we tried to get to get the game changed to snugboro but they wouldn't play it there.Originally Posted by Score
Must have had some bad weather that side of the town today,were there no alternatives?
we tried to get to get the game changed to snugboro but they wouldn't play it there.
Elvery’s Mayo Super League
Sunday 30th August 2009 – Ballina – Kick Off 2.30pm
Will Sunday’s Top of the Table Clash decide League Title?
Next Sunday’s top of the table Super League clash between Ballina Town and Westport Utd (Kick Off 2.30) at Belleek could very well decide the outcome to the 2009 Elvery’s Super League title – that is not however how the two managers see it. With only 3 points separating the sides and Ballina Town with a game in hand, both managers see the battle going the full course of the campaign irrespective of the outcome of Sunday’s clash.
Ballina Town manager Brendan Kenny acknowledges that should Westport come out on top that this would give them a huge advantage in the “run in” for the title, but he has every confidence in his side to seriously challenge for the title this season – he says “We fully accept that Westport will be favourites to win this game. They are a quality side with the best players in the county. They have won competitions because they have simply been the best side around for some years now. They have quality players with the like of Cameron, O’Malley, Lawless and many more that would adorn any side in the country. We know the task that is ahead of us, but we will be prepared and give it our best shot.”
Kenny admits however that it will be more difficult on Sunday without the services of Michael Knight, Malachy McCarron, and Mark Beattie through suspension, and with injury concerns over Philly Devers and Tom O’Connor it may leave his site somewhat depleted. Kenny can however feel satisfied that ace marksman, Mick Duffy, is regaining full fitness and has found his goal scoring touch once again. Kenny adds “We will also be without the service of Peter Duffy and Sean Kelly who are both out of the country presently, but we have a big squad this year and will have able replacements to fill the gaps. We expect these kinds of things to happen, and need to be prepared for any eventuality if we are to be serious challengers. I expect all the new lads coming in to do a job for me, and if they all play to their full ability, I am satisfied that we can achieve a good result. There will be little in it, but our games so far this season suggest that we will have goals in the game, and I feel that the fans that turn up will be guaranteed goals.”
Ballina have often been described as the “perennial underachievers” who have promised a lot, and then failed to deliver on that promise. This season however has seen Ballina Town win their first domestic competition since 2001 with their recent win in the Westaro Cup final. Brendan Kenny believes that the tide has turned for the club – “We have had a difficult period for the club over the past few years. The club was very much involved in developing their facilities, fundraising, and promoting the game at underage level. This may have taken away from the football side of things at senior level as a lot of the same people were playing and involved in other club activities. We also had the tragic loss of Pete Murray during the year. A club the size of Ballina Town should always be up with the Castlebar Celtic’s and Westport Utd’s in terms of achievement because of its population base, and we hope to rectify that this season.”
Westport Utd’s team manager Padraig Burns also sees Sunday’s game as a serious challenge for his squad. Westport Utd were somewhat shocked just a few short weeks ago with surprising league losses to Ballyheane and Snugboro. These losses allowed Ballina Town and Iorras Aontaithe close the gap and exert some pressure on the champions.
Whatever the outcome of Sunday’s game Padraig Burns maintains that every point needs fighting for in the remaining matches – he says “No League campaign is won with 6 matches and 18 points left to play for. We want to win this league as much as ever, and the players want to win the League with every effort going in to win the remaining games. The hunger is still there with the players.”
Westport may not have been pulling on all cylinders during the course of this League campaign due possibly to the loss of influential players through injury. Westport have been without the services of Danny Scahill, and David Horkan because of injury and the likes of Dessie O’Malley, Gerry McLoughlin, Colm Navin and David Hoban have also been out in recent times due to suspension and non-availability. Sunday’s encounter may very well be a headache for manager Burns with Horkan and Scahill returning to the playing fields last weekend – “This will be the first time in a long while that I will probably have a full squad to choose from, and it poses a selection headache. It is a nice situation to be in rather than what we had to endure in recent times, but most clubs have similar difficulties.” Burns is satisfied that his team can perform better, and have recovered well from the Ballyheane and Snugboro setbacks with good performance and he looks forward to the encounter knowing that the League is far from over.
