The winning margin of eleven points reads like it was a dominant win, and it rightly reflected the run of play. Balla bested their Munster opponents from County Cork in every aspect of the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was an outstanding team performance from the boys coached by accomplished Charlestown Sarsfields senior footballer Gareth O’Donnell and Ballyhaunis goalkeeper Adrian Phillips.<\/p>\n
Charlie Fallon was player-of-the-match. The forward was unmarkable all afternoon, beating defenders for fun with his nimble footwork and pace. The Mayo Gaels attacker scored 1-4 and couldn’t be handled by any of the Carrigaline defenders.\u00a0<\/p>\n
READ NEXT:\u00a0Brillant Balla secure Connacht title after competitive all-Mayo clash<\/a><\/p>\n Balla’s Oran Murphy was also very dangerous and both he and Fallon were lethal in the inside line.<\/p>\n Just a few minutes in, Fallon got a step on Carrigaline’s James Ryan who tripped the Balla boy and was subsequently shown the black card by the referee. The following penalty was expertly taken by Liam Glynn.<\/p>\n Ill discipline cost Carrigaline early, as they were also shown two yellow cards in the first quarter.<\/p>\n Balla went about their business with pace and vertical play. They didn’t waste time building up a possession game.\u00a0<\/p>\n The half-back line of Keith Malone, Ryan O’Donnell and particularly Sean McCann were literally the driving forces. Their link-up running style football will be tough to contain in the final.<\/p>\n Ethan Duffy might have been wearing the number 14 jersey, but he was usually found roaming in midfield. Time after time Duffy was towering in the air to grab a kick out or high ball. A tall, strong player who compliments the strengths of the forwards around him.<\/p>\n Duffy scored two magnificent scores from beyond the two-point arc in open play. His performance was even more impressive, bearing in mind he only recently turned 16.<\/p>\n While Balla were in total control in the first half, leading 1-9 to 0-4 at the changeover, they started the second period with the intention to put this game to bed early.<\/p>\n After winning the battle of the blizzard in the Connacht final against Gortnor Abbey two weeks ago, Balla swept over their opponents like a hurricane.<\/p>\n First, Patrick McHale had a promising goal chance but his strike went just wide and rattled the net from the outside. But the following Carrigaline kick-out landed in Balla hands.\u00a0Seconds later Charlie Fallon was in front of the goalkeeper and buried the ball in the net to raise the green flag.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n Balla would add six more points in the minutes after, while Carrigaline only managed one meagre point. The goose was cooked at that stage. The game was decided.<\/p>\n Kudos to Carrigaline they emptied their locker and tried to claw their way back into the game, scoring a goal and three points in-a-row to reduce the deficit. But they ran out of time and Balla eventually cruised to victory with McHale finding the net late on.<\/p>\n Balla will face St Ciaran’s College from Dungannon in the final. The Ulster champions made light work of Leinster winners St Paul’s College in a convincing 5-20 to 0-4 victory.\u00a0<\/p>\n The full report and after-match reaction will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News.<\/p>\n READ NEXT:\u00a0Brilliant Ballagh battalion bounce into All-Ireland Schools final<\/a><\/p>\n
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