Extra-time needed to decide Mayo final
Hollymount-Carramore claimed the South Mayo Junior (A) title after an enthralling contest against Davitts, that ended 1-18 to 0-17 after extra time, at a chilly Kilmaine on Friday night.
Hollymount-Carramore made the dream start and netted a goal after two minutes, when Kevin Feerick rustled the back of the net after receiving an inch-perfect pass from Conor Kelly.
A marvellous two-pointer from Barry Sheridan, and a brace of points from J. J. Connelly (one free) mustered a 1-4 to no score lead for blue, white, and yellow after six minutes.
Davitts gradually won some vital possession and this led to points for Jack Devane and Dylan Barrett on seven and 10 minutes respectively.
On 21 minutes, the border men thought they had acquired a crucial goal; however, Davey Hennessy’s effort was overruled by the referee and his umpires for a square ball infringement.
However, a resurgent Davitts ended the half in a flurry and two frees from the imperious Ronan Kelly (one two-pointer free), reduced the deficit, and at half-time the red and black trailed 1-8 to 0-7.
Davitts, and aided by the strong breeze, dominated the opening quarter of the second period and a peach of a ‘45’ by Ronan Kelly on 44 minutes, mustered a 0-13 to 1-9 lead for Derek Byrne’s troops.
Trailing 0-15 to 1-11 after 54 minutes, Hollymount-Carramore substitute Ben Sheridan landed an awesome point from an acute angle on 55 minutes to restore parity, and at the full-time whistle the sides were level at 0-15 to 1-12.
The first period of extra-time saw both sides notch a point apiece, with Hollymount’s Aodh Murphy and Davitts’ Ronan Kelly (free), both forcing the umpires into action.
However, just before half-time in extra-time, the Davitts game plan received a set-back when their full-forward Stephen Nyland picked up a second yellow card and was dismissed by the referee.
Hollymount-Carramore edged the second half of extra-time and points from Robert Molloy, Ben Sheridan, J. J. Connelly (free), Kevin Feerick (free), and Finian Walsh, helped secure the spoils for the blue, white and yellow.