Six of the best as Ballina make impressive senior bow

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship Group 2

Ballina 6-11

Ardfinnan 3-13

Report: Ronan Loughnane in Templemore

One could easily be forgiven for thinking that Ballina were seasoned senior footballing campaigners as they swept aside the challenge of Ardfinnan in the opening round of the County Senior Football championship on Friday evening.

Having won successive county titles at Junior and Intermediate, along with an Under 19 ‘A’ in 2021, the lone North representatives in the competition certainly had form but could they make the step up to the top table? Doubting Thomas never got a look in as they announced their arrival with an excellent display of fast, attacking football, a joy to watch on a grey, greasy, windless evening.

Jonathan Ryan replaced Luke O’Brien in the Ardfinnan attack, and his excellent delivery was marked by Michael Barlow for the opening point inside thirty seconds to get Tom McGlinchey’s men off to a good start.

County-man Teddy Doyle claimed his place in the Ballina history books with their first senior point a minute later, before Bernard King gobbled up a poor restart to land their second. Oisin Ryan drew Ardfinnan level after a long build-up in the seventh minute, but Ballina’s quick delivery to their attack was proving troublesome, as can be the present mark rule. Referee Seamus Delaney correctly blew to award one to David Kelly in the tenth minute which Ardfinnan incorrectly interpreted as a free. They stalled, Kelly advanced, and we had the first of our nine green flags.

Gavin Whelan replied with a point for Ardfinnan following a long run, but the respite was momentary as Kelly dribbled through their defence to land his second goal in the fourteenth minute.

King doubled his tally from a free a minute later and added another from play in the 21st minute, to leave them 2-4 to 0-3 in front. Michael Breen was powerful at midfield, Tom Lee the same at centre-forward while wing forwards Charlie King and Eoghan Power were excellent.

Ardfinnan were in deep trouble but to their credit they dug deep. Jason Coffey dropped back to help the defence, and they gained a small foothold in the middle third. Four points on the trot raised the Southern voices amongst the handy crowd huddled together in the stand, two apiece for Barlow and Whelan. The gap was down to three and but for some poor free-taking could have been less. Ballina needed a score. They got two, courtesy of points from Power and Lee and the half-time lead was five, 2-6 to 0-7.

Michael Barlow continued his good form with the opening point of the second half to continue the Ardfinnan revival, but little did they know what was around the corner. Charlie King landed a lovely point from play, before David Kelly turned over the kick-out to complete his hat-trick, Tom Lee then stuck a bullet in the top corner and Teddy Doyle sold a beautiful dummy for his second point.

And there was more to come. Another turnover delivered goal number five, Charlie King scored his second point and Ballina were in dreamland as they led 5-9 to 0-8 after 39 minutes.

The tsunami had completely swamped Ardfinnan and the game was all but over. Ballina lost Paddy O’Donovan to a second yellow card in the 51st minute and Ardfinnan made good use of their numerical advantage. Two goals from Michael Barlow and another from Billy Hewitt reduced the gap, but a belter of a goal from Michael Breen removed any doubt as they finished seven point winners.

Ballina will be delighted with their first foray into senior football. They were a breath of fresh air in a game currently riddled with dour, defensive encounters. They have ball players in every line and will prove a handful for any opposition, though a sloppy finish will be of concern as they prepare for Moycarkey/Borris in Round 2.

Ardfinnan have had better days, but they had no answer to the speed of the Ballina attack. Defensive re-organisation will be key against Loughmore as they have potent weapons up front in Gavin Whelan and Michael Barlow. Moycarkey’s surprise victory over the Loughmore/Castleiney has thrown the group wide open. All to play for.

Player of the Match: David Kelly (Ballina)

Ballina: Jerry O’Brien (6); Sam Loughman (6), James Hanley (6), Terry O’Halloran (6); Paddy O’Donovan (7), Teddy Doyle (0-2, 7), Conor Power; Michael Breen (1-0, 8), Matthew Power (7); Charlie King (0-2, 7), Tom Lee (1-1, 7), Eoghan Power (0-1, 8); Bernard King (1-3, 0-1f, 7), David Kelly (3-2, 0-1f, 9), Cathal O’Donnell.

Subs: Daniel Tighe (6) for O’Donnell (43), Harry Byrne (6) for Matthew Power (52), Kian Donnelly (6) for Bernard King (52), David Coughlan (6) for Sam Loughran (52), Dara King (NR) for Lee (58).

Ardfinnan: Michael Goonan (5); Jack O’Neill (6), Darragh Boyle (5), Shane Keating (5); Aaron Lonergan (6), Colm O’Shaughnessy (5), Sean Nagle (6); Gerry Cronin (0-1, 7), Darragh O’Leary (6); Oisin Ryan (0-1, 6), Michael Barlow (2-6, 0-2f, 8), Gavin Whelan (0-4, 8); Jonathon Ryan (5), Billy Hewitt (1-0, 5); Jason Coffey.

Subs: Michael Hogan (0-1, 6) for J Ryan (39), Evan Barrett (6) for Keating (55), Darragh O’Brien (6) for Nagle (55), Andrew Heffernan (NR) for Hewitt (59).

Referee: Seamus Delaney (JK Brackens).