26 March 2022

Kelly Cup Round 1

Ballintubber 2-14 Louisburgh 0-7

Our seniors kick-started their season with a comprehensive and convincing away win over Louisburgh on an evening where the sun shone its heavenly rays on Clew Bay.

Enda Gilvarry’s young side, nearly all under the age of 30, were a step about their opponents in every area of the field and had the game wrapped up at half time.

It was an altogether different performance to what we produced when the Clew Bay men defeated us convincingly in Clogher last year.

Our superior fitness and conditioning yielded dividends in the amount of possession, turnovers and scores we created throughout the sixty minutes.

Our use of the kick pass was particularly incisive, allowing Ciaran Gavin and Stephen O’Malley to cause all sorts of problems for a Louisburgh full-back line that was a yard or two off the pace.

There was little sign of any early season cobwebs as we tackled well, passed the ball impressively and kicked some fine scores along the way.

The opening fifteen minutes were fairly even, with Louisburgh’s big men Oisín Lally and Padraic Prendergast looking like they might cause some trouble for a Ballintubber defence that was missing Gary Loftus.

However, with Kevin Gibbons and Dylan Prendergast missing for the West Mayo men, our full-backs didn’t have much to trouble them for most of the game.

Our opponents’ poor passing was easily mopped up by a ‘Tubber defence that was sharp and tenacious all evening.

Frank Walsh’s only major action was to produce a save after Padraic Prendergast put a powerful fist to an innocuous looking high ball.

We began to properly rock and roll mid-way through the second half when Stephen Burke – lining out at wing-back for the first time – sent a beautiful pass into Stephen O’Malley, who took his mark before kicking us 0-4 0-3 ahead.

Then began a period of play which in which we left our opponents reeling by kicking 1-8 before half-time.

Ciaran Gavin, Keelan McDonnell, Jason Gibbons and Stephen Burke all got in on the scoring act was we began to totally dominate proceedings.

We were eight points to the good just before half-time when Hugh Geraghty played in Gavin, who raised a green flag with a powerful shot into the bottom of the net.

Come half-time we were in cruise control, with the scoreboard reading 1-12 to 0-4.

Large parts of the second half were a non-event.

The gap between senior and intermediate was magnified as a frustrated Louisburgh side looked devoid of ideas and completely outplayed by our men.

The hosts would not find the posts until the 55th minute when Oisín Lally knocked over a monster score from out near the butt of Croagh Patrick.

Likewise, our lads didn’t produce anywhere near the same number of scores as they did in the first half.

The loss of the game’s top scorer Stephen O’Malley to a second yellow card blunted our attack, but we were still a long way in front.  

For a long time, it appeared as if an O’Malley free and a point from Alan McHale would be our only scores of the second half.

Undeterred, we conjured a lovely move at the end which ended in Hugh Geraghty hand passing across the goal mouth for Ciaran Gavin to palm home.

Louisburgh hit the last three scores of the evening, but it was far too little, far too late for the intermediate outfit.

Onwards an upwards!

Ballintubber team that lined out: (1)Frank Walsh (2)Jack Walsh (3)John Kerrigan (4)Finian Bourke (5)Stephen Burke (0-1) (6)Joe Geraghty (7)Gavin Roache (8)Jason Gibbons (0-1) (9)David McHale (10)Darragh McGovern (11)Keelan McDonnell (0-1) (12)Hugh Geraghty (0-1) (13)Ciaran Gavin (2-3, 1f) (14)Stephen O’Malley (0-6, 3f, 2 mark) (15) Aaron Lally (0-1)

Substitutions used: Alan McHale for Keelan McDonnell (39), Cillian Joyce for Gavin Roache (42), Tom McGing for Frank Walsh (52), Aaron Lally for Dean Loftus (55), Sean McEvilly (56)

Referee: Brian Kilkelly

MATCH REPORT

23 October 2021

Mayo Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final

Ballintubber 0-12 Knockmore 2-9

With 65 minutes gone, it appeared as if the opening words of yet another epic chapter in our club’s history were about to be penned.

The chance at another great escape beckoned as young Ryan McDonnell stood between a 14-man Ballintubber and two periods of extra-time.

