Ballina to consider O’Brien appeal ahead of Munster final

By Thomas Conway

Peter Casey, 2021 All-Ireland Hurling Final; Diarmuid Connolly, 2015 All-Ireland Football Final; Lee Keegan, 2014 All-Ireland Football Final. Spot the trend yet?

The three previous references are linked by a common thread. Each of the players mentioned picked up straight red cards in their semi-final games. Each of them then had those cards rescinded, clearing them of suspension and enabling them to compete in their respective All-Ireland finals.

In one sense, Ballina’s victory over Mount Sion last Saturday was made all the more impressive by O’Brien’s almost ludicrously early dismissal, but the club now has a difficult situation on its hands. Presumably, it will seek to appeal the red card, but even if the decision is ultimately overturned, there now awaits a period of inevitable uncertainty.

This will create complications in terms of match preparation and tactics, but Ballina are lucky. This is a grounded and experienced bunch of players, while O’Brien himself is a humble and dedicated individual - a guy who always puts the team first. Perhaps most significantly, Ballina’s management trio - Kevin Byrne, Tom Mescall, and Martin Neary - have shown themselves to be tactically astute and well capable of dealing with difficult circumstances. They’ve spent the past twelve months shaping this team - managing player absences and additions, adapting to whatever scenario they find themselves in.

Byrne knows that whatever happens, it won’t dilute his team’s focus. Their eyes are now firmly fixed on a Munster Final, and this is just another bump along the road.

“We’re certainly considering our options,” he said.

“As with any refereeing decision, you have to accept it on the day - the referee is the person in charge, so you just have to get on with the game, whether the decision goes with you or against you. I didn’t have a clear view of it myself. But look, I think every team in every championship run is going to get a set-back at some stage, and we certainly got our set-back last Saturday. So, you just have to move on from it. We have to prepare now for a final against Gneveeguilla. We have to look forward and not backwards.”

Appetite for football

Ballina's panel has captured much attention in recent weeks, with many considering it a reflection of the appetite for football within the area. All 41 of those players may not have been present on Saturday, but Ballina's strength from the bench proved crucial, helping to fight off fatigue in the final quarter.

Byrne doesn't gloss over the impact of losing O'Brien at such an early stage. However, he does point to the mental and physical durability of his side, as well as the bounce provided by key substitutes such as Dan Finnerty.

“Obviously losing Steven early on was a huge set-back, but I think credit has to go to the other fourteen players on the team, and the subs that came on,” he added.

“They moved on immediately, they showed they had the resilience to deal with it, and while I wouldn’t say we were comfortable winners, we were never behind in the game, so that was a credit to the players on the field.

“Certainly, it was huge to be able to bring Dan Finnerty on. He’s coming back from a long-term injury, but he has kept himself in great shape, and his speed and fitness were real assets to us. That was a magnificent score which he got just after coming on.

“And then the other subs, the likes of David Grace and James Hanley, they all made an immediate impact, so credit to them as well.”