Looking at both sides on paper one might feel inclined to favour Westport on sheer quality and experience with the likes of Joe Lawless, Martin Geraghty, David Cameron, Dessie O’Malley, Danny Scahill and David Horkan at the helm but so too have Ballina with Eugene Gorman, Tom O’Connor, Derek Tansey, along with the youthful Ross Kenny and Brendan Lavelle showing terrific form this season. Ballina can also rely on their influential goalkeeper Emmett Peyton in any crisis. Ballina have already beaten Westport in the cup competition but Utd turned the tables on their opponents some 48 hours later in a 3 – 2 League victory at the Sports Park. One thing we all can be assured of is a great football game with two managers who strictly adopt the passing game, and look forward to a feast of football with a goal or two to keep us all happy knowing that no game is won or lost on paper.
Never play leapfrog with a unicorn!!
Spoke with a guy involved with snugboro and he told me that the they were giving there pitch,but they got notification at 11am yesterday morning saying game off
I left the Ballina Westport match with ten minutes to go. The score then was Ballina 3 Westport 0. Ballina went one nil up early in the first half from a goal in which the striker was about three yards offside. I was directly in line with the striker and so it seemed was the linesman, but the flag stayed down and the goal counted. Terrible decision, but nothing we're not all well used to by now. The lineman must have known this himself as on the half hour mark he flagged for off when this time the striker was well on and one on one. The trend continued in the 35th minute as Mick Duffy was denied a penalty I thought was definite. Either way, he should have scored. Dessie O Malley had two great chances just before half time, one a volley from a chested down ball from a corner which went over and another effort which hit the post. As half time came, it seemed Westport would claw back the deficit.
Ballina were solid at the back and seemed the more up for it of the sides, with Martin Geraty the only one to really distinguish himself for Westport. Two goals in a short period of time put Ballina in the driving seat for the match, and, unless something sensational happened in the last ten minutes, for the title as well.
I agree with you on the first goal, it was a mile offside, a few of theirs should have been booked in the first half, overall it was a fair result.
I am not surprised at the result, last week Westport beat a weak S&F and everybody was going on about the great football we played, it is easy to play good football against a weaker team.
The title race is not over, it is Ballinas to lose, I can see them dropping points, but the way we are going so are we.
Dont always say what you know, but always know what you say.
Game called off at 11am the day before the match... Fahy contacted Snugboro during the week trying to get the game switched... I heard the same that Snugboro would give the pitch but they were notified Saturday that the game was off.... All sounds very suspicious....
Suspicious in what sense? I can assure you that we wanted that game to be played that this week in case you're inferring we didn't.
Can I ask then why was the game called off on a saturday as opposed to sunday morning?And if Snugboro were willing to give there pitch why was that not availed of.Im not having a go here but it is a little weird for a game to be called off the day before as oppesed to the day of the game
the game was called off on sat because the pitch was unplayable and could not be marked, please put this to rest as it was not fahys fault.
Last edited by gunner1; 31/08/2009 at 5:17 PM. Reason: spelling
Its better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it
Typical Fahy! First they nick Notts Countys Crest.. Now this
this was sent out to all clubs after workshop in october
if two non b teams fininish in top two of premier both will be promoted with bottom two in super league relegated.
if one b team finishes first or second in premier only one team will be promoted and one relegated,
if two b teams finish in top two in premier there will be no promotion but mayo league can decide to relegate two teams to make super league 8 teams for 2010 season.
seems like good news for S+F
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Just going by the other quotes here,Why ask the opposing team for thier pitch then.If a pitch is unplayable thats fair enough.
Anyway enough about that...Is it Ballina league now?
This was only a circular to put the idea out there. As far as I am aware the clubs were never informed that the above was been adopted as a rule. Well done to the league they have have managed to totally **** up two divisions with 5 games left to play. What interest will any of the chasing pack in the premier or lower half of the super league have for the rest of the season if the above has been adopted. Surely someone has contacted the league about this?
We asked to play it in Snugboro because we had the desire to fulfill the fixture...
I am still gonna go with Westport for the league, if they can beat us this Sunday
Ballina will drop points and maybe Erris can play their way into the shake up too...
We have and youre only promoted if you finish in top 2 positions.
And what about relegation. Is the superleague going to a 8 team league.
I think we are on the verge of becoming a glorified pub league.
Dont know. Dont know.
Just a little bit of a over reaction dont you think.
If that happens it will effect all other divisions. Will there be 12 teams in the premier???.
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