Ballyhaunis Town rain on Achill Rovers’ parade
SOCCER Achill Rovers’ dreams of capping off a big week for the club with another trophy were dashed by Ballyhaunis Town.
FINAL
Ballyhaunis Town 2
J Carney 19, J Kezze 63
Achill Rovers 1
B McGing 80
Anton McNulty
Castlebar
ACHILL Rovers’ dreams of capping off a memorable week for the club with another trophy were dashed by a Ballyhaunis Town side who deservedly brought the Tonra Cup east with a 2-1 victory.
A goal from Jarlath Carney in the 19th minute and a second-half strike from Jamil Kezze sent Ballyhaunis Town on the road to victory at Milebush Park, with Brandon McGing pulling one back ten minutes from time.
Having been named the Aviva FAI Club of the Year last week, Rovers had organised a homecoming parade on Sunday to mark the occasion, and hoped to cross the Michael Davitt bridge with the Tonra Cup in hand. But Ballyhaunis spoiled those aspirations with a comfortable victory in a lack-lustre final.
The sides had played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the league a week earlier, but the cup edition failed to live up to the billing. Ballyhaunis Town were the better side throughout with captain, Kevin Beirne covering every inch of ground with a dominant display in midfield while Aiden McTigue had an outstanding game at the heart of the Town defence.
A major disappointment for Rovers manager Martin McGing will be that few of his star players performed to their best on the day.
The opening minutes was a cagey affair with both sides keeping it tight and neither goalkeeper called into action. The first half chance fell to Achill Rovers on 12 minutes when Ballyhaunis failed to deal with Kevin Lynchehaun’s delivery into the box, and Krzysztof Jablonski’s goal-bound shot was blocked by a defender. At the other end, Martin Patten had to be quick off his line to deny Kevin Beirne, who ran onto a through ball over the Achill rearguard.
The first goal arrived in the 19th minute when a left-footed cross from Giles McDonagh caused consternation in the Rovers defence. Patten could only parry the ball to the feet of Jarlath Carney, who made no mistake from six yards.
The goal sparked the game into life and both sides going close to scoring. Rovers almost equalised four minutes after Carney’s goal when a shot from Chris Western deflected off McTigue. The ball looped over John Cunnane, but fortunately for Ballyhaunis, it just cleared the crossbar. It looked easier for Andrew Cunnane to score when he escaped the Rovers defence in the 24th minute to meet Conor Freeley’s inviting cross, but he somehow headed wide of the post.
Johnny Kiernan was Achill’s main threat down the left. Rovers captain Terence Dever saw his snapshot from the edge of the area fizz wide, while Martin Doolin went close with a header at the back post from a Kiernan corner.
There was drama ten minutes into the second half when eagle-eyed assistant referee John Mulroe adjudged that Ballyhaunis goalkeeper John Cunnane had handled the ball outside his area. An indirect free-kick was awarded and Cunnane was a relived man when Jablonski’s effort just cleared the crossbar.
In the 65th minute, Ballyhaunis had one hand on the trophy when Jamil Kezze found the net. Andrew Cunnane beat Achill right-back Joe Murray to the byline. His cut-back found Kezze at the edge of the area, and the striker coolly shot past Patten.
The goal seemed to knock the wind out of the islanders’ sails, as they looked tired and bereft of ideas. Ballyhaunis were happy to shore up their defence and were looking comfortable until ten minutes from time.
They failed to deal with an inswinging corner by Kevin Lynchehaun, and Achill substitute Brandon McGing was on hand to poke the ball home.
Rovers pushed for a winner, but lost Lynchehaun to a straight red card deep in injury time, and with it their cup final dreams.
BALLYHAUNIS TOWN
J Cunnane; P McGee, A McTigue, J Lochran, G McDonagh; J Carney, K Beirne, C Freeley, R McCormack; J Kezze, A Cunnane.
Subs used: J Morley for R McCormack; J Neenan for Kezze; F Coyne for Freeley; D Adex for J Neenan; A P Kelly for McDonagh
ACHILL ROVERS
M Patten; J Murray, M Doolin, A McHugh, C Kilbane; K Lynchehaun, C Western, T Dever, J Kiernan; K Jablonski, M Davitt.
Subs used: B McGing for M Davitt; S McNamara for K Jablonski.
Referee: B Blake