Ballina win first North Under 15 ‘A’ final

North Tipperary Under 15 'A' Football Final

Ballina 3-10

Newport 1-4

By Enda Treacy

Ballina added further football silverware to their roll of honour as they impressively defeated a battling Newport to claim the inaugural North Under 15 ‘A’ Football title in the rain last Thursday.

The boys in blue were in fantastic form throughout the contest with some excellent football on display for spectators despite the tough conditions as it poured down for large spells of the game, but that only added to the contest with physical exchanges a real part of the game.

Newport battled hard but they couldn’t make enough inroads in the scoring stakes as Ballina possessed more potent attackers, with Charlie Grace, Alex Quinn and Thomas Shanahan proving to be too much for the Newport defence to handle while for the Mulcair boys, David Whelton, Shane Flanagan and Cillian Collins impressed most.

The first half started in a cagey manner as both sides tried to get a handle on the tough handling and underfoot conditions, the ball acting like a bar of soap, but it was Newport who had the first score after three minutes as David Whelton converted a free from close range.

The home side responded with a free of their own from the boot of Charlie Grace and this was followed soon after by the first score from play through William Bennett Quaid who was set up nicely by Donal Houlihan. Grace was making his presence felt early on, getting onto possession frequently as he tried to unlock the Newport defence, and he had his second point in the eleventh minute, this time from play, before David Whelton whipped over his second free as Newport trailed 0-3 to 0-2 at the water break.

From here, Ballina showed real class and began to assert dominance over their opponents with Grace again showing his ability with a fine score in the 18th minute and this was followed closely by the first goal; Alex Quinn’s run presenting an overlap which he hand-passed to Eoin Bourke, who showed good composure to slot home at the second time of asking after an excellent save by Newport goalkeeper Adam Kiely.

Further points from Thomas Shanahan and Quinn opened up a significant lead for Ballina as they took a 1-6 to 0-2 lead in at the halfway mark.

The second period needed a quick Newport injection of scores to keep the game alive but it was the opposite which transpired as Ballina kicked on after the restart; Niall Hannon netting a fine strike and Thomas Shanahan pointing as Newport struggled to hold them at bay.

Charlie Grace produced a moment of pure class in the 45th minute, unleashing a left-footed strike from some thirty yards out which flashed into the top corner to end the game as a contest and give Ballina a commanding lead.

Newport tried hard to get back into the game and despite Shane Flanagan shoving up the field and scoring a beautiful goal, they couldn’t muster enough as Ballina closed out the game with further scores from Quinn, Grace and Hannan putting the seal on the win for their side.

Player of the Match: Charlie Grace (Ballina)

Ballina: Paul McKeogh; Paidi Dowling, Sean Lyons, Ruadhan O’Callaghan; Evan Molloy, Billy Collins, Ronan Coughlan; Niall Hannon (1-1), Cillian Ryan; Donal Houlihan, Charlie Grace (1-4, 0-1f), Thomas Shanahan (0-2); William Bennett Quaid (0-1), Alex Quinn (0-2), Eoin Bourke (1-0).

Subs: Luke McKeogh for Bourke (HT); Gary Slevin for Houlihan (34); Conor Stritch for Coughlan (45); Tadgh McKeogh for Bennett Quaid (59); Liam O’Shaughnessy for Molloy (59).

Newport: Adam Kiely; Shane Flanagan (1-0), Cathal Hannan, Luke Kennedy; Martin McCabe, Damien O’Brien, Adam Power; David Whelton (0-2f), Callum Poole; Darragh Meaney, Ben Fogarty, Darragh Mackey; James Moloney, Darragh Gavin, Cillian Collins (0-2).

Subs: Eoghan Flynn for Fogarty (40); Conor Sweeney for Moloney (46); Brian McCabe for Gavin (46); Dara McGrath for Kennedy (54).

Referee: Pat O’Mahoney (Kiladangan)