Brilliant Balla shock Kiltimagh to win intermediate crown

EGAN JEWELLERS MAYO IFC FINAL

Balla 1-8

Kiltimagh 0-7

By Aiden Henry

BALLA are the new Mayo intermediate football champions following their fully deserved victory over near neighbours Kiltimagh in the final played in Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar tonight.

Appearing in their first ever intermediate championship final Balla, who were crowned county junior champions in 2018, took an early grip on this decider and after going in four points in front at the interval, they withstood a lot of Kiltimagh pressure in the second half before pulling away from their opponents in the final minutes.

In the end it was Balla’s ability to make more of their scoring chances that proved the difference between the teams. For Kiltimagh it was heartbreak again as they now have lost the last four intermediate finals they have contested.

Although Kiltimagh opened the scoring with a pointed free by Eoghan Lavin, it was Balla who dominated the opening quarter, where it mattered most, on the scoreboard.

They got the crucial score of the game, a goal as early as the 8th minute when Colm Murphy picked out Aaron Walsh who in turn blasted the ball to the back of the net. This proved to be the only green flag lifted in this decider.

By the time the first water break came they still this one-goal lead. They continued to make life for Kiltimagh in the second quarter and went in four points to the good at half time.

In the second half Balla had to withstand serious Kiltimagh pressure. But they stood up to this onslaught where they continued to make it very difficult forwards to convert their scoring chances.

While Kiltimagh did manage to come within a point of Balla, the west Mayo upped the ante again where they scored three unanswered points in the final 10 minutes to record a famous victory

Balla: M. Flanagan, C. Dunleavy, G. Holian, S. McNicholas, G. Flanagan, S. Morrissey, T. Reynolds, B. Duffy (0-1), JP Reilly, G. McHale (0-3), C. Murphy (0-2), P. McLoughlin J. Harte (0-1), C. Walsh, A. Walsh (1-0).

Subs used: C. Kilkenny, V. Roughneen (0-1), R. O’Connor, C. Golding.

Kiltimagh: J. McNicholas, M. Cummins, D. Cosgrove, K. Mulderrig, S. Forkan, C. Heneghan, B. Gallagher, P. Kelly, S. Walsh, A. Cosgrove (0-1), D. Lydon (0-1), T. Keegan, C. Finn (0-1), TJ Byrne (0-1), E. Lavin (0-3).

Subs used: L. Kelly, C. Mallee, J. Forkan, C. English, O. Carroll.

Referee: L. Devenney (Ballina).