Sport

Sweeney sets up win

Ballina Stephenites 1-8 Tourlestrane 1-4 : Shane Sweeney's first-half goal set superb Ballina Stephenites on the road to victory…

Mon Nov 12 2007 - 00:00

Ballina Stephenites 1-8 Tourlestrane 1-4: Shane Sweeney's first-half goal set superb Ballina Stephenites on the road to victory in this lacklustre Connacht club football semi-final at James Stephens Park, Ballina, yesterday.

Paul McGarry took centre stage for the Mayo champions with his sublime display at full forward adorned by a couple of well-taken points.

Ronan McGarrity and David Brady held sway at midfield and Pat Harte was impressive at centre half forward for the home side.

Tourlestrane were never allowed to impose their authority on the game and their cause was not helped when Gerry McGowan missed three scoreable frees in the space of five minutes at the start of the first half.

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Stephenites opened the scoring with a Pat Harte free after six minutes and McGowan squared the match with a similar score five minutes later.

The Mayo side were firmly in control when Shane Sweeney blasted the ball to the Tourlestrane net in the 18th minute giving Stephenites a 1-3 to 0-1 lead .

McGowan brought the Sligo kingpins back into the game with two points but the Mayo champions led 1-3 to 0-3 at half-time.

Substitute Mattie Walsh opened the scoring in the second half with a Tourlestrane point and the Sligo men were only a point behind when Gerry McGowan scored from the penalty spot in the 49th minute.

But Stephenites steadied the ship with points by McGowan, David Brady and Harte seeing them safely over the line.

Stephenites will meet Roscommon champions St Bridget's in the Connacht final.

BALLINA STEPHENITES: D Clarke; K Golden, M Wynne, D O'Mahony; B Ruane, C Leonard, S Sweeney (1-0); R McGarrity, D Brady (0-2); G Brady, P Harte (0-3, two frees) E Casey (0-1, free); S Hughes, P McGarry (0-2), S Melia, Sub: A Kelly for Melia 48 mins.

TOURLESTRANE: S Gildea; S King, E Haran, C Neary; A McIntyre, B Kennedy, D Durkin; B Egan, E O'Hara; G Gaughan, S Dunne, T Henry; S Henry, G McGowan, (1-3), J Marron. Subs: M Walsh (0-1)for Marron half-time, N Egan for Walsh 52 mins, J Leonard for Gaughan 48 mins.

Referee: E O'Grady(Leitrim).