Clinical Kiltimagh crowned Connaught champions in style

Kiltimagh .................0-16

Aughavas (Leitrim) ...0-8

by Aiden Henry

Kiltimagh kept the Mayo flag flying in the Connacht club championships when they were crowned the 2025 junior champions following a memorable victory over Leitrim champions, Aughavas, in the final which was played in Carrick-On-Shannon this afternoon.

In what was one of their best performances of the year, Kiltimagh took command of this decider from an early stage.

Indeed, they had six points on the board before their opponents managed to raise a first flag.

After taking an eight-point lead into the break, they never allowed Aughavas get any foothold on the game after the resumption and in the end ran out the easy winners.

It was a polished all-round performance by Kiltimagh who will now go on to the All-Ireland series where they will meet the Ulster champions in the semi final in the first week in January.

Kiltimagh laid the foundation for their win in the opening half where they dominated for long periods.

With their backs keeping a tight hold on the Aughavas forwards, the Kiltimagh attack was making the most of their scoring chances at the other end of the field.

The opening score arrived in the fourth minute, a pointed free from Kiltimagh’s Thomas Keegan.

Two minutes later they would follow this score with a brilliant two pointer from midfielder Paul Kelly.

Further points from goalkeeper Jamie McNicholas, a 45’, Jordan Henry and Keegan had the Mayo champions six in front at the end of the first quarter.

The clock showed 19 minutes when Aughavas finally opened their account, a two pointer from an Adrian Shortt free.

However, Kiltimagh hit back in style to this score by raising five unanswered white flags of their own, two from Conor Mallee and one each from Kelly, Fionan Burke and Keegan.

Although the Leitrim champions did manage to get the last score of the half, a point from Shortt, it was Kiltimagh who went in for the interval break with a healthy eight-point lead, 0-11 to 0-4.

On the resumption Kiltimagh continued to play controlled football and while they weren’t as lethal up front, they never allowed their opponents many good scoring chances.

Both number 15s exchanged points before Thomas Keegan extended the Kikltimagh lead to nine points with a fine score from play.

In fairness to Aughavas kept battling away and did manage to close the gap with a two-pointer from Joey McBrien in the 41st minute.

But Kiltimagh substitute Eoghan Lavin still made it an eight-point game with a fine score from play as the game entered the last quarter.

In the final quarter, Kiltiamgh saw the game out comfortably and added two points to their tally from Oisin Mulderrig and Fionan Burke to run out the deserving winners by double scorers.