Mayo Under-16 league final (1995)

Ballina goals kill off gallant Lahardane

Ballina...........................4-5
Lahardane......................0-4

Ballina Stephanites had a deserved if unimpressive thirteen points win over Lahardane in the Mayo Bord na nOg under-16 league final at St. Joseph’s Park, Knockmore.

The scoreline might suggest a runaway victory for the Stephenites, but this was far from being the case. In fact Lahardane were well in contention twelve minutes into the second half, at which stage the Stephenites led by 0-4 to 0-3.

This was attributed to the fact that the Moysiders were guilty of some dreadful shooting, chalking up something like twenty-two wides over the hour, in addition to hammering a first half penalty over the bar.

The scoreline also hides the fact that Richard Leonard in the Ballina goal was forced to pull off a number of point-blank saves at vital stages in both periods. On two other occasions the Ballina defence was forced to concede ‘45’s when Lahardane goals looked possibilities. The fact, also, that Lahardane were limited to four points could be attributed to the excellent defending by Eugene Gorman, Shane Loftus, Alan Rafter and Ian Knight.

When the league winners finally put their game together entering the final quarter four goals were the end product of splendid movements involving several players.

The first goal resulted a combined effort involving Conor McDonagh and Keith Devers before Declan Cafferkey gave the Lahardane goalkeeper no chance of saving.

Shortly after, McDonagh, who had an excellent game at full-forward, scored two more goals with clinical finishing.

The final goal was scored by Darren Flaherty after a swift movement out of midfield.

During Ballina’s final quarter dominance all Lahardane could manage was just one point.

The Ballina attack received ample supply of the ball from the hardworking Ger Brady and team captain Sean Campbell in the middle of the field.

Following the game Bord na nOg secretary Sean McEil presented the shield to the Ballina captain Sean Campbell.

Lahardane: A. McDonnell, J. McDonnell, D. Coleman, D. Burke, C. Coughlan, M. Marley, K. Burke, S. Jordan, S. Rowan, D. Kelly (R.); D. Garrett (0-1); R. Nolan (0-1); B. Rowland (0-2); S. Coleman, R. Syron.
Subs.: S. Coughlan (for D. Burke); A. Syron (for R. Syron).