Ballina Rugby.ie

Caption: Action from Ballina’s bonus point victory 29-11  over Ballinrobe. Pic: Corinne Beattie.

Link to weekend review (Click Here)

Cup exit for brave Ballina
By Clive Moore in Heffernan Park, Ballina

Photo by Corinne Beattie

All Ireland Junior Cup
BALLINA 3 ARMAGH 25

BALLINA were defeated by Armagh in the All-Ireland Junior Cup last Saturday. The Ulster team arrived with a reputation as a formidable side which has dominated their provincial league in the last few seasons. Yet although they were undoubtedly the best team on the day, they were for large periods of the game matched by the extremely competitive home team.

From the kick-off Armagh established themselves in the Ballina half so the home side had to endure a period of sustained pressure from the visitors. Ballina defended well during this time and particularly noticeable was the aggressive tackling of centres David Newman and Stephen McCarron which was matched by back row forwards Judd Ruane and Aidan McNulty.

On a couple of occasions Armagh had lineouts close to the home side’s try line but Ballina’s forwards – with Paul Newell, Tom Tolan, Marc Healy and Danny Carrabine to the fore – forced the Ulster men back as they attempted to maul their way over. Eventually the visitors were rewarded for their efforts when Ballina conceded a kickable penalty within Armagh out-half Alan Going’s range which he kicked over to give his side the lead.

It was disappointing for Ballina that having initially defended lineouts close to their line so well, they eventually succumbed to one when five minutes after Going’s penalty kick, the Armagh pack secured ball in the lineout and drove for the line until flanker Joe Clarke crashed over. Going converted giving his side a 10-0 lead.

Ballina needed to respond and did. They secured ball with William O’Connor providing a good target for Richard Kelly in the lineouts and took the game to their opponents. Scrum-half Michael Murphy was passing well, and Andy Moynihan at out-half varied his game well to help establish a foothold for the Mayo men in Armagh territory. Centres Newman and McCarron were making good ground and the back three of Cormac Quinn, Robert Forbes and senior debutante Frances Conroy were willing, eager and effective when running the ball back at their opponents, or chasing Moynihan’s kicks into space.

Good continuity play from the home side eventually forced Armagh into conceding a penalty which Moynihan kicked over to leave the score 10-3. Ballina kept up the pressure and were camped on the visitors line for large periods of what remained of the half but the northerners defended well and held out until half-time.

In the second half the visitors took control again. They shortened their lineout, an area where Ballina exerted some pressure on them, and the tactic worked, ensuring a good supply of fast ball for them. They were also adept at slowing up the ball in the rucks when Ballina were in possession and rucking well to provide good fast ball for themselves.

Ballina were defending solid-ly when disaster struck early in the half. A simple slip by a defender on the greasy surface left them cruelly exposed. The Armagh men quickly exploited the chink in the home side’s armour, sending winger Eddie Irvine away to run in for a decisive score. Going missed the conversion so the score was now 15-3 and the game was slipping away from Ballina.

The Greens tried to claw their way back into the game but the penalty count against them undermined their efforts and soon Going had put over another kick to stretch the lead further.

Further indiscipline resulted in Ballina’s numbers on the pitch being reduced which didn’t help their cause.

Ballina used all their substitutions with David Rowe coming on at prop, James Cawley in at second row and Arthur West at flanker, all who reinvigorated the pack, while Niall O’Malley and Ciaran Rouse came on the wings, both aquiting themselves well. Despite their efforts though, Ballina failed to add to their tally and it was Armagh who scored again when scrum-half Matt Wright broke through Ballina’s stretched and tiring defence to run in for a try which Going converted. The score remained 25-3 until the final whistle. Ballina never gave up and can be proud of the way they competed to the end. It did them on harm at all to play against a side like Armagh and they are capable of competing at this level if they work on the aspects of their game the visitors exposed. Next Sunday Ballina host O.L.B.C. in the league (2.30pm kick off) and they will be out to show their supporters they’ve learned from this encounter.

