Regal Regan runs the rule over Robesiders
Ballina goalkeeper David Clarke and his defenders stand between Ballinrobe's Rossa Burke and the goal.
A virtuoso second-half display by Evan Regan helped propel Ballina Stephenites to an incredible comeback victory at Flanagan Park on Saturday evening. After Ewan Duffy had confidently dispatched a 37th minute penalty, Ballinrobe found themselves enjoying a commanding 1-12 to 0-7 lead and it appeared as though the hosts were charting a course for victory. However, a resilient Ballina refused to yield and ultimately left the South Mayo venue with the spoils.
The early stages belonged to Ballinrobe who were making full use of the new rules, with an exquisite early two-pointer free from Ewan Duffy and a sublime long-range two-pointer from play by James Murphy, mustering an early four point cushion for the Robesiders. Duffy was awarded the aforementioned when the visitors failed to keep three players in Ballinrobe’s half of the pitch.
Evan Regan notched a pointed free for Ballina on four minutes and when the same player pointed from play on seven minutes, the gap was reduced to two points.
Ewan Duffy struck over a well-placed free but this was significantly negated when Regan guided over an awesome two-pointer free on 10 minutes, much to the delight of the away supporters.
Ballinrobe’s Conor Jennings produced an effective display at wing-back and the former Mayo minor guided over a peach of a two-pointer on 11 minutes, to help shunt his team-mates into a 0-7 to 0-4 lead.
The game continued to ebb and flow, with Ballina’s Conor McStay showing his guile and creativity when he played a neat one-two with the supporting Niall Feeney before guiding over a neat effort from close-range.
Ballinrobe’s Duffy was busy at centre-forward and guided over another long-range free from outside the 40 metre arc and as the game entered its second quarter, the Robesiders held a four point cushion. Indeed they would finish the first-half with a flourish, with a peach of a point from an acute angle by Evan O’Brien on 23 minutes, warmly greeted by the home faithful. The Maroon and Yellow also produced one of the moves of the game on 24 minutes, when Conor Jennings and the raiding Liam Burke combined to tee-up O’Brien and the latter duly registered his second point.
Another Ballinrobe point, this time from Liam Burke, ensured Eoin Hughes’ troops enjoyed a healthy 0-12 to 0-5 lead during the half-time musings.
Ballina began the second period in a robust fashion and efforts from Keith Tighe and Regan, a free, offered the away supporters a glimmer of hope, but at the other end Ballinrobe very nearly pilfered a three-pointer on 37 minutes when Rossa Burke’s goal-bound strike was only diverted by the outstretched boot of Niall Feeney. However, seconds later Ballinrobe were awarded a penalty after Ryan Corcoran was brought down inside the area. Ewan Duffy was coolness personified from the spot and Ballinrobe now led by eight points.
Duffy, who was causing havoc for the Ballina defence, made a neat swivel before guiding over another point which mustered a nine point cushion for his team-mates.
Some teams may have crumbled but Ballina produced a barnstorming comeback, which was instigated by a point from Regan and a skyscraper of an orange flagged effort from substitute Mikey Murray.
Luke Jennings then produced a fine save to deny Regan a goal but the latter proceeded to notch two frees on 46 and 48 minutes respectively.
Ballinrobe were struggling to win possession and any loose or breaking ball was eagerly snaffled up by the resurgent guests, which resulted in points from Ben Thornton, David Tighe and Regan, a free. Indeed, Thornton’s effort could just as easily have been a goal only for Jennings tipping the leather over his crossbar.
Aaron McDonnell, James Murphy and Evan O’Brien did their utmost to rescue the situation for Ballinrobe, however, a majestic long-range point from Ballina’s Murray finally restored parity for the Green and Red (1-13 to 0-16), with a point from the dynamic Regan also on 54 minutes, shunting the guests into a slender lead.
Ballinrobe finally ended their malaise when Oran O’Malley levelled matters on 56 minutes but one minute later an audacious Regan two-pointer from an acute and difficult angle, turned the tide.
Ballina then galvanized their lead courtesy of points from Regan, a free, and Murray, with the busy Regan also notching his team’s final score of the game two minutes into stoppage time from a well-taken ’45.
Ballinrobe’s Eoin Gilrane managed to muster a late point for the hosts, however, the spoils belonged to Ballina after the visitors completed a stunning comeback victory.
Scorers – Ballinrobe: Ewan Duffy 1-2-2 (1-0pen, 2tpf, 0-1f), Conor Jennings and James Murphy 0-1-0 each, Evan O’Brien 0-0-2, Oran O’Malley, Eoin Gilrane and Liam Burke 0-0-1 each.
Ballina Stephenites: Evan Regan 0-2-10 (2tpf, 1 ’45, 6f), Mikey Murray 0-1-2, Conor McStay, Keith Tighe, Ben Thornton and David Tighe 0-0-1 each.
Ballinrobe: Luke Jennings; Oran O’Malley, Aaron McDonnell, Sean Flannery; Conor Jennings, Eoin Gilrane, Peter Butler; James Murphy, Evan O’Brien; Ryan Corcoran, Ewan Duffy, Rossa Burke; Rory Gilrane, Liam Burke, Adam Flannery.
Subs: Caelan Tansey (for L Burke 35), David Cameron (for A Flannery 50), Sequoyah Duffy (for O’Brien 55-inj).
Ballina Stephenites: David Clarke; Stephen Mullin, Mikey Fadden, Jimmy Doherty; Niall Feeney, David Tighe, Ciaran Boland; Luke Jordan, Dylan Neary; Barry Walsh, Conor McStay, Ben Thornton; Evan Regan, Keith Tighe, Matthew Leonard.
Subs: Mikey Murray (for Neary 35), Daniel Feeney (for Fadden 43), Patrick Carr (for Leonard 56).
REF: John Glavey (Aghamore)
