Ballyglass win Mayo Masters Division 2 title on penalties

Ballyglass 2

Iorras Aontaithe 2

(Ballyglass won 4-3 on penalties)

Ballyglass recovered from their Mayo Masters Cup final defeat to edge out Iorras Aontaithe on penalties to win the Division 2 title on a dramatic night in Solar 21 Park last Wednesday.

Iorras were certainly the better side in the opening half and were unfortunate not to go ahead early on through Liam Donoghue’s thunderous free-kick but Ballyglass goalkeeper John Murray was equal to it. They took a deserved lead shortly before the break when Mark Gilbert curled in a delightful effort into the corner.

It was nip and tuck throughout the second half. Murray came to the rescue to deny Ivan Barrett while Gilbert went close for Iorras after a great move down the field but could not apply the finish.

Ballyglass almost levelled it though Alan Plunkett’s header, only for it to inches wide of the post. They got an equaliser out of nothing with five minutes to go as Alan Larkin’s rasper from distance flew into the top corner past a helpless Gareth O’Malley to take this game into extra time.

A mistake at the back early in the first period of extra time saw Alan Plunkett put Ballyglass in front but the sides were level once more in the second period through Liam Donohue to take this game to penalties.

Murray saved two penalties in the shootout for Ballyglass and John Duffy fired in the decisive penalty to see them be crowned Division 2 champions.

Ballyglass: J. Murray, PJ Gibbons, D. Larkin, A. Larkin, A. Killeen, J. Killeen, P. Delaney, A. Plunkett, J. Duffy.

Iorras Aontaithe: G. O’Malley, D. Reilly, C. Geraghty, L. Donohue, A. Mills, B. Nallen, S. O’Malley, H. Gaughan, M. Gilbert, I. Barrett.

Ref: A. Sweeney.

*Star rating: John Murray (Ballyglass).........pulled off several brilliant saves throughout the game. Saved two penalties in the shootout.