeh who made no mistake from close-range.

Xavi Vazquez’s troops were undeterred and they busily searched for the lead once again, with the industrious Dean Shaughnessy seeing his effort brilliantly blocked and put behind for a corner-kick by the retreating Ryan Meldrum on 40 minutes. However, from the subsequent corner, the recycled possession eventually found the aforementioned Shaughnessy and despite his effort hitting the woodwork, the roving Connolly was on hand to ram the ball home, much to the delight of the healthy home attendance.

On 44 minutes, the visitors’ second-half comeback hopes were dealt a severe blow, when McGowan’s attempted clearance, after the custodian received a back-pass, ricocheted off Ballinrobe’s Shane Ryan and hit the back of the net.

The Robesiders had a clear pep in their step as they headed for the dressing rooms at the interval, whilst Ballyheane were shell-shocked.

Vazquez’s half-time pep-talk seemed to pay off too, as the hosts pinched a fourth goal just one minute into the new half. A perfectly floated cross from Ryan found the lurking Dean Shaughnessy and his glancing header rustled the back of the net, and the latter wheeled away to celebrate his first goal of the season.

Ballyheane nearly forged a way back into the joust when a chance fell to Reilly Doyle on 60 minutes, but his effort from outside the box was thwarted by Sean Shaughnessy.

The visitors tried to regroup but the writing was on the wall when the rampant Ballinrobe grabbed a fifth goal on 73 minutes. Jose Poblaciones provided a teasing ball into the box, with the stealth movement of Dean Shaughnessy seeing the latter’s looping header sail over McGowan and into the back of the net.

There was some respite for a beleaguered Ballyheane when they were awarded a spot-kick on 77 minutes, after Dan Purcell was felled inside the area. Despite Sean Kilcoyne’s effort being saved by Shaughnessy, the penalty had to be retaken as the Ballinrobe ‘keeper was deemed to have moved off his line before the ball was struck, according to the referee’s assistant. This time Dylan Stevenson was given the dead-ball responsibility and his effort hit the top corner of the net.

Ballinrobe substitute Connor Ryan, who was only moments on the pitch, almost had an immediate impact, but his chance was denied by the alert McGowan. However, there was still time for further goals and two minutes into stoppage-time a deadly counteroffensive move by Ballinrobe saw O’Gorman latch onto a quick delivery just inside enemy territory, and he bolted towards the Ballyheane goal and finished with aplomb.

Ballinrobe substitute Sean Vahey could and perhaps should have added a seventh for Ballinrobe, but under-pressure he skied a gilt-edged chance over the crossbar.

Ballyheane did bag a consolation goal, as the hardworking Edeh raced onto a through-ball and guided home a neat finish into the bottom corner of the net.

Shortly after, the full-time whistle sounded and the Robesiders savoured a victory that could turn out to be the turning point of their season.

Ballinrobe Town: Sean Shaughnessy, Sean Hughes, Danny O’Toole, Theo Bellanger, Oisin Connolly, Rory Walsh, Jonathan Lawrence, Shane Ryan, JP O’Gorman, Jose Poblaciones, Dean Shaughnessy. Subs: Sean Vahey (for Ryan 74), Connor Ryan (for D Shaughnessy 83, inj), Liam O’Toole (for O’Gorman 90+3), Iarla Killeen (for Connolly 90+4), Henry Hughes (for Hughes 90+5).

Ballyheane: Euan McGowan, Ioseph Scott Keane, Adam Blake, Jack Tuffy, Dara Ludden, Ryan Meldrum, Dylan Stevenson, Sean Kilcoyne, Nathan Reilly Doyle, Dan Purcell, Ben Edeh. Subs: Walter Tuffy (for Meldrum 61, inj), Alan Hegarty (for Ludden 71), Alan Tuffy (for Scott Keane 72).

REF: Martin Regan