Only seconds previously, Diarmuid O’Connor stood with ball in hand against a Knockmore goalmouth which resembled the battalion of Spartans which held back an army of thousands as they manned a narrow passage during the ancient Greek battle of Thermopylae.

With three points in it and 65 minutes gone, he had no choice but to go for goal with this late free kick.

As expected, his missile came rebounding off a Knockmore body before Declan Corcoran, rather unexpectedly, awarded a penalty kick for an infringement by a Knockmore player.

Suddenly, now the body of Knockmore’s substitute goalie Ryan McDonnell was all that stood between a us and a chance to take the county champions to extra time.

However, it simply wasn’t meant to be.

Despite driving the ball goalwards with all his might and fury, McDonnell produced an excellent save before the screech of the full-time whistle shattered our dreams for another year.

We’ll never know what might have been, but to have brought the game level in the 65th minute would have been some achievement considering we had trailed by six points, had lost Jason Gibbons to a second yellow card, had lost Bryan Walsh through injury and had lined out without one of Mayo’s greatest forwards.

But sadly, our championship journey has been ended by Knockmore for the second season in a row.

It was the goals that cost us yet again as we conceded early in the first half and early in the second.

Had either of them been kept out, we could have been even closer to our opponents when we narrowed the gap in the closing stages.

Nevertheless, this was another admirable effort from a group of players who have never given less than their all for the red and white jersey.

Played out in the unforgiving surrounds of the Connacht Centre of Excellent under some occasionally heavy rain, this game came to life from the beginning.

Once again, in the absence of Cillian O’Connor, Stephen O’Malley led the way in the full-forward line while Alan Plunkett, Ciaran Gavin and Keelan McDonnell all chipped in with early scores.

However, Knockmore’s forwards weren’t long reminding us of just how dangerous they are, with Aidan Orme and Sligo county panellist Peter Naughton causing trouble whenever they got possession.

It was Orme that did the damage for their first goal after Naughton knocked long ball down to the Mayo panellist, who then blasted the ball past Frank Walsh.

A pair of Naughton points, both aided with a powerful breeze, pushed the county champions further ahead.

Their attack was somewhat dented when Darren McHale went off with an ankle injury, but Naughton and Company still looked threatening.

Despite the difficult conditions, our lads still played some good football, with Stephen O’Malley and Noel Geraghty hitting the target before the break.

Trailing 1-6 to 0-6 at the break, we were dealt an almighty setback early in the second half when a point attempt from Naughton fell short but slipped through Frank Walsh’s hands and into the back of the net.

Against opposition of such quality, we now had a mountain to climb.

As the weather got worse, the scores dried up for a period, with even the likes of Kevin McLoughlin struggling to influence the game as he would’ve liked.

As Willie Plunkett put it: “If you had dogs out, you’d call them in!”

Despite losing Bryan Walsh to injury mid-way through the second half, we brought the gap back to four when his fellow Mayo panellist Michael Plunkett pointed before DO’C hit a score from way over on the right, like only he can.

Many despaired when Jason Gibbons was sent off after a getting a second yellow with 50 minutes on the clock, but the men from the ‘Tubber kept the heads up.

Not only did Knockmore fail to capitalise on their numerical advantage, they leaked points to Stephen O’Malley, Keelan McDonnell and Alan Plunkett in the final ten minutes.

A Peter Naughton free put three between and gave Knockmore some comfort, but the red and white fire refused to die.

As David McHale and Diarmuid O’Connor circled the edge of the square like vultures in injury time, a faint glimmer of hope emerged when we were awarded a free just outside the box after O’Connor was fouled.

His first shot rebounded as expected, but when Declan Corcoran awarded a penalty, the cavalry parted to reveal a single foot soldier standing in the way, Knockmore goalie Ryan McDonnell.

Like two cowboys in an old Western duel, there could only be won winner.

Unfortunately for us, that winner was Ryan McDonnell, who produced an outstanding save from Diarmuid’s effort to thwart a valiant Ballintubber comeback in the depths of injury time.

