Mayo GAA News 23 July 1997
Mayo senior championship re-play.
Balla 0 - 9 Swinford 0 - 7
By John Melvin
Maurice Sheridan's exploits as a freetaker extraordinare are well known on the county stage but it was his contribution from play in general, along with his accurate boot, which mapped a safe passage for Balla into a senior championship quarter-final clash with Knockmore on August 10th.
Balla knew they would have to improve from their performance in the drawn game if they were to extend their interest in this re-play at Swinford.
They improved sufficiently in certain quarters, notably in defence, and particularly their half-back line, while the experience gained at playing in the top flight stood them in good stead when the pressure was on going into the last ten minutes and the sides deadlocked.
Swinford will feel they had enough chances to win this game and should have been further ahead than three points at the break 0-5 to 0-2, given the amount of ball they won in that first half.
However, the absence of the injured Paul Cunney and an injury in the last ten minutes to their influential central defender, David Heaney, were crucial factors in their demise.
But Balla, who played the more expansive game, deserved their victory in the end. They made heavy work of it but from once they began to reel Swinford back to go on level germs at 0-7 each with ten minutes remaining and a breeze at their back, the outcome seemed inevitable.
The prize is certainly a good one. A home clash against defending champions Knockmore which is sure to draw the crowd to Balla on August 10th but manager Eugene Lavin was the first to accept that further improvements will have to be effected if they are to leave their mark on this years championship..
It was a difficult win in a game that had no shortage of intensity but which came up short on quality, but the searing heat would no doubt have taken a big toll in terms of energy and stamina form both teams.
Swinford knew they hadn't done enough work with all their first half possession but a 0-5 to 0-2 interval lead with a slight breeze was always going to put them under pressure.
Balla revamped the team for the second half making a couple of important switches. John Dempsey profited from his move to full forward and Tom Higgins thrived on doing a lot of spade work at midfield.
Dempsey was to pick off two important points, the first as a defender, while Higgins's work proved invaluable. However, it was Sheridan's phenomenal work rate which made all the difference He was named at corner forward but spent most of his time around midfield. A subdued Pat Fallon emerged as an important figure in the last ten minutes to win vital possession, but it was Sheridan's contribution which ultimately tilted it in favour of Balla. Swinford had gone 0-4 clear before Balla finally got out of the starting block in the 19th minute when John Dempsey came in on the end of a good move to find the target.
Two pointed frees from Michael 'Dicey' Rowley and a point each from Sean Roughneen and full forward Michael Smith, saw Swinford very much in command during those early stages but they were not always getting the return they might have from their outfield dominance.
The came very close to scoring the goal when Michael Smith, who won some great ball at full forward, laid the ball off to Michael Rowley who shot over te bar with a possible goal chance on.
It gave Swinford a four point lead but that was reduced to two when Tom Higgins provided Balla with their only other point in the first half to leave them three adrift at the break.
Michael Rowley gave Swinford a very early boost with a pointed free to push them four ahead but almost twenty minutes passed before they were to score again. In that time Sheridan picked off four points, two frees, a fifty and an excellent point from play, after a quick free from Ronan Golding.
That levelled the game at 0-6 each, and although Swinford went back in front when Rowley hit the target with another free, it was Balla who were on top in many areas, particularly at midfield and in the half back line, going into the last ten minutes. Sheridan obliged with a fifty before substitute James McDonnell secured the game with a lovely point after a fine run.
For Balla Niall Sheridan, Conrad Golding, Michael Higgins, John Dempsey, Tom Higgins, James McDonnell, Raymond Nally, Michael Hughes along with Maurice Sheridan did the business.
For Swinford John McCallion, Sean Cunney, Dave Heaney, Alan Heaney, Declan Murtagh, Gary Smith, Mike Rowley, Sean Roughneen, Michael Smith nd Billly McNicholas did all they could.
Balla: Christy McNicholas, Niall Sheridan, Pat Kieran, Pat Coleman, Conrad Golding, Michael Higgins, John Dempsey, Pat Fallon, Raymond Nally, David Ansbro, Ronan Golding, Michael Costello, Fergus Joyce, Tommy Higgins (0-1); Maurice Sheridan (0-5- 4 from frees). Subs: Tom Carolan for Coleman, Kieran McDonnell for Costello, James McDonnell (0-1) for Ansbro.
Swinford: John Dunne, Sean Cunney, John McCallion, Kevin Keane, Michael Costello, David Heaney, Alan Heaney, Declan Murtagh, Garry Smith, Mike Rowley (0-4); James Gallagher, Sean Roughneen (0-1); Marty Roughneen, Michael Smith (0-1); Owen O'Connell. Subs: A. McNulty for O'Connell, B. McNicholas for M. Roughneen, V. Roughneen for J. Gallagher.
Ref: Martin Murphy (Ballinrobe).
