Welcome Inn Hotel
Mayo League Premier Division
Mayo League Premier Division
18 June 1997
ACHILL'S SUICIDAL STREAK COMES BACK TO HAUNT THEM. . .
Ballyheane knock Rovers off the top
Ballyheane ........................ 3 Achill Rovers ..................... 1
byTom Kelly
The suicidal streak of Achill Rovers came back to haunt them at Ballyheane on Sunday.
Just when they had managed to climb to the top of the Mayo League Premier Division for the first time in their history following a six-match unbeaten run, they went and spoiled it all with an unexpected defeat at the hands of newly promoted Ballyheane.
Two goals in the space of two minutes early in the second half paved the way to a richly deserved Ballyheane victory.
Kieran Lally opened the side's account with a clinical finish following a sweeping attack involving Bobby Feeney and Brian Donnelly.
The Achill defence, which had the best record in the division up to last weekend, was in complete tatters two minutes later when David Cannon snatched the side's second goal from point_blank range.
Rovers pushed their most effective player, left-full Vincent Gallagher, into midfield in a desperate attempt to retrieve the situation. But the truth of the matter was that Achill were simply not up to the task.
I can only judge them on their second half performance, having arrived at Ballyheane at half-time after watching the first half of the Division One clash between Castlebar Celtic and Snugboro. What I saw was in complete contrast to the spirited and tenacious nature of their play a week earlier in toppling Ballyglass.
They passed the ball poorly; were lacking in flair and penetration; and appeared disinterested for the world. Joint manager Patrick Francis Gallagher could not put his finger on it. But the frustration clearly told on his face in the aftermath.
Ballyheane, by comparison, were full of fire and zest in everything that they did. Cannon was outstanding in the midfield area, while Donnelly provided the side with tremendous width down the left side.
They suffered a scare with ten minutes remaining when central defender Tom Bourke was red-carded following a second booking. But substitute Theron Coghill sealed the issue with Ballyheane's third goal.
Kieran Gallagher pulled a goal back for Achill in the 87th minute following Vincent Gallagher's cross.
The young Rovers attacker also had an effort taken off the line by Rory Conroy in the closing seconds. Achill had left it too late to get going. But Rovers won't be the last side this season to get a jolt from this hardworking and strong-tackling Ballyheane side.
Ballyheane: P. Fahey, I. Duffy, C. Conroy, T. Bourke, B. Feeney, B. Donnelly, G. Flynn, D. Cannon, A. Skeffington, K. Lally, S. Coogan. Res: R. Conroy (for Coogan); T. Coghill (for Heneghan).
Achill Rovers: C. Gallagher, J.P. Keane, D. Fadian, V. Gallagher, M.J. Fadian, N. Cooney, R. McNamara, K. Gallagher, M. Corrigan, N. O'Donnell, A. English. Res: F. Kilbane (for O'Donnell); P. McGinty (for English).
Ref: H. Loftus (Castlebar).
* Star Rating: David Cannon. . .midfield powerhouse.