Ballintubber team that lined out: (1)Frank Walsh (2)Gary Loftus (3)Brian Murphy (4)Finian Bourke (5)Damien Coleman (10)Keelan McDonnell (0-1) (7)Hugh Geraghty (8)Diarmuid O’Connor (0-1) (9)Jason Gibbons (22) Bryan Walsh (0-1) (11)Michael Plunkett (0-1) (12)Noel Geraghty (0-1) (13)Ciaran Gavin (0-1) (14)Stephen O’Malley (0-5, 4f) (15)Alan Plunkett (0-1)

Substitutions used: Joe Geraghty for Gary Loftus (half-time), Jamsie Finnerty for Bryan Walsh (2nd half water-break), Myles Kelly for Finian Bourke (55 min), David McHale for Keelan McDonnell (59 min)

Referee: Declan Corcoran

MATCH REPORT

19 September 2021

Mayo Senior League Division 4A

Ballintubber 2-8 Ballina 0-15

Our Juniors nearly conjured up a brave late comeback in the Clogher this afternoon, but ultimately fell just short.

Despite defying a six-point gap to come back and level the game in the second half, we are now left with a single league point from five games in this year’s competition.

To their credit, the men in the Red and White went down fighting in the second half as goals from David McHale and Alan McHale in the final ten minutes set the scene for a grandstand finish.

When Ballina were looking comfortable with a seven-point lead, good direct running allowed Alan McHale to feed his cousin David who fired home our first goal.

Over a minute later, the younger McHale found the net after being fed by Darragh McGovern, who was highly impressive a midfield during the second half.

However, Ballina remained plucky and found the winning score before we were able to add to our tally.

Indeed, the North Mayo men had looked the brighter of the two teams for most of the game.

On several occasions, the Stephenites made hay by forcing turnovers and took their scores with accuracy and composure.

Only for some impressive saves from Niall Staunton, our opponents could well have found the net. Had they done so, our fate could have been sealed long before the full-time whistle.

Playing out on a rain-soaked Clogher surface, it was ourselves that started the better.

Padraic O’Connor showed his class with three superb early points, but from the twelfth minute Ballina shook off the cobwebs and strung together 0-7 without reply.

During this period, the Stephenites played the better football, and the scoreboard showed it.

They also forced several saves from Niall Staunton, who effectively kept us in the game with his interventions.

We also had our share of goal chances in the first half, with Stephen Burke hitting the side net after a clever move involving himself, Noel Geraghty and Alan Larkin.

Trailing 0-5 to 0-10 at half-time, a huge improvement would be needed to turn this one around.

While Ballina did not set the game alight, they were still comfortably in front by the 50th minute.

They also spurned two genuine game-winning opportunities by sending two daisy-cutters wide of the mark.

Our best period of football came after the water break, where we buried 2-1 in ten minutes by running at our opponents with pace and purpose.

However, the Stephenites ensured the points would not be shared by hitting the winning score in injury time.

Ballintubber team that lined out: (1)Niall Staunton (2)Luke Murphy (3)Paul Early (4)Gavin Roache (5)Darragh Joyce (6)Cillian Redmond (7)John Kerrigan (8)Darragh McGovern (9)David McHale (1-1) (10)Aaron Lally (11)Noel Geraghty (0-3, 2f) (12)Stephen Burke (13)Alan Larkin (14)Padraic O’Connor (0-4, 2f) (15)Alan McHale (1-0)

Substitutions used: Adrian Murphy for Aaron Lally (43 min), Magnus Malone for Luke Murphy (2nd half water break), James McGing for Darragh Joyce (55 min)

September 4 2021

Mayo Senior Football League Division 1B

Castlebar Mitchels 0-10 Ballintubber 0-10

In many ways, this was a something of a throw-back to the heyday of our great rivalry which dominated Mayo club football for roughly a decade.

It wasn’t the greatest of matches, but the second half in particular evoked memories of the days when these two former giants arm-wrestled for the Moclair Cup.

Indeed, the fact that so many of the battle-scarred gladiators who starred in those classics were on display here only added to the nostalgia.

While the likes of Neil Douglas, Danny Kirby, Ger McDonagh, Donal Newcombe, Jason Gibbons, Damien Coleman, Alan Plunkett and Gary Loftus are still battling way, the generation who looked up to those men also made their mark.

Stephen O’Malley was once again Ballintubber’s leading marksman in Cillian O’Connor’s absence, while Finian Bourke, Jack Walsh and Noel Geraghty all continued to show promise.

