IrelandNet.ie

Ballinasloe through to semi-final after breathtaking replay with Tuam

Wednesday, 28 July 2010

Ballinasloe 0-7 Tuam Stars 0-5.

There was a time not so long ago that Ballinasloe was a strong hold in football and to this day there are many that refer to Tuam as the home of Galway football (much to the annoyance of other football clubs elsewhere). However what was witnessed on Wednesday night last in Mountbellew gives way to a solid foundation that proves all is well at youth level and if this is anything to go by then the future of Gaelic football in both towns and surrounding areas is alive and kicking.
Despite the constant downpour these side came back for a reply and on display was to be an end to end encounter that had the loyal punters on the edge of their seats in a contest where the winning line was not crossed until referee Gerry Daly sounded his final whistle.
It was a well attended game despite the elements where a number of fixtures across the country were falling foul of the weather but it was uplifting to drive into the car park and see the crowd that had gathered an hour before the throw in. To their credit the Ballinasloe support outnumbered their Tuam counterparts by two to one. One Ballinasloe supporters made his way to the bottom of the stand to shake the hand of a Tuam supporter with the words: 'It was nice to be able to renew old rivalries again.'
It was an evening where scores were hard to come by and the drawn game ended Ballinasloe 1-7 Tuam Stars 0-10. But Wednesday's high winds put paid to all of that with Ballinasloe shooting eight wides in the opening half backed by the breeze while Tuam had the same amount after the restart.
Galway county minor James Shaughnessy had overcome Sunday's Connacht Final injury boosting the Tribesmen's chances in the qualifiers as he partnered Ronan O'Healy and between them both they ruled in an area that was key to Ballinasloe's success. Marcus Kelly had his hands full at centre back against another Galway minor Niall Quinn and though the latter was helped off at half time, he was replaced for a time by blood sub Alan O'Connell, until Quinn recovered from his calf injury and resumed and charged up the Tuam attack.
Kieran Burke at full back broke down many Tuam attacks constantly dispossessing the N17 brigade when they would have been forgiven for thinking they had been in the perfect position to take their scores. Darragh Burke too caused numerous problems for the Tuam defence and inside was Shane McInerney a young man with a number of schoolboy international caps, and on the books at Galway United. His confidence in his free taking abilities had to be seen to be believed and although Ballinasloe had the upper hand on the scoreboard, a strong Tuam fightback was left winded when McInerney sent over a free from an almost impossible angle very close to the left hand corner and almost on the sideline against a strong wind. Padraig Cunningham didn't start because of a knee injury but when introduced the Athlone Community College didn't disappoint and added his name to the score sheet in finding the winning score.
Ballinalsoe should have been further ahead by half time given the amount of possession they had received in the opening half hour yet just two points would have separated the sides going to the dressing rooms but to their credit they would match Tuam score for score despite being faced with a strong second half wind. They now face Monivea in the semi-final and they have also secured a place in the North Galway league final.
It took Tuam seven and a half minutes to find the opening score after after Padraig O'Neill was fouled and the latter pointed. Darragh Burke had looked as if he would find the opening point for Ballinalsoe in the opening minute but was judged to have over carried. Conor Loughrey set up Marcus Kelly but his shot dropped short, and Padraig O'Neill took the ball in the direction of the Ballinasloe goal before defender Joe Woods came back and dispossessed. Ronan O'Healy caught a ball in midfield and would have liked to have more power behind his attempt at a point but it dropped short into the hands of the Tuam goalkeeper. A Tuam free from Niall Quinn hopped and beat forward Padraig O'Neill before the Ballinasloe defence cleared. Cian McNamara found but Richie Bruen did well and cleared the danger.
In the eleventh minute Ballinasloe found the equaliser through a Shane McInerney free after Ross Keller was fouled, a distance of sixty meters out on the left wing. Both sides did extremely well in dealing with the wet greasy ball and as the game began its second quarter McInerney converted a second point after Daragh Burke was fouled and within a minute David Freeman added a third. They found their fourth and final of the half when Burke was fouled once more and Supermac made no mistake. Tuam had only their second score of the game when Niall Quinn was fouled and Padraig O'Neill converted from twenty meters to leave the scoreboard reading 0-4 to 0-2 at the interval.
The second half was in its opening minute when David Freeman sent over what looked like the opening point for the second half but after consultation the umpires waved it wide. Shane McInerney off loaded to Ross Keller and the gap was extended to three. Jeffrey Hare reopened for Tuam from a '45 and when reintroduced Niall Quinn narrowed the gap further. His side entered a period of domination but failed to make an impression on the scoreboard with the Ballinasloe defences standing firm, and the red brigade wasted a number of wides.
The turning point may well have been reached when Shane McInerney set over a free for the best point scored on the night that had to be seen to be believed and Tuam in a bid to react missed a golden opportunity of a point from thirty meters as it sailed wide. Padraig O'Neill's free brought the difference to a minimum but Padraig Cunningham, not for the first time, found the winning score when he sent the ball over the heads of a number of defenders coming in his direction to raise the flag one last time. The fielding of the kick out was important and Ballinasloe won it and Ross Keller set up Marcus Kelly but the slippery underfoot conditions took its toll as the ball dropped into the hands of the Tuam goalkeeper. The whistle sounded and Tuam were into the semi-final.

Subscribe to read full newspaper »

Send this page to a friend »