Westport too strong as Ballina title challenge fades
Westport United's Cillian White beats Ballina Town's Jesse Devers with United's Darragh Reynolds in the background. Picture: John Corless
Ballina Town’s hopes of mounting a late challenge for the Mayo Super League title eroded on Saturday evening when they were comprehensively beaten by Westport United at Belleek Park.
The result leaves Ballina fourth in the table and eight points off the pace with just four games remaining. While the campaign has produced plenty of encouraging moments for Mick Duffy’s side, Saturday’s defeat effectively brings an end to their hopes of challenging for top spot.
Westport displayed the urgency of a side chasing the title and, particularly in the opening half, they showed why they lead the table. Ballina struggled to find their rhythm as the visitors moved the ball quickly and created a succession of opportunities. Town did have an early chance to settle themselves when a Jesse Devers effort thundered off the Westport post, but that was as close as they got to scoring for the evening.
Westport took the lead after eight minutes when Alex Halpin reacted quickest to an uncleared ball and finished from close range. The visitors doubled their advantage six minutes later and this time it was his brother Cian, cutting in from the left before finding the net with a fine finish.
The goals knocked the wind out of Ballina and left them with an uphill task, and Westport showed no mercy. Dan O’Malley and Cian Halpin both went close as they maintained the pressure, while veteran midfielder Chris Kelly also tested the Ballina defence as Westport looked to build on their advantage.
Kevin Kitterick was particularly influential for the visitors, combining intelligent movement with accurate distribution as Westport looked to exploit gaps in the Town defence and he added a third after eighteen minutes, and both the game and Ballina’s season, were effectively over at that point.
Town got a bit of momentum for the last five minutes of the half, but they were unable to turn possession into clear chances. Cillian White and Darragh Reynolds worked hard at the back, for Westport while Mark McDonagh and Mikey O’Brien dealt with anything Ballina tried on the flanks.
Town were a bit better after the break and the introduction of David Cawley helped, but Westport’s midfield duo of Jack Dawson and Chris Kelly protected their defence. Their back four dealt with anything that did come through leaving their goalkeeper Gary Cunningham with little to do.
PJ Gilmartin fired one narrowly wide for Ballina and later sent in a dangerous low cross from outside the area, but there was nobody to turn it into a shot on goal.
Westport put the result beyond any doubt when Kitterick added his second and his side’s fourth just before the hour mark. Ballina continued to work until the final whistle, but Westport kept their sheet clean and left Belleek with three well-deserved points.
The defeat will leave manager Mick Duffy frustrated. The experience of legendary League of Ireland stalwarts Raff Cretaro and David Cawley has not been enough to build Town into title challengers. He has relied too on Benny Lavelle and has seen flashes of the brilliance of another ex-LoI man, Jesse Devers. But their recent meetings with Castlebar Celtic and Westport United have underlined the standard Ballina must reach if they are to compete for the title in the future.
With four league games remaining, the focus for Ballina now turns to getting something from the end of the campaign. It won’t be the title, obviously. But it is a low-risk opportunity for the manager to bring in youth and give them experience at the top level in the county.
Westport boss Jason McCartney said he challenged his players before the game, to maintain their challenge.
“I told them every game was vital now and they delivered,” he told the Western People. “They gave everything. They were really enjoyable to watch, and when we got chances, we took them. It was a good performance with good energy.
“At half-time I asked them to go out and do a professional job and they did that. We kept the ball and limited their chances. I think overall, it was a very good performance.”
Ballina Town: Emmet Peyton, Martin Delaney, Chris Maughan, Daire O’Connor, Jamie Moyles, Tommy Forde, Oran Canavan, Raff Cretaro, Jamie Cawley, Jesse Devers, Jack O’Brien. Subs: Beeny Lavelle (for Devers 34), David Cawley (for Forde 46), PJ Gilmartin (for Moyles 58), Matthew Traynor (for J Cawley 71).
Westport United: Gary Cunningham, Mikey O’Brien, Darragh Reynolds, Cillian White, Mark McDonagh, Christy Kelly, Cian Halpin, Jack Dawson; Kevin Kitterick, Dan O’Malley, Alex Halpin. Subs: Adam Nugent (for O’Malley 54), Serhii Morarenko (for C Halpin 60), Simeon Popov (for McDonagh 69), Matthew Staunton (for O’Brien 76), Sean Casey (for A Halpin 77).
REF: Damien McGrath.
