Stowe inspires Killala to Mayo junior silverware

Killala had too much firepower for a brave Kilmovee Shamrocks side at a blustery Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in the Treanlaur Catering Mayo Junior B Football Championship final, the north Mayo men winning 2-12 to 1-9 in the end, writes Patrick Hennelly.

Ben Stowe was in inspirational form for the winners, scoring 1-4 inside the opening 20 minutes to help shunt his team-mates into a commanding 1-7 to 0-4 lead.

However, on 21 minutes and one minute after Stowe had rustled the back of the net, Kilmovee Shamrocks pulled a goal back with Peter Horan’s effort forcing the umpire to reach for the green flag and the deficit was reduced to just three points.

Kilmovee desperately tried to launch a famous comeback, but those hopes received a set-back on 25 minutes, when Matthew Long’s deflected effort fortuitously ended up in the back of the net, which helped garner a 2-8 to 1-6 lead for Martin Farrell’s troops at the interval.

The second period didn’t have the same drama as the first half, with Killala outscoring their opponents 0-4 to 0-3.

The green and gold could have set-up a tense finale had a lucky break gone their way on 46 minutes, but Killala centre-back Conor Gilvarry managed to crucially intercept a ball that was drifting towards the tigerish Kilmovee full-forward line.

In the end, Killala were the better side, however, a gallant Kilmovee can be proud of their efforts on the day.