Five goal thriller unfolds in under 18 Mayo final

A five-goal thriller unfolded at Umbro Park Milebush with Ballyglass recording a 3-2 victory over Ballinrobe Town in the Helen Johnson Under 18 Division One Final.

The opening exchanges were keenly contested and Ballinrobe could well have snatched the lead after 10 minutes when a chance fell to Sam Place, but his angled drive was deflected wide for a corner-kick.

Ballyglass seemed to settle more into the game and the Candystripes plundered the lead on 14 minutes. A route one delivery from Ben Killeen took a wicked bounce on the surface which deceived Ajay Gormley Walsh in the Ballinrobe goal and the scampering Keelan Corrigan was on hand to apply a fine finish to the back of the net.

Ballyglass continued to dictate the pace of the game, and they doubled their lead on 26 minutes, when Cillian Donnelly guided home a simple close-range finish, with Donagh Gilligan providing the assist.

Ballinrobe almost pegged a goal back on 43 minutes, however, Nathan Dooley’s header was saved by the Ballyglass custodian, Muiris Vahey.

Ballinrobe played the better football during the opening 23 minutes of the second half, with Dooley going close to pegging a goal back for the Robesiders.

Against the run of play, Ballyglass added a third on 71 minutes courtesy of the deadly Corrigan, and the game appeared to be over as a contest.

Nevertheless, a gallant Ballinrobe regrouped, and their impressive substitute Ben Scully reduced the arrears on 76 minutes, much to the delight of the Ballinrobe supporters.

With just six minutes of normal time remaining, Ballinrobe’s Eoin Jennings then set-up a grandstand finish when his gem of a free-kick from the edge of the 18-yard box ended up in the bottom corner of the net.

The Robesiders very nearly forced extra-time, but Dooley’s attempt on goal was denied by the Ballyglass ‘keeper and the Candystripes held on for a cherished victory.