For Mitchels, young guns like Paul Walsh, Seamus Touhy, Peter Basquille, Paddy Heneghan and Donnacha McHugh nicely complemented Mitchels’ elder statesmen.

With two evenly-matched teams, the occasional flair-up, and so many veterans still soldiering away, it felt a lot like the Ballintubber-Mitchels games we once knew.

In the end, a draw proved to be a fair result when the final whistle went in Jose Munnelly Park.

Both teams blended a running game with the occasional punt into the danger men.

Yet despite this attacking mindset, neither team mustered a goal chance worthy of mention.

Midfield proved a fascinating battle ground, with Donal Vaughan and Gavin Durcan going to war with Jason Gibbons and Joe Geraghty.

While proceedings were even for most of the game, it was one-way traffic for the first fifteen minutes.

In an impressive spell of play, the hosts went six points ahead through Neil Douglas (0-3, 1f), Donncha McHugh, Anthony O’Boyle and the electric Paul Walsh (0-1 each).

Ballintubber put a halt to the Castlebar steamroller when full-forward Stephen O’Malley pointed their opener just before the water break.

From here on, the we kept to the pace of the game, outscoring their opponents 0-5 to 0-1 for the remainder of the half.

O’Malley was on hand to hit a Maurice Fitzgerald-style screamer from the outside of the boot which brought the half to a close, with Ballintubber trailing by a point.

Another highlight was a 70-yard solo run from Jason Gibbons to set up Alan Plunkett for our second point of the evening.

While Mitchels introduced some fresh legs in the second half, we stuck to the 15 which started the game before being forced to withdraw the injured Finian Bourke and Noel Geraghty.

In scoring terms, the gap never expanded beyond a point, another enduring feature of the great battles which these two teams have produced over the years.

At one point, our lads produced what TG4 would call a ‘scór inspioráideach’ when Finian Bourke pulled off a ‘Superman’ block before the Abbeysiders swiftly moved the ball up the field to win a very scoreable free, which O’Malley duly dispatched.

Two points from Hugh and Noel Geraghty arrived either side of two Mitchels scores, with Ethan Gibbons’ late free levelling the game for the fourth time.

With both teams inclined to commit more bodies to defence after the water-break, we found it hard to break down the Mitchels’ defence for that decisive score. Liam Devenney eventually concluded proceedings, leaving us with three points from four rounds of League football.

Ballintubber team that lined out: (1)Frank Walsh (2)Gary Loftus (3)Brian Murphy (4)Finian Bourke (5)Myles Kelly (6)Damien Coleman (7)Jack Walsh (8)Joe Geraghty (9)Jason Gibbons (10)Hugh Geraghty (0-1) (11)Noel Geraghty (0-1) (12)Keelan McDonnell (13)Ciarán Gavin (0-2) (14)Stephen O’Malley (0-5, 5f) (15)Alan Plunkett (0-1)

Substitutions: Stephen Burke for Noel Geraghty (55 min, inj.), Gavin Roache for Finian Bourke (60 min, inj.)

Referee: Liam Devenney

MATCH REPORT

August 21 2021

Mayo Senior Football League Division 1B

Ballintubber 0-11 Breaffy 1-10

A late smash-and-grab handed Breaffy both points in our latest battle with our local rivals in the Mayo Senior Football League.

Despite leading by five points at one stage in the second half, we conceded four unanswered scores in the final 15 minutes, all from the boot of Breaffy’s Colm Flynn

.

With the game nearly up, we still lead by a single score and just had to hold on for a few moments to claim both points.

However, Breaffy snatched victory when Mayo panellist Conor O’Shea sent a ball into Patrick Bourke who buried the winner with an excellent finish.

Enda Gilvarry’s men were undoubtedly sickened to have lost to their local rivals in such a manner, particularly given that they saw two clear-cut goal chances come flying off the woodwork.

Indeed, despite not finishing strongly, we had done enough throughout the game to come out of it with both points.

Corner-forward Ciaran Gavin might have had the ball in the net in the seventh minute, but his shot rattled the underside of the crossbar before Breaffy cleared the danger.

Likewise, Noel Geraghty was desperately unlucky to hit the bottom of the post with a shot that could have given us a six-point lead mid-way through the second half.

