Ballina, April 9 - Two goals by second half sub John Keeley rallied Ballina Town from a 2-0 deficit to a 4-2 victory against Crossmolina in the Tuohy Cup in Belleek. They had looked a beaten team after 20 mins when they trailed by 2-0, and hadn’t forced a save from Crossmolina goalkeeper O’Hora, but the visitors lack of focus allowed them to come back. Crossmolina had dominated the opening half hour which began with Joe Keane shooting narrowly wide from long range after 6 mins. After more Crossmolina pressure Derek Greham collected the ball in the Ballina Town penalty area and swivelled quickly to shoot, only to have his shot blocked. He pounced on the rebound and was illegally brought down as he steadied to reshoot, forcing referee Jimmy Blake to award a penalty. Paul Flaherty stroked the ball into the bottom left corner to give Crossmolina the lead, with 12 minutes on the clock. This spurred the previously dormant Ballina Town into action and 3 mins later Trevor Nash played an inviting ball over the top of the Crossmolina defence for James Muldoon to chase. He was thwarted by the advancing goalkeeper O’Hora who cleared the danger on the edge of his box. Muldoon missed a goal scoring chance a minute later when a free kick was floated in from the right and he headed over from close range. Ballina goalie Kieran O’Malley had a lucky escape when his 17th minute clearance was aimed directly at the marauding Crossmolina striker, Jason Canavan, who opted to srike the ball first time but couldn’t keep his shot low enough to hit the target. His brother Steven made amends thought 2 mins later when he headed home a Paul Flaherty corner from 4 yards out to give the visitors an apparently insurmountable 2-0 lead. The youthful Ballina side launched a furious rally though by moving effortlessly through midfield and creating a shooting chance for Jamie Rice who was unlucky to see his shot blocked by a typically robust Steven Canavan challenge. Unfortunately, 7 mins later this bravery put an end to Canavan’s participation in the game and as a result the momentum of the game switched completely. He was booked for a challenge on a Town player about 30 yards out from goal and compounded his misfortune by injuring himself in the process. The resulting free kick by Muldoon was too hot for O’Hora to handle and it trickled over the goal-line. This galvanised the Ballina players resolve and after a good dribble down the right wing Declan O’Connor crossed for the focal point of their attack, Muldoon, who could only blast over the crossbar. He was foiled again by O’Hora in the 41st min when his long distance free kick was pushed around the post. After Town had a goal disallowed for offside Crossmolina substitute Joe Kearns missed a great chance from 6 yards out when he headed Flaherty’s free kick over the bar.
The game resumed after half time with 10mins of scrappy play with neither side creating a chance, until Jason Canavan crossed from the right for Greham whose spectacular volley was well saved by O’Malley. Donal Mullarkey capitalised on his goalie’s work when he took advantage of O’Hora’s error of judgement 3 mins later. After the goalkeeper missed the cross from the right Mullarkey pounced on the loose ball to level the scoreline at 2-2 and inject his side with new life. The visitors best chances fell to the industrious Greham soon after. First Joe Keane set Kearns clear with a first-time pass down the right wing and he crossed to Greham who shot agonizingly wide. Then he skewed another opportunity over the bar. In the 25th min, with the home team dominating proceedings, Ballina introduced John Keeley as substitute for Cormac O’Malley. It proved to be an inspired decision as he scored immediately. O’Malley had been fouled on the left sideline by Jason Canavan and the ensuing free kick was floated into the Crossmolina penalty area. Keeley found the space to score what turned out to be the game-winning goal, giving his side a 3-2 lead. With Crossmolina now a shell of their former first-half selves Ballina pressed forward again and, after John Hegarty overcommitted on a challenge, Muldoon side-stepped neatly and split the defence with a pass to Nash who rounded O’Hora. He lost control of the ball though and sub Keeley profited as he rolled the ball into a wide open goalmouth to put the result beyond any doubt. O’Malley tipped over Joe Keane’s 20 yard free-kick with 8 mins left, killing the visitors spirit, while Muldoon threatenend for the last time with 3 mins remaining. He received the ball in the box and turned smartly to unleash a wicked shot which O’Hora superbly kick-saved onto his left hand post. It capped a fine performance by Muldoon and his Ballina Town teammates who proceed to th e next round of the Tuohy Cup while Crossmolina are left to rue their suicidal performance which will have to be improved upon with the Premier League starting in a week’s time.
Ballina Town : K O’Malley, T O’Connor, J Rice, E McGinn, M McCarron, D Mullarkey, T Nash, J Muldoon, D O’Connor, F Quinn, C O’Malley (J Keeley 70). Booked - C O’Malley 37
Crossmolina : J O’Hora, K Canavan (A Loftus 66), J Hegarty, P Whittaker, J O’Malley, M Loftus, J Keane, S Canavan (J Kearns) , P Flaherty, D Greham, J Canavan.
