Claremorris produce five star performance in Mayo cup final triumph

By Patrick Hennelly

A FIVE star performance by Claremorris resulted in the green and white capturing the silverware in the Mayo Under-11 Boys Cup final at a balmy Milebush Park today, winning 5-1 over Ballyglass.

Claremorris played some neat and slick attacking football on the pristine 4G astro turf pitch and at half-time the south Mayo side held a 2-0 advantage.

Ballyglass were eager from the outset with their midfield working hard during the early stages of the game, and the red and white battled for every inch of possession.

However, four minutes into the first half the green and white grabbed the lead, as Aidan Diskin’s strike flew into the back of the net.

Ballyglass’ Paudie Vahey desperately tried to find a way back into the game for his team-mates, but Claremorris soaked up the pressure and the leaders doubled their advantage on 25 minutes, when Diskin’s ambitious long-range strike rustled the back of the net.

A positive start to the new half was imperative for a brave Ballyglass, but the red and white’s comeback hopes suffered a set-back on 30 minutes (25 minutes per-half) when Ted Walsh’s bullet finish found the target, much to the delight of the vocal Claremorris supporters.

The aforementioned Vahey very nearly pulled a goal back for the chasers, but his effort was expertly saved by the alert Aaron Mullahy.

Claremorris were eager to galvanize their lead and a sublime bottom corner finish from their midfielder Ralph O’Neill, appeared to have ended the game as a contest.

However, the loyal Ballyglass supporters were given a glimmer of hope on 44 minutes, when Harry Gilligan’s thunderbolt strike from long distance was just beyond the reach of Mullahy.

To their credit, Ballyglass refused to throw in the towel and they launched some purposeful attacking forays as full-time loomed.

Claremorris though, were dangerous on the counter-attack and one such move saw a through ball release the scampering Lorcan Grehan and the latter’s cool finish sealed the deal for the green and white.