Sligo powered their way into their second cup final of the season when they scored seven tries without reply against North West neighbours Ballina in the Cawley Cup Semi final at Hamilton Park, Strandhill on Sunday. Sligo’s fifteen man game proved too strong for a plucky Ballina outfit who were over whelmed in all areas.

Ballina kicked off, with the aid of the stiff breeze, and exerted pressure on the Sligo defence for the first five minutes but Sligo soon settled and strong running from Andrew Feeney allowed them set up camp in the Ballina half.

Sligo opened the scoring on ten minutes when a poor Ballina clearance kick was returned by David Gerrity. Niall O’Hara chased the kick and forced the pass from Ballina which Jordan Farrington intercepted and outpaced the defence to touch down under the posts. Outhalf Paddy Pearson added the conversion.

From the re-start Aaron Spring collected and made a super run into the heart of the Ballina defence before linking up with Simon Coulter who in turn fed Pearson. Pearson’s pass found Gerrity who’s attempted chip was blocked by a Ballina hand before rebounding back into the Sligo’s full back’s hands allowing him to sprint clear and touch down to the left of the posts. Pearson’s conversion attempted drifted narrowly wide. Ballina responded and were rewarded with a penalty on the Sligo ten metre line which out half Ciaran Rouse converted to bring the score to 12-3 in favour of Sligo.

Ballina continued to press and were awarded with a penalty on the Sligo ten metre line but the quick tap was anticipated by Jordan Farrington and the lively centre intercepted the pass and raced clear to dot down under the Ballina crossbar. Pearson added the extras to put his side 19-3 ahead at half time.

Sligo kicked off the second half with the aid of the breeze and soon set up camp on the Ballina half, however play was interrupted for a protracted period due to an injury to Ballina’s Stephen McCarron. Sligo immediately got back on track following the re-start and found themselves five yards from the Ballina line following a superb Pearson penalty. Peter Mullen collected the line out and the pack orchestrated a series of pick and drives before Jamie Bowes crashed over for another Sligo try. Pearson’s conversion was just wide of the upright.

Sligo went further ahead after fifty five minutes when an Niall O’Hara kick was not dealt with by the Ballina defence and the ever alert Pearson was quickest to react as he collected the ball and burst through the cover to touch down under the posts. The out half added the extras to put his side 31-3 ahead.

Again Ballina tried to respond and kicked deep into the Sligo 22 but a sweeping move by the Sligo team gained them sixty metres and resulted in a line out inside the Ballina 22. Pressure on the Ballina throw saw Matele Fifita steal the line out and drive forward to within three yards of the Ballina line. A quick recycle was moved to Andrew Feeney and the winger made no mistake in adding another try to his team’s total. The final try of the game came from another trade mark Spring drive to set up a ruck in midfield inside the Ballina 22,a quick ruck ball was moved to Pearson who broke through two tackles before setting up Simon Coulter to score in the corner, allowing Sligo to run out on top of a 41 points to 3 score line.

Sligo now await the winners of Castlebar or Westport in the other semi final but should be confident of taking home the silverware in what has proved an outstanding season for the club.