A general view of Markievicz Park. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
AIB Connacht Club SFC Semi-Final
Coolera-Strandhill 0-9 Ballina Stephenites 0-9 AET
Coolera-Strandhill win 5-4 on penalties
By Gavin Cawley at Markievicz Park
Coolera Standhill booked a place in the AIB Connacht Club SFC Final for the first time.
The sides were well matched, and were level six times throughout the course of normal and extra time.
Ballina started the game brightly as they opened the scoring with two early points through Evan Regan and Luke Doherty. Then, the Mayo champions failed to score for 23 minutes of play.
Despite having plenty of the ball Ballina Stephenites were struggling to make any gains through the well organised Coolera Standhill defence.
Coolera Standhill did finally settle as they pointed after 11 minutes through Niall Murphy. The sides were level for the first time in the match on 15 minutes when Sligo county player Niall Murphy pointed a free after Sean Taylor had been fouled in the attack.
Ballina were struggling to break down the Coolera Standhill defence as they forced to shoot from distance leading to lot of turnovers for the Sligo team. Coolera Standhill took the lead on 24 minutes after the ball came off Leo Doherty.
The sides were level again before the break when Frank Irwin kicked over a free from distance, but before the end of the half Padraig O’Hora picked up black card for foul on Sean Murphy.
The sides were level at the break but Ballina restored a two point lead after the restart with Luke and Niall Feeney on target for Niall Heffernan’s men.
The Sligo champions felt this was their time and they drew level again on 44 minutes following scores from Barry O’Mahony and Murphy.
Luke Doherty restored the lead for the Mayo men but Coolera went back in front as they lead 7-6 after 50 minutes when Ross Doherty pointed for his side.
Both sides had chances to win the match in normal time but a point from substitute Dylan Thornton after Ciaran Treacy had played the ball into Thornton, who flicked the ball over the bar.
McDaniel had a chance to win the game at the death but his effort went wide.
The game went to extra time but would only see one point in the first period which came from Evan Regan with Niall Murphy black carded.
Ciaran Treacy's point on 72 minutes looked like he done enough for his side to get over the line but two late frees from the returning Murphy sent the match to penalties.
Evan Regan was first to take a penalty which he scored and this was followed by Niall Murphy, but the key penalty was saved was from Conor McStay. Coolera Standhill would score all with Barry O’Mahony, Conor Burke, Leo Doherty, and Ross Doherty subsequently scoring the winner.
Scorers for Coolera-Strandhill: Niall Murphy 0-6 (4fs), Mark McDaniel 0-1, Ross Doherty 0-1, Barry O’Mahony 0-1.
Scorers for Ballina Stephenites: Evan Regan 0-2 (1f), Luke Doherty 0-2, Frank Irwin 0-1,1f, Niall Feeney 0-1, Luke Feeney 0-1, Dylan Thornton 0-1, Ciaran Treacy 0-1.
Coolera-Strandhill: Keelan Harte; Sean Murphy, Sean Taylor, Conor McDonagh; Jonathan Cassidy, Ross O’Carroll, Oran Harte; Kevin Banks, Peter Laffey; Aaron O’Boyle, Mark McDaniel, Ross Doherty; Leo Doherty , Niall Murphy, Barry O’Mahony.
Subs: Hugh Rooney for Aaron O’Boyle 39, Adam Higgins for Leo Doherty 42, Conor Burke for Barry O’Mahony 48, Barry O’Mahony for Hugh Rooney (started at extra time), Leo Doherty for Conor Burke (started at extra time), Conor Burke for Barry O’Mahony 67, Barry O’Mahony for Jonathan Cassidy 80.
Ballina Stephenites: David Clarke; Liam Golden, Padraig O’Hora, David Tighe; Sean Regan, Sam Callinan, Luke Jordan; Mikey Murray, Frank Irwin; Luke Doherty, Conor McStaty, Niall Feeney; Evan Regan, Luke Feeney, Brendan Collins
Subs: Ciaran Treacy for Brendan Collins 48, Rory Murrin for Luke Feeney 52, James Doherty for Sam Callinan 52, Dylan Thornton for Niall Feeney 56, Ciaran Sweeney for Ciaran Boland 60, Niall Feeney for Evan Regan 77, Evan Regan for Ciaran Sweeney 80.
Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon).
