Knock hurlers produce awesome display in lifting Mayo title

By Patrick Hennelly

An awesome display by Knock National School helped pave the way for the east Mayo pupil’s to claim the silverware at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, defeating St. Joseph's Paimary School, Ballinrobe, by 3-9 to 0-2 in the Cumann na mBunscol Division Two Hurling final.

The torrential showers of rain was testing for both teams, but it was Knock National School who made the brighter start and they notched the opening scores of the game courtesy of a point apiece by Cillian Devine (free) and Connor Leech.

St. Joseph’s then troubled the scoreboard operator when a mazy run and point from Jamie O’Toole reduced the arrears to just a point.

However, the Ballinrobe game plan suffered a set-back when Knock’s Devine saw his swerving free end up in the back of the net.

Devine was causing plenty of problems for the red and black and another of his placed ball efforts very nearly mustered another goal on eight minutes, but the sliotar flashed inches wide.

The watertight Knock defence didn’t concede any further scores during the remainder of the first half, with Connor Leech’s major on 12 minutes, helping to muster an unassailable 2-6 to 0-1 half-time advantage for the east Mayo outfit.

Knock’s Devine and Ballinrobe’s Cathal Horan traded early second half frees, as the weather conditions remained unseasonal.

A brave St. Joseph’s almost added the goal that their game plan needed on 31 minutes, however, the hovering Shane Gavin just missed out on Horan’s raking delivery.

One minute later, Knock sealed the deal when the busy Callum Waldron sprinted towards goal and rustled the back of the net.