U-16s draw with Louisburgh

Billy Horan
THE Ballinrobe U-16 footballers and Louisburgh drew (2-12 to 4-6) in Division Two of the Mayo U-16 Football League at Flanagan Park last week.
In a match of swaying fortunes, Louisburgh opened impressively, with goals from James Gibbons and Seamus Needham. Ballinrobe, boosted by an Eddie Sweeney goal, recovered well and were just a point behind at the interval, 2-3 to 1-5.
Two more Louisburgh goals, scored by Pádraig O’Malley and substitute Eoin O’Malley, left the visitors ahead by 4-6 to 1-9 entering the final quarter.
The locals, however, responded resolutely to the challenge, and a well-engineered Mark Biggins goal in the 57th minute, following an incisive run by Thomas Lawrence, levelled matters. Ballinrobe might well have prevailed, as one or two opportunities were let slip in the remaining minutes.
Stephen Burke, the top scorer, Cathal Jennings, Joseph Burke, Thomas Lawrence, Ronan O’Reilly, Philip McGreal and Damien Joyce were the key players for Ballinrobe.
Pádraig O’Malley, James Gibbons, Padraig Prendergast, Pat O’Toole, Eamon O’Malley, Seamus Needham and replacement Eoin O’Malley were well to the fore for Louisburgh.

Ballinrobe
S Shaughnessy; D Joyce, D McDonnell, P McGreal; M Burke, R O’Reilly, C Jennings; J Murphy, P Daly; T Lawrence (0-3), M Biggins (1-1), S Burke (0-8, 6f); J Gibbons, J Burke, E Sweeney (1-0).

Minors win

THE club U-18s beat Kilmeena by 6-9 to 1-13 in the county minor football league at Ballinrobe on Wednesday. David O’Connor, James Quinn, who scored three goals, David Murphy, Stephen Burke and Seán Shaughnessy impressed for Ballinrobe.

Easy for U-14s

BALLINROBE scored a facile victory, 12-14 to 4-9, in Division 3 of the County U-14 Football League at Flanagan Park recently.
Matthew Burke was Ballinrobe’s chief scorer, and there were also impressive performances from Pierce Jennings, Kevin Vahey (captain), Peter Butler and Sean Óg Collins.

Skills Academy

DON’T forget the Skills Academy run by Ballinrobe GAA Club on Saturday mornings at 9.30am. They will continue throughout the summer. Contact any of the Bord na nÓg officers or ballinrobegaaclub@gmail.com for more details.