Late goal seals Minor ‘A’ Football title for Ballina
GAA: North Tipperary Coiste na nOg Under 17 ‘A’ Football Final
Ballina 2-8
Newport 1-7
Report: Liam Hogan in Cloughjordan
Ballina prevailed over neighbours Newport to win their first North Under 17 ‘A’ Football title on Saturday.
Played in very cold conditions accompanied by spitting rain in the first half, the thirty-six players deserve the highest of praise for the entertainment provided. Yes, it may not have been a classic but both sides went all out with attack in mind with the defensive play we have become accustomed too in adult football being completely ignored.
Scores were level four times over the sixty minutes, once in the first half, in a half that looked like Ballina were going to take hold of such was their dominance. Yet, for all that, they had to wait until the eleventh minute before grabbing their first score when William Bennett-Quaid first timed to the net following a four-man move initiated by full back Zack King.
King was in good form as was Cillian Ryan and Charlie King at midfield with Ryan going on a solo run through the Newport cover and score a point in the thirteenth minute.
However, there were signs of a Newport revival. The masterful Donal Ryan at left wing forward pulled the strings together in general play while his accuracy from placed balls was also reliable as was his 45 which flew all the way to the roof of the Ballina net in the eighteenth minute.
Stung by the goal, Ballina regrouped and with Paul McKeogh’s delivery reaching Charlie Grace who fired over the bar. Donal Ryan’s free in the 26th minute narrowed the gap and with increasing pressure Newport levelled when Cillian Collins fired over after a chance of a goal seemed likely following a poorly executed kickout by Ballina keeper Conor Shanahan, one of two escapes by the Ballina side at the time.
It was 1-2 each at half time as Ballina built from the back as McKeogh and Charlie Grace combined for Cian O’Donoghue to score a point after a goal chance was spurned. Newport replied in the 34th minute through Brian Tobin with a free. With both defences keeping the upper-hand it was Ballina who took the lead through Charlie Grace before Cillian Collins levelled for Newport in the 42nd minute.
Three minutes later, Newport took the lead for the first time through Donal Ryan, but Ballina were back level through Charlie King in the 49th. One minute later, they regained the lead through Cillian Ryan. Suddenly they were two in front after Charlie Grace scored before Sean Lyons increased the margin to three with a point after the ball was tipped over the bar by Newport keeper Mark Foley, one of a string of fine saves.
With six minutes remaining things looked good for Ballina but through to form, Newport, powered on by Damien O’Brien, Seamus Tobin, Cathal Hannon, Sean Flanagan and Donal Ryan, hit back and narrowed the gap to one after Brain Tobin and Donal Ryan each scored a free to leave the minimum between the teams with thirty seconds remaining.
Newport came in search of an equaliser but three minutes into injury time one of their many attacks broke down before a breakaway run by Ballina led to a great goal by Billy Collins which proved to be the match winner.
Player of the Match: Sean Lyons (Ballina)
Ballina: Conor Shanahan; Evan Mackey, Zack Egan, Ger Sage; Thomas Shanahan, Sean Lyons (0-1), Paul McKeogh; Cillian Ryan (0-2), Charlie King (0-1f); Billy Collins (1-0), Paddy Bradley, Willie Bennett Quaid (1-0); Luke Power, Charlie Grace (0-3), Cian O’Donoghue (0-1).
Subs: Donal Houlihan for Bennett-Quaid (38); Alex Quinn for Bradley (38); Niall Hannon for Power (50); Callum Foley for O’Donoghue (50).
Newport: Mark Foley; Keith Hogan, Damien O’Brien, Luke Kennedy; Seamus Tobin, John Lee, Cathal Hannon; Darragh Kennedy, Sean Flanagan; Callum Poole, Brian Tobin (0-2f), Donal Ryan (1-3, 1-0’45, 0-3f); Eoin Flynn, Darragh Gavin, Cillian Collins (0-2).
Subs: Ciaran Corey for Flynn (38); James Moloney for Gavin (50)
Referee: Mark Houlihan (Lorrha).