Killester down the Town

Killester down the Town

SEVENTH ROUND

Killester United     4

Ballina Town        0

Daniel Carey

Killester

THERE were more than a few unusual sights in Dublin on Sunday. Barrel-chested men with shaven heads wandered around with bunches of flowers, marking Mother’s Day in the traditional fashion. A Killester United player was cautioned for criticising himself, and Ballina Town conceded four goals to bow out of the FAI Umbro Junior Challenge Cup.

Ballina Town did get the ball in the net once, from a Dwayne Helly header after 21 minutes. Unfortunately, referee Colin Duffy had already whistled for a free out, and that was as close as the away side got to breaching a strong Killester defence.

Brendan Kenny’s side were certainly ‘up for it’, and Helly, Eugene Gorman, Tom O’Connor, Daniel O’Hara and captain Fergus Quinn all put in big tackles in the opening 15 minutes. Michael Duffy, named in the starting line-up for his first competitive game since returning from injury, won his fair share of free kicks but was well shackled for the most part. Killester won their fair share of corner kicks, but one Alan Connor header was their best effort in an opening quarter where neither side carved out a clear-cut chance.

Ballina had settled by the midpoint in the first half, and Gary Grant’s free kick was caught by Killester goalkeeper Lee Murphy before Brendan Lavelle’s half-volley from the edge of the penalty area was blocked and cleared. Then Fergal Forde, who was beginning to impose himself to good effect at midfield, suffered a bad leg injury which eventually saw him brought to hospital by ambulance.

When play resumed, Killester upped the tempo, and Daniel O’Hara had to be alert to block Alan Connor’s effort after Town goalkeeper Niall Gallagher had left his line. Ian Graham headed over from a corner, and then, after 34 minutes, the deadlock was broken. Following a long kickout, Killester’s Michael Keogh crossed from the left, and Kenneth Curley slid in to apply the finish from close range.

The Dubliners were buoyant, and Terry Corbally almost added a second moments later, but the ball went just the wrong side of the post. Keogh’s cross grazed the sidenetting, and Gallagher did well to keep out Graham’s header. At the other end, substitute Pat Duffy found his namesake Michael, whose effort was charged down as it left his foot. Tom O’Connor’s volley went right and wide following Ballina’s first corner of the game, and Daniel O’Hara’s free kick was deflected out for a corner.

Still 1-0 at the break, then, at the second goal was clearly going to be crucial. Keogh shouted “Ah, go ask me b****x!” after he miscued a cross-shot, and picked up a yellow card despite protesting that he was talking to himself. Tom O’Connor and Derek Tansey both had memorable cameos, but after 61 minutes, Killester’s David Lacey found himself all alone inside the opposing defence, and chipped the advancing ’keeper. Ballina protests that the striker was offside fell on deaf ears, and at 2-0, the men from the capital were not going to be denied.

Substitute Philip Devers, who like Tom O’Connor had suffered with ‘flu’ during the week, was given a free kick to take immediately after his introduction, but didn’t get hold of it properly. At the other end, Niall Gallagher twice came from his goal to play centre-half, but a third goal arrived after 69 minutes. Full back Andrew Fitzsimons crossed from the left for David Lacey, who volleyed home his second. The striker came close to grabbing a hat-trick 12 minutes from time, but his attempt went over the crossbar.

Though we were spared rain, literal storm clouds appeared in the sky to sit with their figurative counterparts Barry McLaughlin came in for Michael Duffy with five minutes remaining, but the last piece of noteworthy action came at the other end. Killester substitute Alan Murphy appeared to be in an offside position when he received possession out wide, but there was no flag, and he crossed for Andrew Fitzsimons to fire home number four.

And so Mayo are left with Castlebar Celtic as the county’s sole standard-bearers in the FAI Junior Cup. Still, it’s been a memorable journey for Ballina Town, who will now turn their attention to the new Super League season, which kicks off at the end of this month.

KILLESTER UNITED

L Murphy, A Connor, A Fitzsimons, R Carrig, D Murphy, I Graham, J Donnrry, T Corbally, D Lacey, M Keogh, K Curley. Subs used: S Tracey for Curley (59 mins); W Doyle for Keogh (74 mins); A Murphy for Connor (83 mins).

BALLINA TOWN

N Gallagher, D Helly, D O’Hara, T O’Connor, D Tansey, G Grant, F Forde, F Quinn, M Duffy, B Lavelle, E Gorman. Subs used: P Duffy for Forde (28 mins, inj), P Devers for Lavelle (62 mins); B McLaughlin for Duffy (83 mins).

Referee: C Duffy (Dublin)