Mayo SFC: Aghamore defeat Ballintubber to secure place in last eight

For the first time since 2008, Ballintubber have been knocked out at the group stage of the Mayo Senior Football Championship, writes Nathan Guilfoyle.

Their long-standing run of reaching at least the knockout rounds was finally brought to an end on a manic, windswept and rain-soaked afternoon in Claremorris.

An Aghamore side that has hovered on the edge of a breakthrough for years finally came of age, producing a display of belief, physicality and clinical finishing to secure a historic last-eight berth and send the men in red tumbling out of the race for the Moclair Cup.

It was a game that twisted and turned with the weather, a contest that looked to be slipping away from Aghamore at half-time before they ignited in a second half defined by two goals, towering midfield displays, and a defensive effort that held firm against one of Mayo’s most decorated club sides this century.

Ballintubber were 1-8 to 0-6 up at the break, Ciarán Gavin with the goal, while Liam Lavin curled over an outrageous two-point free on the stroke of half-time to keep Aghamore’s hopes alive when they desperately needed a lift.

Aghamore began the second half like a team possessed, Seán Óg Tigue scoring their first goal from close range after Jack O’Connor’s initial shot dropped dangerously into the square.

Ballintubber steadied briefly, going three points up again, but Aghamore drove on regardless, a second goal effectively turned the tie.

Jack O’Connor, one of Mayo’s most natural finishers, stepped up and clinically slotted home from 13 yards to underline his reputation in front of goal.

Remarkably, with 15 minutes remaining, Ballintubber would register only two more points, a Diarmuid O’Connor 45 and a late Jason Gibbons score, while Aghamore dominated proceedings, controlling restarts, winning second balls and forcing Ballintubber into rushed, low-percentage attempts.

It resulted in a 2-13 to 1-12 win for Aghamore, who join Crossmolina in the last eight from Group 3 of the Connacht Gold Senior Football Championship.

*See Tuesday's print edition of The Connaught Telegraph for a full report on the game