Mayo club successfully navigate trip to Dublin to progress in FAI Junior Cup

Ballyheane are safely through to the fifth round of the FAI Junior Cup after successfully navigating a trip Dublin, winning by three goals to two against Ayrfield United in Donaghmede, writes Brian Gillespie.

Though they were the better team from the start, Ballyheane were rocked when Ian Sandford put the hosts ahead on 16 minutes, stealing in at the far post to direct Brian Malone's free kick from the right-hand side into the net from an acute angle.

The Mayo side had to soak up some pressure for the next few minutes as the goal seemed to energise Ayrfield, but they survived the sticky patch and soon conjured up a move that led to the leveller, Alan Hegarty with the finish after good work from Michael Fahy and Ben Edeh.

Following another period of Ayrfield pressure, Ballyheane actually took the lead just after the half-hour mark when Fahy produced more good work in the middle and send Edeh clear, and he buried a shot to the net past Stephen Whelan.

Edeh almost had a second, and a third for Ballyheane, following a pass from Dan Purcell, but this time the Ayrfield 'keeper made a fine stop, and it remained 2-1 to the Mayo team at half-time.

The hosts caused Ballyheane many problems throughout with set pieces, and Sandford again found the net on 52 minutes, this time finishing off Jordan Donnelly's delivery past Luca Meldrum.

Parity only last six minutes, however, as Edeh crossed for Dylan Stevenson who produced a curling shot that gave Whelan no chance and re-established Ballyheane's lead.

Having been the dominant side in possession up to that stage, Ballyheane slowly ceded control, but Ayrfield were unable to create much in open play and Meldrum remained largely untroubled as the Mayo men left Donaghmede with a merited 3-2 win.