Played in front of a large and vocal set of supporters, this had the feel of a proper local derby.

Neither side stood back from each other in a half in which we prevailed 0-7 0-3 thanks to scores from Stephen O’Malley (0-2, 1f) Ciaran Gavin (0-2), Gary Loftus, Noel Geraghty and Keelan McDonnell (0-1 each)

Brian Murphy was back to his very best at full-back, giving Breaffy full-forward Colm Flynn a torrid time of it.

Stephen O’Malley, Ciaran Gavin and Noel Geraghty all stood out up front, with O’Malley kicking one outrageous point from way out on the right-hand side in the second half.

The introduction of Conor O’Shea at half-time gave a boost for Breaffy against a Ballintubber side with no county players on display.

While O’Shea did not win the game single-handedly, his presence around the middle was certainly influential.

Our opponents moved up a gear somewhat in the second half, but we kept them at arm’s length and eventually stretched our lead to five points shortly after the water break.

Thereafter, our opponents began discretely chipping away at our lead, with four scores from Colm Flynn going unanswered – including one brilliant effort from out on the right-hand side.

However, with a point to spare, we looked as if we would hang on with only a minute left.

However, the youngest of the O’Shea brothers found fellow substitute Patrick Bourke in space, who sealed our fate with a well-taken finish.

Ballintubber team that lined out: Brendan Walsh; Gary Loftus (0-1), Brian Murphy, Finian Bourke; Myles Kelly, Damien Coleman, Jack Walsh; Joe Geraghty, Jason Gibbons; Hugh Geraghty, Noel Geraghty (0-2), Keelan McDonnell (0-2); Ciaran Gavin (0-2), Stephen O’Malley (0-4, 1f), Alan Plunkett

Substitutions: David McHale for Finian Bourke (2nd half water-break), Gavin Roache for Gary Loftus (52 min), Robbie Finnerty for Alan Plunkett (55 min), Aaron Lally for Keelan McDonnell (60 min)

Referee: Garryowen McMahon

August 15 2021

Mayo Senior Football League Division 1B

Ballintubber 3-20 Kiltane 0-8

Our seniors crowned a magnificent weekend for Ballintubber GAA club with their best display of the year against Kiltane in Clogher.

Having lost out to Westport in wet and windy conditions last weekend, this was an entirely different Ballintubber team that showed up.

The fitness, tenacity, skill and hunger on display here reminded us all what this group are truly capable of when everything clicks.

While Kiltane were disappointing, it takes little away from our performance.

If Man-Of-The-Match awards were to be given out, there would have been many Red and White contenders.

From Jack Walsh at the back – who kept former Mayo panellist Mikey Sweeney scoreless – to the imperious Jason Gibbons, to Ciaran Gavin and Stephen O’Malley up front - who tore Kiltane asunder with 3-12 between them.

With Damien Coleman back at centre-back rather than playing as a sweeper, Enda Gilvarry’s men went for an attacking mindset against the team that defeated us in the Michael Walsh League only a few weeks ago.

As Clogher reverberated with cheerful talk of ‘The Match’, the game itself seemed almost supercharged by Mayo’s magnificent toppling of the Dublin empire.

The noise from players, management, and supporters were an indication that we were well and truly out of the early season and now playing serious senior football.

Played out on a dry home sod, this approach yielded 1-6 before the water break, with Ciaran Gavin bagging the goal after a Noel Geraghty miscued a shot.

At the other end, our opponents looked out of sorts up front. Our defence were more than a match for them and held them to a single score from play by half time.

Indeed, we were dominant in all areas of the field as the scores were evenly spread across five of our starting forwards.

Despite the introduction of the original Tommy ‘Goals’ Conroy for Kiltane, the Erris men could not find that extra gear.

Going into the second half leading 1-10 to 0-5, our lads were simply too good for our opponents. If anything, they got better as the game went on.

Our forwards seem to have a telepathic understanding of each other and clicked in a way that they had not done all season.

Stephen ‘Bales’ O’Malley was at his very best, hitting scores from all sorts of angles in the second half.

We struck the mortal blow just before water break after a rapid team move ended with Alan Plunkett feeding Ciaran Gavin, who palmed it into the net to make it 2-16 to 0-7.

