Last year Ballintubber failed at the first hurdle in the provincial championship. But coming on the back of an emotional first ever win of the Moclair cup, losing out at the first stage of the Connacht championships wasn’t as bitter a pill to swallow as it could be this time around.
Having put back to back titles together a couple of weeks ago, it’s now time for Ballintubber to step up and be counted as a major player in the province. That journey begins in McHale Park on Sunday afternoon, when they face off with Galway champions Corofin. The north Galway men claimed their 14th Galway senior title only last weekend when they saw off Tuam Stars after the protracted, appeal-laden Galway championship finally came to a conclusion.
Ballintubber will be hoping that the semi-home advantage of the county ground will be an advantage to them against an experienced Corofin side who will be still high and in top form after last weekend. They will come to Castlebar with a lot of well known players to the paying Mayo football public, the likes of Kieran Fitzgerald, Alan O’Donovon, Gary Sice, Damien Burke and Greg Higgins will need no introduction to those in attendance. While Ballintubber who have their own superstar players in the form of Alan Dillon and the national young footballer of the year Cillian O’Connor have more than enough in themselves to turn the game in the favour of their side.
Anthony McGarry proved that he was willing to make big calls and change things around in the county final to suit the occasion and on Sunday he has a fine selection of supporting actors to call on to back up his two marquee players. Michael Hoban and Jason Gibbons in the middle of the park are a formidable partnership, who will need to get on top of their direct opponents early on to lay down a marker while captain Tom Early isn’t afraid of getting stuck in where it hurts to drive his side on from the back, and his inspirational leadership will be needed once again on Sunday. In the full back line Cathal Hallinan will need to be on top of his game early on to curb the attacking threat of his direct opponent on Sunday.
It’s going to be another big test for Ballintubber on Sunday, but after having managed to reach the summit of Mayo football for the second time in a row, the men from west Mayo will be keen to have a crack at the next peek. They have the ability to do it, on Sunday it’s all about putting that ability into practice against a tough, battle hardened opponent.
