Knockmore make last eight with impressive display

Defending champions Knockmore made sure of their place in the Connacht Gold Mayo SFC quarterfinals with an impressive 3-15 to 2-10 victory over Charlestown Sarsfields this afternoon.

The large crowd in Breaffy included Mayo senior manager James Horan and Ciaran McDonald, who witnessed the champions put on display full of energy, intensity and quality.

Two goals in as many minutes at the start of the game by Darren McHale and Conor Flynn gave Knockmore a dream start, and when Pearse Ruttledge smashed in a third before half-time, Charlestown’s race looked run right there as they trailed by nine, 0-6 to 3-6.

Late second-half goals from Patrick Lenehan and Paddy Goldrick put respectibility on the scoreboard for Charlestown, but the damage had long been done.

Knockmore have to settle for second place in Group 2, however, as Belmullet secured top spot with victory over Aghamore in Ballina. This was a much closer game, with the result in doubt right up to the end. A Ryan O'Donoghue free deep into injury time ultimately won the game for the Erris men, who were pushed all the way by a gallant Aghamore.

It was one-way traffic in the Group 3 encounter between Westport and Balla as the former cemented their status as one of the championship favourites with a resounding 3-16 to 0-4 win in Tourmakeady. Both teams knew their fate before the game, with Westport assured of top spot and Balla certain to be in the relegation playoffs.

The battle for second spot was played out last night between Ballaghaderreen and Castlebar Mitchels in Aghamore, with the county town side going through on score difference following a 1-11 to 0-14 draw.

The final senior championship game this evening was played under the lights at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan. There was nothing but top spot to settle in the battle between Garrymore and Breaffy, and the 2-9 to 2-9 draw worked in Garrymore's favour as they head the group on score difference. Both teams are in great form going into next weekend's quarterfinals.

There were just two Egan Jewellers Mayo IFC games this evening. Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin were already assured of top spot in Group 1 and Swinford were bound to be bottom but a close contest between the two finished on a scoreline of 2-8 to 1-8 in Parke's favour.

There was much more at stake in the Group 2 encounter between Hollymount/Carramore and Burrishoole, with the winners assured of a place in the quarterfinals. A draw would have sufficed for Hollymount/Carramore by virtue of their slightly better score difference, but in the end they secured a one-point win to remove all doubt.

In the TF Royal Hotel Exclusive JFC, Islandeady and Achill qualified for the quarterfinals, the former by virtue of a 2-10 to 2-5 victory over Ballycroy and the latter by virtue of getting a walkover against Kilmovee Shamrocks.