Mayo GAA: Wins for Ballina, Westport, Ardnaree and Kilmeena

by Patrick Hennelly

Ballina Stephenites had too much in the tank for Ballaghaderreen on Saturday as the north Mayo side ran out 1-14 to 2-7 winners in the end.

Over the 60 minutes Ballina Stephenites were the better team and were deserving victors.

There was a swirling wind at the east Mayo venue and it favoured the green and red during the first half, and the visitors raced into a five point lead after 10 minutes with all of their points notched from play.

Ballaghaderreen registered their first score of the game after 12 minuets when Callum Coleman landed an awesome two-pointer, before Ballina’s raiding wing-back David Tighe forced the umpire to reach for the white flag.

Ballaghaderreen’s Kuba Callaghan was in fine fettle and he guided over a two pointer free to reduce the arrears.

However, Ballina managed to acquire a goal courtesy of Mikey Murray and this helped garner a 1-8 to 0-5 lead for the north Mayo men after 25 minutes.

A gallant Ballaghaderreen regrouped and two minutes later they were awarded a penalty after David McBrien was fouled inside the area. Kuba Callaghan slotted home the spot-kick and the green and white trailed 1-8 to 1-5 during the half-time pep-talks.

Despite Ballina have more possession during the early stages of the new half, Kuba Callaghan managed to acquire a point on 37 minutes.

Ballina though, enjoyed a fruitful period and during that spell they fired over three singles and a sublime two-pointer free by the influential Evan Regan, which mustered a healthy 1-13 to 1-6 lead for the north Mayo men with just seven minutes remaining in the tie.

To their credit, Ballagh’ rallied and Kuba Callaghan fired home a superb goal from a penalty four minutes into stoppage time.

Ballagh’ valiantly searched for further scores but the stern Ballina defence circled the wagons and held on for the victory.

Fourteen-man Westport send Breaffy crashing out of championship

Westport came from nine points behind and a man down to finally turn the tables on Breaffy and qualify for the Mayo senior football championship semi-final on a final scoreline of 2-16 to 1-16, writes John Melvin.

The hero of the day was undoubtedly Westport substitute Colm Moran who ghosted in behind the Breaffy defence to punch Conal Dawson’s centre to the back of the home net, three minutes from the end of normal time.

While Moran’s goal was a crucial score for Westport, the catalyst of this magnificent comeback came from back-to-back two pointers from Lee Keegan and Finbar McLaughlin, followed by a free from Dawson and the levelling point from a Killian Kilkelly free.

It looked an unlikely story when Westport trailed by 0-13 to 1-5 at the break and when they lost their goalkeeper to a red card midway through the second half, Breaffy looked on course to make the semi-final.

A superb move produced an excellent finish to the net from Davitt Neary as Breaffy controlled the first quarter of the second half, Paddy O’Malley with a two-pointer free, Pierce Deane and an Aiden O’Shea free, pushing it out to 1-16 to 1-7. However, that was Breaffy’s last score of the game, with Westport outgunning them by 1-9 to no score.

However, some pretty poor decision-making and some woeful passing at times which gifted the ball to Westport by Breaffy, proved costly in the end, as Westport grew in confidence and determination, as Breaffy began to struggle in the midfield area which they had dominated for long periods in this game.

A Killian Kilkelly goal along with a two-pointer just before half-time from Conal Dawson, kept Westport hanging on and in the most dramatic of finishes it was Moran who sealed their place in the last four with that late dramatic goal.

However, more importantly, Westport are now serious challengers for Ballina’s title judging on this display.

In the intermediate championship quarter finals, Ardnaree Sarsfields continued their impressive form by defeating some people’s favourites for the title Parke, on a 1-11 to 0-12 score-line.

The strong wind really affected this game with both teams having several wides in both halves.

Ardnaree led 0-8 to 0-6 at half time after kicking on in the second quarter, with

Ethan Convey kicking a two pointer midway through the first half.

The second half was very similar with both teams playing patient build up due to the wind.

Ardnaree’s goal came in the 42nd minute from Ronan O'Malley after he got on a long ball and the north Mayo hosts had a lead of four points after 52 minutes.

Ardnaree centre-back Jack Regan received a black card in the 53rd minute, which Parke utilised their numerical advantage to bring the game back to a one point game as the game entered additional time, but the black and amber kicked a couple of wides when trying to get level.

Then in additional time, Parke’s Aaron McHale was shown a black card and Ethan Convey pointed from the free to secure a two point victory for the Sarsfields.

In Saturday’s other intermediate championship quarter final clash, a masterclass display by Kilmeena resulted in the hosts defeating visiting Kilmaine on a 0-20 to 1-12 score-line.

The wet and windy conditions proved difficult for both sides, however, Kilmaine’s Adam Barrett produced a virtuoso performance and guided over eight points in the first half.

A resolute Kilmeena played some sparkling football during the opening 30 minutes and singles by John McGlynn, Darragh Slattery, Darragh Keaveney, Kevin Ryder and Daniel Kelly, helped garner a 0-10 to 0-8 interval lead for the black and white.

Liam Moore proved to be an influential second half substitute for the hosts and he managed to acquire four points.

Barrett continued to pose problems for the Kilmeena defence and he landed a sky-scraper of a two-pointer, before his free on 50 minutes reduced the arrears to just three points.

Points from Kilmeena’s Jack Mulchrone and McGlynn helped shunt the hosts into a 0-18 to 0-12 lead.

Then Luke Muniz scored a magnificent goal for the south Mayo men to set-up a grandstand finish.

However, Kilmeena closed out proceedings impressively and the black and white can now prepare for a county semi-final.

In the intermediate championship relegation semi-final, Aghamore defeated Ballyhaunis 1-15 to 0-13 at Garrymore.