Third time lucky for claremorris

Claremorris ............2-12

Ballina Stephenites....0-4

FOLLOWING defeats in the last two Mayo minor football county finals, Claremorris made it third time lucky with their facile and fully deserved victory over Ballina Stephenites at Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar, today, writes Aiden Henry.

As the final scoreline suggests, it was far too easy for Claremorris. However, this one-sided result didn’t look possible at half-time as Claremorris only held a two-point advantage, 0-4 to 0-2. But, it must be said, they had played into a very strong wind.

Although Ballina reduced the deficit to the minimum shortly after the resumption, the south Mayo side took control and following points from full-back Darren Regan and Niall Joyce, they more or less killed the game as a contest in the 42nd minute when man-of-the-match Mikey Higgins crashed home a goal.

At this stage it was just a matter of what they would win by. They added a second goal from Niall Joyce and six more points before the final whistle to run out comfortable winners.

Claremorris; K. Saunders, M. Ring, D. Regan, D. Gilmore, P. Barry, J. McCormack (0-2), M. Macken, C. Gill (0-1), C. Diskin, O. Brady (0-2), S. Conroy (0-1), C. Walsh, N. Joyce (1-2), M. Higgins (1-2), D. Takkos.

Subs used: S. Vahey, S. McGreal (0-1), B. Connaughton, E. Clarke, L. Walsh, D. Gannon.

Ballina Stephenities: N. Dee, C. Hunt, C. McGurrin, J. Luskin, S. Sheridan, D. Molloy (0-2), J. Doherty, J. Irwin, L. Doherty, S. Leonard (0-1), B. Peoples (0-1), C. McStay, D. Maughan, J. Kilkenny, C. Butler.

Subs used: O. Smith-Rouse, M. Rouse, M. Sheridan, E. Coleman, J. Loftus.

Referee: M. Kenny (Westport).