Victory was now only a formality, with Gavin and O’Malley adding another 0-3 before Gavin landed his hat-trick with five minutes to go.

The one bit of luck which came Kiltane’s way saw them awarded a penalty right at the very end, but Tommy Conroy struck the spot kick a few feet wide of the post.

All around, t’was a great weekend for club and county.

An Tobair Abú, Mayo for Sam!

Ballintubber team that lined out: (1)Brendan Walsh (2)Gary Loftus (3)Brian Murphy (4)Finian Bourke (5)Myles Kelly (6)Damien Coleman (7)Jack Walsh (8)Joe Geraghty (0-1) (9)Jason Gibbons (0-1) (10)Hugh Geraghty (0-2) (11)Noel Geraghty (0-2) (12)Keelan McDonnell (13)Ciarán Gavin (3-4) (14)Stephen O’Malley (0-8, 4f, 1 ’45) (15)Alan Plunkett (0-2)

Substitutions used: Aaron Lally for Damien Coleman, (2nd half water-break) Gavin Roache for Hugh Geraghty (2nd half water-break), Darragh McGovern for Joe Geraghty (51 min), Matthew Redmond for Noel Geraghty (57 min)

Referee: Liam Devenney

MATCH REPORT

July 11 2021

West Mayo B Junior Football Championship Final

Ballintubber 1-11 Louisburgh 1-11 AET

**Louisburgh win 4-3 on penalties

History was made in West Mayo as ourselves and Louisburgh had to be separated by penalty kicks in this West Mayo ‘B’ Junior Football Championship Final.

With Croagh Patrick fast fading from view as the night drew closer, Louisburgh’s Ed Ball was the kingmaker when he buried his side’s sixth spot kick after Jason Corrigan denied Padraic O’Connor in sudden death.

They say penalties are a cruel and unfair way to decide a game, a sentiment echoed by many when the scores were deadlocked at 1-11 apiece after 80 minutes.

However, with daylight rapidly fading, there simply was no other way to settle this.

Throughout the entire game, there had barely been a kick between these teams.

Both sides had equal amounts of possession, skills, errors and ultimately, scores.

As usual, our lads weren’t found wanting for heart, effort or determination in a game that was played in beautiful but breezy conditions on an immaculate Kilmeena sod.

Louisburgh may have been a tad more wasteful, kicking more wides and missing more goal chances.

Veterans like Ray Geraghty and Padraic O’Connor led the way in the scoring for the Abbeysiders while Jack Walsh and Finian Bourke gave superb defensive displays.

The game’s only goals came in the first half, with Louisburgh hitting the net after a ball was delivered into the unmarked Diarmaid Lally who slotted it home.

The Abbeysiders responded when Padraic O’Connor played a cute pass over to Ray Geraghty, who sent a missile into the bottom corner from 15 yards out.

With the sides deadlocked at 1-5 each at half-time, Louisburg had their best spell with three unanswered scores in the second half.

The introduction of club legend Austin O’Malley added impetus, with the former Mayo footballer engaging in an interesting battle with our full-back Kevin Shannon.

‘Tubber chipped away at the deficit, with youngsters Robbie Finnerty, Alan McHale and Matthew Redmond all making inroads after being introduced as substitutes.

With the likes of Jack Walsh and Finian Bourke putting in stellar performances in defence, the young guns in Gary Walsh’s team impressed for the occasion.

A point from Hugh Geraghty reduced the gap to a point after the water break before a fine score from the speedy Alan McHale levelled the game.

Patience was a virtue in the final ten minutes, as both sides traded scores before our captainJohn Kerrigan sailed up to kick what looked like the winner.

However, Louisburgh’s Michael Gibbons held his nerve to nail a free that sent the game to extra time.

After inspirational roars of encouragement from management and senior Ballintubber players, the two additional periods only yielded 0-1 apiece, with Seanie Larkin hitting our only score of the twenty minutes.

Both sides went in frantic search of a winner as daylight faded by the minute, but neither blinked.

In the end, it had to come down to penalties, the first such occasion they would be used to decide a game of adult club football in Mayo.

Learning from Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2020 folly, a blend of youth and experience stepped up to face the whites of Jason Corrigan’s eyes.

