Snugboro United 0-2 Ballina Town
Snugboro 2.30pm, Sun 25/4/10

Twoexquisite goals from Fergus Quinn and Brendan Lavelle in a remarkable two-minute second half spell settled this tie on Sunday afternoon.

Ballinastarted the match encouragingly and created numerous opportunities. An inviting cross from Ballina’s Dwayne Helly, on the right wing, created an opportunity for Kieran Giblin after 12 minutes, but his effort rippled the side netting.

Moments later an astute through-ball from Town’s Brendan Giblin, located Phillip Devers, but he failed to generate sufficient power to trouble United ‘keeper Leo Coyne.

Thehome side were under increasing pressure at this stage, but resilient defending from Declan Conway and determined clearances from Ray Forde stemmed the Ballina momentum.

Snugboro started to impose themselves on the match, the energetic Steve Clarice located Ray Forde, but he failed to bring the ball under control, and McCarron raced out toclear the ball upfield. The two sides remained deadlocked at the interval in an end-to-end match.

The contest opened up considerably in the second period. First, Philip Devers capitalised on some hesitancy in the Snugboro defence and cheekily stole the ball, before unleashing a powerful drive which crept just wide of the right hand post. Then Snugboro midfielder, Steve Clarice, very nearly sent Padraic Conway through on goal, but Ballina ‘keeper McCarron advanced and collected confidently.
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After an hour’s play the breakthrough finally arrived for Ballina in spectacular fashion.

Striker,Daniel O’Hara was impeded by Snugboro goalkeeper Leo Coyne close to thecorner flag on the left. Fergus Quinn stepped up and from what looked like an impossibly acute angle curled the ball beautifully into the right corner of the United net.

Some 90 seconds later and the visitors doubled their advantage; this time Phillip Devers put Brendan Lavelle through on goal and he clinically pulled the trigger and buried the ball high in the left corner.

A resolute Snugboro side didn’tgive up and worked extremely hard to get back into the match. In the closing stages, substitute Dermot Hynes attempted an audacious chip whenhe spotted Ballina’s McCarron off his line but his effort veered just wide.

SNUGBORO UTD: Leo Coyne, Ronan O’Donnell, Eamon Conway, Colin Corrigan, Declan Conway, Steve Clarice, David Rougheen, Ray Forde, Padraic Conway, John McCarthy, Ronan McTigue Subs: Kenneth Guthrie (for Forde), Dermot Hynes (for McTigue)

BALLINATOWN: Malachy McCarron, Dwayne Helly, Brendan Giblin, Tom O’Connor, Derek Tansey, Fergus Quinn, Brendan Lavelle, Daniel Gorman, Philip Devers, Daniel O’Hara, Kieran Giblin. Sub: Mark McDonnell (for K Giblin)

REF:Martin Regan.