Five goal thriller unfolds in south Mayo derby

Nine man Ballinrobe Town recorded their first Super League victory of the season as they defeated Ballyglass 3-2 at Michael Keaveney Park.

The visitors made the dream start to this feisty encounter after three minutes, when Ben Place’s delicate chip was beyond the reach of the Ballyglass custodian, Alan Canny.

Ballyglass were also seeking their first three points of the league campaign and the hosts levelled matters on eight minutes, courtesy of a marvellous finish from the impressive Bryan Walsh. Walsh almost shunted the hosts into the lead on 25 minutes, but his volley was off target.

Ballinrobe could have regained the lead on 37 minutes, when a chance was crafted for Liam Kilcullen, but his chip was marginally off target, and it remained level during the half-time musings.

Ballinrobe also began the second period in a bright fashion, and they regained the advantage one minute into the new half, when Place’s left-wing delivery was inadvertently diverted to the back of his own net by Ballyglass centre-back Liam Glynn.

However, a resilient Ballyglass bounced back once again and the ‘Candystripes’ restored parity on 56 minutes, when the poaching Ryan Judge diverted the ball beyond the reach of Ajay Gormley Walsh in the Ballinrobe goal, following Dean O’Malley’s swerving delivery.

J. P. O’Gorman also made a return for Ballinrobe, and he was introduced as a second half substitute on 60 minutes.

This game continued to ebb and flow and the Robesiders netted what proved to be the winning goal on 83 minutes. A sweeping counterattack ended with Ballinrobe substitute Sean Vahey applying a tidy finish to the back of the net.

Ballinrobe’s game plan received late setbacks when Sean Vahey was dismissed by referee Oisin Walsh on 87 minutes, with his team-mate Tarik Yassin also dismissed by the referee three minutes into injury-time.

Ballyglass could well have claimed a dramatic share of the spoils deep into injury-time, however, O’Malley’s free kick was parried by Ballinrobe Town’s Super League debutant Ajay Gormley Walsh, with Evan Connolly’s follow up rebound flashing narrowly wide.