First was Robbie Finnerty, who unfortunately sent his shot wide of the mark.

Louisburgh then converted their first, before Ray Geraghty slotted the ball home calmly.

The Clew Bay men added Penalty Number 2, before the experienced Padraic O’Connor sent his shot thundering into the net.

Ballintubber goalie Niall Staunton pulled off a heroic save to deny Louisburgh a third, but we were unable to capitalise as Aaron Lally saw his shot blocked.

Staunton got a hand to Austin O’Malley’s effort but couldn’t keep out his piledriver.

Cillian Redmond’s soccer experience with Ballyheane stood to him when he sent his effort straight into the top corner to keep us in contention.

Louisburgh might have clinched it had James Dowd not sent his effort up and over the bar, forcing the contest to ‘sudden death’.

Having converted his first spot-kick, Padraic O’Connor went low for his second but was denied by Jason Corrigan.

The men from Clew Bay clinched the silverware when Ed Ball held his nerve to make it 4-3, thus bringing the curtain down on a historic day for Mayo club football.

Ballintubber team: Niall Staunton; Jarlath Staunton, Kevin Shannon, Finian Bourke; Jack Walsh, Paul Early, John Kerrigan (0-1); Darragh McGovern, Hugh Geraghty (0-1); Aaron Lally, Padraic O’Connor (0-2, 2f), Seanie Larkin (0-1); Adrian Murphy, Ray Geraghty (1-4, 4f), Alan Larkin (0-1)

Substitutions used: Robbie Finnerty for Murphy (26 min), Alan McHale (0-1) for Alan Larkin (45 min), Darragh Fahey for Jarlath Staunton (50 min), Matthew Redmond for Aaron Lally (54 min), Aaron Lally for John Kerrigan (68 min)

Referee: Paddy Chambers

MATCH REPORT

August 8 2021

Mayo Senior Football League Division 4A Round 1

Ballintubber 1-9 Eastern Gaels 4-10

Our juniors suffered a heavy defeat to Eastern Gaels earlier this afternoon after shipping four goals in the second half.

Despite leading 1-5 to 0-7 at half time, our opponents came out supercharged after the break and mustered an almighty purple patch, hitting 2-2 before the water break.

Running at us with a warrior-like ferocity, the East Mayo men hit the net twice more before the final whistle as hopes of a Ballintubber revival collapsed.

Gary Walsh’s charges will now direct their focus at Wednesday evening’s West Mayo Junior B Championship final against Louisburg in Kilmeena.

Lining out with many younger players, including first junior starts Ryan Wilson and Sean McEvilly, it looked like this was going to be a right contest from the off.

Played out in sunny if slightly breezy conditions, neither team wasted any time in getting stuck into each other.

Our attacking play looked smooth in the early stages as we posted five unique point-scorers to lead 0-5 0-3 after 15 minutes.

Our best play came straight after the water break when midfielder Darragh McGovern drove through the middle like a tank before handing the ball off to young Darragh Fahey who crashed it high into the net.

Although we lost Cillian Joyce to injury and shipped seven points in the first half, the omens still looked positive as we finished the half with a one-point lead.

However, Eastern Gaels began to threaten our goal with greater frequency in the third quarter.

Cheered on by a sizeable travelling support, the visitors saw one goal chance flash low and wide, an opportunity which would have given them the lead.

Two Ballintubber scores - including one cracker from out wide by Robbie Finnerty – looked to have steadied the ship.

However, we were soon put on the back foot when our opponents hit the first of four goals after working the ball rapidly up the field through the hands.

The east Mayo men raised a second green flag only moments later before adding a point, leaving them 2-10 to 1-8 ahead at the water break.

With Ballintubber well and truly rattled, the visitors hit a third goal immediately after the water break to put themselves well and truly out of sight.

One outrageous point from substitute Eoin Heneghan was all we managed in the final quarter as Eastern Gaels buried a fourth and final three-pointer to claim a ten-point victory.

