Mayo JFC: Killala spring a surprise in Tourmakeady
There was frantic finale to the keenly contested Mayo GAA Treanlaur Catering Exclusive Junior Football Championship quarterfinal at Páirc Naomh Muire, where home side Tourmakeady rallied but couldn't reel in Killala, the visitors winning on a 0-16 to 2-8 scoreline, writes Patrick Hennelly.
Killala were 0-15 to 1-8 after 59 minutes but a goal from Tourmakeady’s Micheál Joyce in the final minute put the cat amongst the pigeons.
At that stage, one wondered if Sean Moran’s warriors were about to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
However, in the end, Matthew Keane’s point two minutes into injury time helped seal the deal for the mightily relieved north Mayo side.
Enda Gilvarry’s troops began the tie at a whirlwind pace and singles inside the opening 10 minutes from Ben Stowe, Sean Gildea, Matthew Keane (three, two frees) and Sean Walsh garnered a six points to no score lead, much to the disbelief of the large home attendance at the picturesque venue.
Tourmakeady badly needed a score and they finally forced the umpire into action on 13 minutes when Micheál Prendergast guided over a free.
Prendergast then added two more points (one free), and the hosts appeared to be getting on top of the breaking ball.
Keane added his third free of the afternoon for Killala on 21 minutes but Mike Óg Staunton’s barraging runs for Tourmakeady into enemy territory were a cause of concern for the away bench.
Gildea scored the final point of the half for Killala on 27 minutes and his side led 0-8 to 0-3 lead during half-time.
Tourmakeady may have lacked a cutting edge in attack during the first half but all that changed five minutes into the second. Centre-back Sean Joyce set up Lucas Durcan and he palmed the ball to the back of an empty net, given the vocal home supporters something to shout even more loudly for.
Ten minutes into the new half a torrential downpour descended upon the venue, adding extra zip to the playing surface. During the downpour, Killala notched a hard-earned point through the influential Keane, who swung over a tidy effort.
Tourmakeady’s Prendergast and Killala’s Keane swapped frees before Lucas Lydon landed an inspirational long-range two-pointer on 46 minutes.
Tourmakeady were rejuvenated and points from Sean Joyce and Prendergast (free) helped shunt the locals into a 1-8 to 0-10 lead after 48 minutes.
The visitors levelled matters from the placed ball on 51 minutes through Keane after they had been awarded a hotly contested free for a breech infringement by the hosts.
With just five minutes of normal time remaining and the game was in the melting pot, Killala pinched crucial points courtesy of Gildea (two, one of which was an improvised soccer-style snap-shot), John Joe Nealon and Keane (free).
Leading by four points, Killala seemed on course for victory but a doughty Tourmakeady refused to throw in the towel and a grandstand finish was in store when Micheál Joyce rustled the back of the net on 60 minutes after he was set up by Ronan Malee. Keane’s late point proved to be the insurance score for Killala, however.
*See Tuesday's print edition for more on the game