September 23rd 2018

Mayo Senior Football League Division 4
Ballintubber 2-11 Killala 1-10 
Our juniors claimed an impressive win over Killala today, coming away with two valuable league points which should steer us clear of relegation to Division 5.
With Clogher under reconstruction, a windswept Ballintubber Resource Centre played host to this twelfth round league clash. In his first start for the Red and White in months due to an injury layoff, Brian Walsh was in fine form at midfield, finishing with a handsome tally of six points. John Kerrigan, Keith Coleman and Finian Bourke were ferocious in the backs while Tom McGing gave an outstanding display between the sticks, thwarting at least 3 clear-cut goal chances. 
The return of veteran defender Paul Early to the Ballintubber jersey in the form of a brief cameo towards the end was also a welcome sight for the home support.
We got off to the perfect start when Eoin Heneghan fisted a Hugh Geraghty pass into the back of the Killala net before Brian Walsh pointed a free. Killala replied with two successive points before Tom McGing produced the first of his superb stops to deny the North Mayo men a goal.
James McGing then produced the pick of the games scores, described by club chairman Sean Hallinan as a “Ciaran McDonald special” which swung sublimely over the bar from the Killawalla man’s right boot.
Brother Tom then pulled off another fine save to deny danger man Darragh Herbert before we pointed five unanswered scores. Three points from Brian Walsh as well as single points from the tireless Keith Coleman and John Kerrigan were enough to give us a comfortable six point cushion at half time.
Eoin Heneghan and Brian Walsh pointed the opening two scores of the second half while Killala continued to threaten the ‘Tubber goal. However, Tom McGing stood resolute, producing a brilliant reflex save to deny Darragh Herbert yet again. 
Herbert and Finian Bourke fought and exciting individual match-up in the second half while the lively Cian O’Dea ran at us constantly.
The visitors did eventually find a way past Tom McGing with a fisted effort from a lofty kick pass shortly after “Bomber” Heneghan had seen a shot smothered down the other end. However we doubled our lead to six shortly afterwards when Brian Walsh set up Noel Geraghty to finish out second goal from close range. 
Killala did point three scores without reply but a final free kick from Brian Walsh was ensured we held out to win by four at full-time.
Ballintubber team that lined out: (1)Tom McGing (2)Oran Scully (3)Kevin Shannon (4)Finian Bourke (5)Gavin Roache (6)Keith Coleman (0-1) (7)John Kerrigan (0-2) (18)David McHale (9)Brian Walsh (0-6, 4f) (10)James McGing (0-1) (11)Hugh Geraghty (12)Seanie Larkin (13)Noel Geraghty (1-0) (14)Eoin Heneghan (1-1) (20)Paddy Burke 
Substitutions used: Alan Larkin for Eoin Heneghan, Paul Earley for James McGing, Luke Murphy for Paddy Burke