NEW BOSS EARLS BRINGS TITLE IN FIRST SEASON. . .

Soccer News 15 January 1997

WELCOME INN HOTEL DIVISION TWO LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF

Snugboro find the key to consistency

Snugboro .................................. 1
Ballina United ............................ 0

Milebush Report by Tom Kelly

Snugboro, a club which came back from the brink of collapse over a year ago, are on the ascendancy. They captured the Mayo League Division Two championship title at Milebush on Sunday by overcoming the spirited challenge of Ballina United in a stirring play-off.

Gerry McDonnell, Snugboro's most influential personality, struck the 15th minute goal which proved decisive in ensuring the Castlebar club of their greatest moment since joining the Mayo League over a decade ago.

He clinically dispatched a 20 yards drive into the roof of the United net after being put clean through by midfield ace, Johan Collins. It was a strike worthy of the occasion, and brought a fitting end to a championship campaign in which Snugboro were the epitome of consistency.

They won thirteen of the nineteen games they played, drawing three and losing three. The key to the side's steady form is traced to the appointment of former Castlebar Celtic star, Greg Earls, as manager at the start of the season.

He succeeded in introducing a combination of organisation and fitness, and the players clearly responded to his managerial methods. Once he managed to put the basics into place, the qualities of confidence and skill emerged with telling effect.

Ballina United also qualified for the play-off with impressive credentials. They were the top scorers of Division Two football with 59 goals to their credit, four more than Snugboro, while they only conceded 27 goals in their previous eighteen league outings, a statistic which also bettered than Snugboro by four goal.

When they fell behind to McDonnell's goal after just a quarter of an hour, the quality of Ballina's play suggested they were more than capable of getting back on level terms before long.

In fact, they had only themselves to blame for failing to do so before half-time.

OUT OF EQUATION

David Langdon, the side's purposeful and adventurous centre-half, was certain he had equalised in the 28th minute following an error of judgement by Snugboro defender, Padraig Conway.

But Langdon's finish rolled inches wide of a post with Snugboro goalkeeper, Declan Burke, out of the equation. Ballina were dictating the pattern at that juncture, and it seemed only a matter of time before they would be rewarded with a goal.

Indeed John Moyles experienced an even better chance than David Langdon in the 36th minute when the Snugboro defence was caught out by a high delivery. But Moyles took the wrong option of heading the ball when he had the time to take down the ball, bring it under control and shoot.

Goalkeeper Burke came to Snugboro's rescue just before the break when he produced a courageous save at the feet of the prominent, Sean Walsh. Snugboro were not defending stoutly enough to inspire confidence, but they were destined to get the upper-hand in the second half.

Such a transformation came about because of Snugboro's greater fitness and stamina, particularly in the midfield sector where McDonnell, Owen Keane and Johan Collins broke up threatening United assaults time and again.

McDonnell should have wrapped up the issue for Snugboro with a quarter of an hour remaining. He was clean through with Ballina goalkeeper, Brian Langdon, at his mercy, but failed to take advantage of the situation. It was a miss for which Snugboro were almost made to pay. John Moyles looked set to snatch a late equaliser after displaying brilliant control on the edge of the Snugboro penalty area. He turned sweetly inside before unleashing a powerful shot which Declan Burke saved with some authority.

The incident signalled the end of Ballina's title challenge, and Declan Shaw should have put the gloss on Snugboro's success before the end with an opportunity he would normally put away with his eyes shut. There is no reason why Snugboro can't maintain their run in Division One next season with the same degree of application and appetite.

Ballina United have little to fear, either, in the higher division because of the level of individual quality they possess in the side.

Snugboro: D. Burke, A. Healy, M. Durkan, P. Conway, P. Murray, O. Keane, J. Collins, G. McDonnell, D. Shaw, T. Collins, B. O'Reilly. Res: M. Brady (for O'Reilly); G. Noone (for Brady).

Ballina United: B. Langdon, R. McLoughlin, T. O'Malley, C. McLoughlin, D. Langdon, S. Walsh, T. Nealon, M. Nash, J. Moyles, T. Nash, M. Connor. Res: D. Cawley (for Nealon); J. Nash (for McLoughlin).

Ref: A. Nevin (Castlebar).

* Star Rating: Gerry McDonnell. . .title-clinching goal.