Ballintubber team that lined out: (1)Niall Staunton (2)Ryan Wilson (3)Paul Early (4)Luke Murphy (5)Sean McEvilly (6)Magnus Malone (7)Darragh Fahey (1-0) (8)Darragh McGovern (9)Cillian Joyce (10)James McGing (0-1) (11)Adrian Murphy (0-1) (12)Sean Larkin (13)Alan Larkin (0-1) (14)Ray Geraghty (0-2, 2f) (15)Robbie Finnerty (0-2)

Substitutions used: Jack Walsh for Alan Larkin (38 min), Declan Murphy for Luke Murphy (38 min), Eoghan Heneghan for James McGing (45 min), Damien Jennings for Adrian Murphy (45 min) Adam Lally for Magnus Malone (50 min)

Regards Mike Murphy 

MATCH REPORT

August 7 2021

Mayo Senior League Division 1 Round 1

Westport 1-7 Ballintubber 1-12

Our first outing in the Mayo Senior League ended in defeat yesterday on a wet, dreary evening in Westport.

Played out in very wet and windy conditions, our seniors were desperately unlucky with some of the goal chances we missed in the first half.

In addition to two shots which came thundering back off the crossbar, we created a number of serious goal chances playing into an Atlantic gale.

This meant we found ourselves trailing by six points at half-time when we might otherwise have been level with Westport, who we are to face in this season’s senior championship.

This is not to take away from the home side, who looked impressive and assured on home soil despite the absence of their six county players plus former Mayo panellist Colm Moran.  

The Lambert brothers, Killian Kilkelly and Alan Kennedy all performed well for the Covies. Full-forward Kevin Keane also engaged in a fascinating old-school battle with our own Finian Bourke.

Goal chances were not so plentiful in the second half unfortunately. While we managed to kick 0-6 in the second half, our opponents clocked up enough scores to keep more than a goal between the sides.

Some poor decision- making and shot selection in the final quarter also hampered our honest efforts.

The weather conditions made play very difficult for both sides, meaning dispossessions, errors and turnovers were frequent.

Jason Gibbons stood out once again in a fascinating match-up with big Shane Scott from Westport.

Likewise, Jack Walsh impressed in the half-backs in his first senior start of the season while Stephen O’Malley performed admirably at corner-forward given the difficult playing conditions.

After Westport kicked the opening two points, we put the ball in the net in the opening ten minutes when Jason Gibbons drove up the middle before feeding Noel Geraghty, who buried it home with a class finish.

The response from the Covies was clinical. Playing with an almighty breeze behind them, the hosts produced 1-3 through some slick team moves and lively forward play.

Pat Lambert beat Frank Walsh to put the hosts five ahead, but that was as good as it got for Westport in the first half in terms of goal chances.

There is no doubt, if we had had the rub of the green, we might well have levelled the game.

Instead, many began to wonder if a curse had been laid on Patrick O’Malley’s crossbar, which wobbled after goal attempts from both Aaron Lally and Ciarán Gavin.

However, it wasn’t to be, and by half-time, we had only put 1-1 on the scoreboard through Noel Geraghty.

Despite trailing by six points at half-time, we had the advantage of a powerful breeze heading into the third quarter.

This, however, did not translate into scores as we would have liked. Two stunning frees from Stephen O’Malley – including one from the sideline – were all that we managed before the water break, both of which were nullified by three points from Westport’s Kevin Keane and Alan Kennedy.

The introduction of Alan Dillon added some spark to our play, but the former Mayo captain didn’t find the posts until the last minute of normal time.

It was an effort that only reduced Westport’s lead to five, and Jerome Henry’s final whistle put the seal on a deserved win for the Covies.

Ballintubber team that lined out: (1)Frank Walsh (2)Gary Loftus (3)Finian Bourke (4)Myles Kelly (5)Jack Walsh (6)Joe Geraghty (7)Keelan McDonnell (8)Jason Gibbons (9)Hugh Geraghty (10)Alan Plunkett (11)Noel Geraghty (1-2, 1f) (12)Aaron Lally (13)Ciaran Gavin (14)Stephen O’Malley (0-3, 3f) (15)Damien Coleman (0-1)

Substitutions used: Brian Murphy for Joe Geraghty (half-time), Stephen Burke for Aaron Lally (half-time), Alan Dillon (0-1) for Alan Plunkett (43 min), Darragh McGovern for Ciarán Gavin (59 min), Robbie Finnerty for Damien Coleman (60 min, inj)