Kilmeena win pulsating Mayo IFC final after great battle with Moy Davitts

The Egan Jewellers Mayo Intermediate Football Championship final turned into the shootout many expected before Kilmeena won by the narrowest of margins, finishing 0-23 to 1-19 winners over Moy Davitts in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, writes Brian Gillespie.

Despite being a good bit more wasteful than their opponents – 14 wides to five attests to that – Kilmeena were able to pick off scores at crucial times, not least as the game ticked into injury, when Darragh Slattery levelled before Caolach Halligan landed the winner.

After that they played keep-ball as they attempting to run down the announced four (but actually five) minutes of injury time, but Moy Davitts had one chance to win it, Anthony Jordan going for a two-pointer but dropping the ball short into the grateful hands of Paul Groden, the Kilmeena goalkeeper.

Jordan had earlier scored a two-pointer and was entitled to go for what would have been the winner, but he just slightly misjudged the distance.

It appeared as if Kilmeena had suffered an early setback when Daniel Kelly departed with an injury but his replacement, teenager Cormac O'Malley, went on to have a fantastic game, scoring five points from play and getting involved in the action all over the pitch as the west Mayo team won their second intermediate title in three years.

For Moy Davitts, who were also beaten finalists last year, Brian Reape and Cian McHale tried to rally the troops all through, but they came up just short in the end.

Kilmeena: Paul Groden; Luke Durkan, Ciaran Kilcoyne, John Ryan; Colin Hastings, Liam Moore (0-3, 1tp), Jack Mulchrone; Jack Carney (0-2), Kevin Ryder (0-4, 1tp); Conor Kelly, Darragh Slattery (0-1), Ronan O'Donnell (0-1); Darragh Keaveney (0-3), John McGlynn (0-2, 1f), Daniel Kelly.

Subs used: Cormac O'Malley (0-5, 1tp), Caolach Halligan (0-2), Stephen Staunton, Aaron Murray.

Moy Davitts: Chris McGlynn; Stephen Clarke, Tadhg Ruane, Jack Dunleavy; David Byrne, Oisin McHugh (0-1), Colm McHale; Conor Reid, Padraig Ruane; Brian Reape (0-3), Cian McHale (0-7, 1tpf, 2f, 1tp), Ryan Kenny; Ronan Clarke (1-5, 1tpf, 1f), Brian Heneghan, Sean Kelly (0-1).

Subs used: Cathal Clarke, Anthony Jordan (0-2tp), Conal Quinn, Jamie Clarke (0-1f), Liam Byrne.

Referee: John Glavey.

*See Tuesday's print edition of The Connaught Telegraph for a comprehensive report and reaction