Munster final disappointment shouldn’t take gloss off Ballina’s progression

By Thomas Conway

And so, it finally came to an end!

Kevin Byrne’s Ballina side were never in the habit of looking too far ahead, but surely, at some point over the past few weeks, an image of Croke Park on All-Ireland club final day must have crossed their minds.

Munster champions Gneeveguilla now have such a prospect within their sights, thanks to thoroughly convincing and ultimately emphatic victory over their Tipperary opponents last Saturday.

It was a refined display from the East Kerry club, which emerged 0-6 to 0-2 in front after a frenzied and chaotic opening quarter, before seizing total command in the fifteen minutes which followed. The gulf in class was evident, though not overwhelming.

Speaking in the aftermath, Byrne acknowledged the frailties in his team’s performance, but he also pointed to the fact that, despite being outplayed, Ballina were competitive in specific sectors at specific times. As a collective however, Gneeveguilla were always superior.

“We’re disappointed,” he began.

“But it’s disappointment tempered by the knowledge that we had a great year.

“Our objective at the start of the year was to win the Junior championship, to get up to intermediate in Tipperary, and we achieved that.

“Getting to the Munster Final here today was very much a bonus for us but playing against better teams will only make us better, so we’ll take a lot from the game today.

“We’ll lick our wounds, we’ll reorganise, and we’ll come back next year. Look, we’ve seen how real, genuine football teams play today. I think we’re not as far away as the scoreline suggested, and I think with more games against good opposition, we will rise to a better standard.”

Comfort on the ball

Exposure to high-calibre opposition is undoubtedly key in the development of any side. So, what aspects of Gneeveguilla’s game should Ballina seek to emulate? The cynical answer is everything. In reality though, there were particular elements of their play which struck Byrne, elements which set Gneeveguilla apart.

“Their comfort on the ball, their speed of movement, and their skill level - how their skill level doesn’t break down under pressure. Those were the areas that stood out,” he said.

In order to advance in those areas, Ballina will need to play football on a consistent basis, throughout the year. The old hurling-football conflict conundrum arises here, but a strong relationship already exists between both management teams, and efforts will be made to ensure that the club remains competitive in both codes.

The benchmark is already there: Loughmore-Castleiney. It will be interesting to observe whether Ballina can make the jump to intermediate, but they’ll also have a presence in the 2022 Intermediate championship. The addition of a second team should satisfy the soaring levels of demand for football in the area, but it should also help to enhance competition for places within the first team, benefiting the overall standard, as Byrne notes.

“We have our under-19 winning team from last year, and our mission for the years ahead must be to bring more and more players through,” he said.

“We'll have two adult teams next year, so that will help to continually refresh the team, and refresh the way we play.”

Refresh is a good word, but the last thing Ballina need to do now is reset. They’ve generated some serious momentum over the course of the past few months, and this could represent the start of a new era for the club. They’ve also generated some serious enjoyment for locals, and ultimately, isn’t that what it’s all about?