Ballina 0-11
Garrymore 1-12
James Stephens Park
Eoin Horkan
A goal in the closing stages from Caolan Crowe proved decisive as the county champions were beaten on their own patch in their opening championship fixture.
It was a slow start from both sides, with seven minutes on the clock before either team managed to make an impression on the scoreboard. Evan Regan finally broke the deadlock when he split the posts with the opening score of the afternoon.
The visitors responded through Darren Quinn, who reduced the deficit ten minutes in, and the South Mayo side soon began to settle into the contest despite facing into the breeze.
Garrymore were starting to gain the upper hand around midfield and that pressure was reflected on the scoreboard shortly after the quarter-hour mark. Quinn added another before Trevor Nally followed suit as the visitors moved into the lead.
Ballina were struggling to gain a foothold in the middle third, with Garrymore winning a number of crucial breaks. One such turnover resulted in a fine score from Andy Glennon, who showed great composure to split the posts from a dead ball with the outside of his boot from near the sideline
Quinn was on target once again before the break, completing a productive opening half for the visitors.
Ballina did manage to create some pressure as the interval approached and came close to finding a way through the Garrymore defence. However, the visitors stood firm, with some determined defending keeping the home side from finding the net.
Garrymore went into the dressing room with a four-point advantage at half-time.
The champions flew out of the blocks after the break with Regan adding a dead ball and another two pointer from play. Quinn raised an orange flag with the aid of the breeze five minutes into the half.
Ballina did hit a purple patch as they pushed forward with Niall Feeney and Frank Irwin pulling the tie back level midway through the half. It looked like all the momentum was with the green and ref but Quinn had other ideas. His free from the edge of the small ark restored his side's lead.
The resurgence from the home side was led by the midfielders as Mikey Murray leveled the tie with twelve minutes to go from a narrow angle.
With the game right in the melting pot up stepped Liam Óg Horkan to slot a fine effort over of his left. Moments later Quinn played a pass from the wing into Crowe who buried the ball past the onrushing David Clake.
This didn't stop the county champions as efforts from Luke Feeney and substitute Ptrick Carr had just a score between them. The insurance score in this tie came from Eoin McGreal as he drove forward from wing back to ensure victory for his side.
Ballina Stephenites;David Clarke;Liam Golden,Luke Jordan,David Tighe;Sam Callinan,Sean Regan,Barry Walsh;Mikey Murray (0-1),Frank Irwin(0-2);Luke Feeney(0-1),Ben Thornton,Niall Feeney(0-1);Evan Regan (0-5 1 2pf),Brendan Collins,Matthew Leonard.
Subs Used:Conor McStay for Matthew Leonard,Ciaran Boland for Sean Regan,Ciaran Treacy for Evan Regan, Patrick Carr (0-1) for Brendan Collins.
Garrymore:Brian Lynsey;Enda Hession,Jamie Oates,Justin Commins,Patrick Hession,Liam Óg Horkan (0-1),Eoin McGreal(0-1);Gary Golden,David Dolan;Darren Quinn(0-6),Andy Glennon(0-2 1 2pf,Shane Nally;Michael Connolly, Trevor Nally (0-2),Caolan Crowe (1-0)
Subs Used:Jamie Hession for Shane Nally,Colin Commins for David Dolan,Aaron Hughes for Justin Commins
Referee;Jerome Henry
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