Elphin/Ballinameen’s provincial dreams dashed
The Elphin/Ballinameen U-17 panel that contested tonight's Connacht Minor B final
Elphin/Ballinameen’s hopes of securing the Connacht Minor B title were dashed as they were downed by a highly impressive Breaffy outfit.
Despite moving five points ahead inside the opening six minutes, Elphin/Ballinameen struggled thereafter as Breaffy showed their class to fightback and claim a 3-15 to 2-5 victory.
The Roscommon outfit started in rapid fashion as they managed to dominate the Breaffy kickout. Dean and Gordon Casey scores helped Elphin/Ballinameen get off the mark and then in the sixth minute Ben McGarry’s long range effort found the net to help ensure they led 1-2 to no score.
Breaffy took over from there though as they hit back three minutes later. Conor Loftus hit the post before Rhys Neary won the rebound and was subsequently fouled for a penalty.
Daniel Rabbitte made no mistake from the spot and with Oisin Costello kicked four opening half points, three from frees, Breaffy surged clear. Tadhg Morris stopped the rot with a free before the break, but his side still trailed 1-7 to 1-3 at the interval.
The Mayo side dominated the opening 10 minutes of the second half, outscoring Elphin/Ballinameen 1-4 to 0-1 during this period. Breaffy’s second goal came in the 40th minute as Shay Golden’s effort looped into the corner of the net.
That made it 2-10 to 1-4 but Elphin/Ballinameen received a shot in the arm when Dean Casey netted from a 25m free.
Substitute Rian Fallon hit back with a goal for Breaffy though as the Mayo side ended Elphin/Ballinameen's brave attempts at provincial glory.
Full report in next Tuesday's Roscommon Herald
