Mayo SFC: Charlestown keep top flight survival battle alive thanks to 'sensational ambush'

This was a sensational ambush by a Charlestown Sarsfield side who were right up for the battle from first whistle to last in their Mayo SFC relegation semi-final against Ballaghaderreen, the final score 5-10 to 1-12 in their favour, writes Nathan Guilfoyle.

A four-minute spell in the first quarter, in which Rory Clarke’s side scored three goals, was the winning and losing of this game.

Paul Towey was back to his best with two of those goals, one a fine finish, one a flick over Jamie Lunt from a dropping ball, combined with a sensational run and finish by the outstanding Matthew Lenehan, who was on an advantage and smashed past Jamie Lunt from long range.

It was a blitz that was needed after Ballaghaderreen has settled the better of the two sides through a goal from David McBrien, and Charlestown played the first half with an incredibly strong breeze at their backs.

While most sides settle to go for two pointers with a wind that strong, Charlestown flipped the script, attempting very few and only scoring one two pointer, a free from Paul Towey.

Charlestown led by 3-3 to 1-1 after the opening ten minutes after further scores from Gareth O’Donnell and Towey (2), although it was a calamitous start, Ballaghaderreen soon began to find their feet.

John Mitchell and David McHughs side won loads of ball around the middle and steadied the ship, outscoring Charlestown for the next ten minutes with smart scores from Kuba Callaghan (3) and Ryan Lynch.

However with 26 minutes on the clock disaster struck when a Paul Towey long range free that dropped short was spilled over the line by Ballaghaderreen midfielder Ryan Lynch for their fourth goal of the opening half.

Keith O’Donnell and Paul Towey (2 point free) traded scores in injury time to leave Charlestown 4-6 to 1-3 ahead at half time.

It was a big gap but the wind was strong and it would have appeared there was a huge fight back to come in Ballaghaderreen with the wind, but the opening ten minutes of the second half sealed the game.

Charlestown scored 1-2 in the opening eight minutes of the second half with points from Lenehan and Towey, before Conor McArdle smashed home after excellent work from the fantastic Ruairi Cullen.

This left Charlestown 5-8 to 1-5 up, a 15 point lead, and no matter how strong the wind was there was no way back for Ballaghaderreen.

Ballaghaderreen to their credit kept fighting, and responded with scores from Cormac Doohan and a two pointer from David Drake, but were unlucky in this spell when Sean Buckley smashed the ball off the bar from close range.

Ballaghaderreen were needing everyball in the final quarter to bounce their way and it just wouldn’t, and a combination of slack shooting and decision making left the task even more unlikely.

A pair of two-point frees from Kuba Callaghan were as close as they could get to harming Charlestown, but Charlestown played very controlled, slick football on the break and held the ball for long periods, even if they didn’t score every time, they chewed a lot of precious time off the clock, while getting scores from a Towey free and a super point from Cullen.

In the end it was just a day that Charlestown deserved to celebrate, working extremely hard and were fearless in and out of the tackle.

Ballaghaderreen will need to keep their spirits high as they will now play Balla in the relegation final, with both teams heading into the game having lost all of their games so far, and their two semi finals to bitter local rivals.

Scorers for Charlestown: P Towey (2-6, 2PF, F), M Lenehan (1-1), R Lynch (1-0, Own Goal), C McArdle (1-0), B Crean (0-1), R Cullen (0-1), G O’Donnell (0-1).

Scorers for Ballaghaderreen: K Callaghan (0-7, 2 2PFs, 2Fs), D McBrien (1-0), D Drake (0-2, 2P), R Lynch (0-1), C Doohan (0-1), K O’Donnell (0-1).

Ref: R Gurren (Aghamore).

* Read full analysis in Tuesday's issue of The Connaught Telegraph.