South Mayo side succumb to extra time defeat in Connacht Cup encounter

Connacht Cup Round 1

Castlerea Celtic 3

Ballinrobe Town 1 (AET)

Celtic Park, Castlerea

CASTLEREA CELTIC advanced in the Connacht Cup after a hard-fought extra-time win over a spirited Ballinrobe Town side this afternoon.

The Roscommon outfit dominated the early exchanges and took a deserved lead after 20 minutes when former Athlone Town striker Kailin Barlow curled a superb effort into the far corner from outside the box.

Despite the home side’s pressure, Ballinrobe Town struck back before half-time. Sean Vahey pounced on a loose pass in the Celtic defence and finished smartly past Silva to make it 1-1.

Theo Bellanger went close to putting Ballinrobe Town into the lead before the break, his long-range free kick crashing off the underside of the crossbar, but the sides remained level at the interval.

Celtic continued to press after the restart, with Barlow and Ronan Curran both going close, while Ballinrobe keeper Niall O’Malley produced several fine saves to keep his side in it.

Extra-time, however, proved decisive.

Within moments of the restart, Johnny Curran finally broke the deadlock, bursting into the box and rifling high past O’Malley to make it 2-1.

Castlerea Celtic sealed victory late on when Curran’s dangerous cross was turned into his own net by a Ballinrobe defender.

Full match report and round up from this weekend’s first round of the Connacht Cup inside Tuesday’s edition of the Connaught Telegraph.