The Ballinasloe Minor hurling team had a very comprehensive win in their first game of their Suck Valley League campaign at home to Castlebar on Saturday February 3. The home team were quickly into their stride in the game played at St Brigids Grounds, and from early on looked the likely winners in this well contested opening round.

Centre half forward for Ballinasloe Noel Dillon opened the scoring and soon after Cormac Casey and Keith Kelly put their names on the score sheet with a point a piece. In the seventeenth minute came arguably the score of the game, as left half back Alan Kelly caught the Castlebar goalies puck out, and sent the ball straight back over the bar from a full eighty yards. Full forward Donal Fenton closed the first half with a good point from play, after receiving a pass from Cormac Casey, leaving the home side in full control at the break.

Ballinasloe started the second half with three points in quick succession, two from Keith Kelly and one from Cormac Casey. Eight minutes into the second half manager Gerard Connolly switched midfielder Cormac Casey into the full forward position and three minutes later he scored the first goal of the game. Further points were added by Keith Kelly, Cormac Casey and Noel Dillon, before Cormac scored his second goal to effectively end the game as a contest.

Castlebar enjoyed some possession late in the second half, but despite an Andrew Butler point, Ballinalsloe's Cormac Casey and Noel Dillon finished the scoring with a point each just before the final whistle. Best for Ballinasloe on the day were Robert Burke, Michael Kelly and Conor Headd in the full back line, half backs Alan Burke, David Connolly and Sean Martyn, and the midfield pair Ralf Carty and Cormac Casey. Up front Keith Kelly and Noel Dillon were on fire, while Donal Fenton and Gary Cox worked hard in the full forward line.

The Man of the match award went to Cormac Casey while the match Referee was Joe Finnerty from Ahascragh.