Mayo SFC: Impressive Knockmore get championship bid back on track

Aiden Henry

Anyone who might have thought Knockmore weren’t serious Mayo senior championship contenders this year following their home defeat by Belmullet in round one should have been in Ballaghaderreen on Saturday evening for their Group 4 second-round clash with the home side.

Here we saw the real Knockmore in action, where they gave a five-star display before seeing off Ballaghaderreen with ease by 1-24 to 1-9.

Indeed, they were every bit as good as their 15-point victory would indicate.

With so much at stake for both teams as they both lost their first round games, the first quarter was all about getting to know each other.

Indeed, all we had in this first 15 minutes was two scores, a point a piece.

Knockmore’s opening score didn’t arrive until the 15th minute. However, once they got the scoreboard ticking, they took the home side apart.

In the following 10 minutes they added eight more points to their tally, including two two-pointers, both coming from midfielder Connell Dempsey.

They followed up with a great goal from wing-back Adam Naughton before the same player and Dempsey brought their tally for the half to an end by raising white flags.

Ballaghaderreen, who did miss some great scoring chances in the first quarter, just about stayed in touch thanks to a fine two-pointer from Kuba Callaghan on the stroke of half time.

Yet, they trailed by 11 points (0-3 to 1-11) and had a mountain to climb after the interval.

On the resumption, Knockmore landed two early points to extend their lead to 13.

However, the home side were thrown a lifeline in the 35th minute when Ollie Armstrong scored a delightful goal.

Although they exchanged points with the visitors on two occasions, Knockmore again upped the ante and landed seven more unanswered points.

In the closing moments Ballaghaderreen managed to put a more respectful look on the final scoreline by scoring two two-pointers.

However, on an evening where the wind was back in the Knockmore sails, the east Mayo side could have no complaints.