BALLINA: Paul Newell, Richard Kelly, Tom Tolan, Marc Healy, Danny Carrabine, William O’Connor, Judd Ruane, Aiden McNulty, Michael Murphy (C), Andrew Moynihan, Francis Conroy, David Newman, Stephen McCarron, Cormac Quinn, Robert Forbes. Replacements: David Rowe, James Cawley, Arthur West, Nial O’Malley, Ciaran Rouse.

ARMAGH: Brian Patterson, Peter Lamb, Melvin Hopps, Phil Hill, David Martin, Joe Clarke, Andy Hughes, James Morton, Matt Wright, Alan Going, Eddie Irvine, Peter Elliot, Lee Manu, Johnny Alan, Stuart Lester.

Replacements: Johnny Steenson, Andrew Willis, Stephen Morton, Stephen Morton, Diarmuid Costello

 The AIB Junior Cup saw Monivea secure a 39-15 home win over Waterpark. The Munster side scored first and led 10-5 at half time yet in the second half 5 trys helped them home.

Tuam produced a gutsy display away to Cashel losing 15-7 having led 7-5 with 2o minutes remaining.

Ballina lost 25-3 at home to Armagh. They trailed 10-3 at half time and while they were never outclassed they just didn’t find the scoring threat.  The Clonmel and Sligo game was called off.

2009/10 AIB JUNIOR CUP – FIRST ROUND RESULTS:

Ballina 3 Armagh 25, Heffernan Park
Boyne 59 Kilfeacle & District 12, Shamrock Lodge
Cashel 15 Tuam 7, Cashel
Coleraine 24 Tullamore 27, Rugby Avenue
Cooke 12 Cill Dara 14, Shaw’s Bridge
Monivea 39 Waterpark 15, Castle Grounds
Seapoint 14 City of Derry 19, Kilbogget Park

Clonmel v Sligo, Ard Na Gaoithe (Saturday, November 7, 2.30pm)

Ballina 20
Galwegians 0

Ballina Scores: Michael Clarke and Robert Forbes 1 try each; Andy Moynihan 1 drop goal, 2 con and 1 pen.

 photo by Corinne Beattie

Ballina have won four from five and sit fourth place in the league table after comfortable victory last Sunday against Galwegians.

They led 13-0 at half time . Andy Moynihan had kicked an early drop goal and penalty to set them on their way before Michael Clarke’s try.

Robert Forbes added a second try in the second half, both were converted by Moynihan.

Ballina: R Forbes; N O’Malley, M Clarke, D Newman, C Quinn; A Moynihan, M Murphy; P Newell, R Kelly, T Tolan; M Healy, D Carribine; C Forde S Loftus, A McNulty.

Replacements: J Cawley, S Dolan and C Rouse

For a round of the rest of the  Junior 1 league action (click here)

*Western People match report*

Rugby: Greens rout Galwegians
By Clive Moore in Heffernan Park, Ballina

AIB Junior Cup Draw

The draws for the opening rounds of the AIB Junior Cup took place on Saturday night in Tullamore RFC, winners of the 2008/09 AIB Junior Cup.

The draw was made by IRFU President John Callaghan and local AIB representative Bobby Connolly.

Reigning champions Tullamore have been drawn against Coleraine, while former winners Seapoint have been drawn at home to City Of Derry in what promises to be one of the ties of the round.

Newcomers Kilfeacle will travel to Shane Horgan’s home club Boyne for their first taste of AIB Cup rugby.

The first round of the AIB Junior Cup will be played on October 31 with the quarter-finals down for decision on November 21.

AIB JUNIOR CUP FIRST ROUND DRAW:

- Matches to be played on October 31

I. Monivea v Waterpark
J. Clonmel v Sligo
K. Boyne v Kilfeacle
L. Seapoint v City Of Derry
M. Cooke v Cill Dara
N. Cashel v Tuam
O. Coleraine v Tullamore
P. Ballina v Armagh

AIB JUNIOR CUP QUARTER-FINALS DRAW:

- Matches to be played on November 21

1. Winner P v Winner M
2. Winner O v Winner J
3. Winner N v Winner I
4. Winner L v Winner K