Mayo SFC: Garrymore secure place in decider after dramatic semi-final
Garrymore are through to the Mayo GAA Connacht Gold Senior Football Championship decider thanks to a 2-16 to 2-15 extra-time victory over Belmullet in their thrilling semi-final encounter in Ballina, writes Brian Gillespie.
Despite a confident Belmullet start – their first three scores were two-pointer – Garrymore were just a point down at half time, 0-8 to 0-9 behind, an early two-pointer of their own by Darren Quinn the pick of their scores.
A Garrymore goal eight minutes into the second half, scored by Mark Gibbons, appeared to have given the south Mayo men the initiative, but Belmullet responded.
When Fionn O'Donoghue found the net on 47 minutes, Belmullet were right back in it. That was the first goal Garrymore had conceded in the championship, and the Erris men compounded matters for their opponents by landing a two-point free courtesy of Shane Nallen to go three clear (1-13 to 1-10).
Just when they needed it, Garrymore found the net at the town end of James Stephens Park, Gary Golden fisting the ball in from close range after a high delivery from Darren Quinn broke favourably as Nallen and Aaron Hughes battled for possession.
Having levelled, Garrymore conceded a close-range free with a breach and Belmullet were ahead again when Ryan O'Donoghue popped the ball over the bar.
In the third of the four injury-time minutes indicated, Garrymore sub Trevor Nally – on for the injured Cathal Slattery – dissected the posts to level the game once again (2-11 to 1-14), sending it to extra time.
Garrymore enjoyed the better start to the additional period, Enda McGreal leaving aside the not-inconsiderable defensive duties of trying to shackle Ryan O'Donoghue to put his team ahead at the other end.
Sub Jamie Hession they put daylight between the teams with a two-pointer, but Fionn O'Donoghue did superbly well to reply with a single after a great fetch in the middle and a drive towards the posts.
Garrymore were 2-13 to 1-15 ahead at half-time in extra time but Trevor Nally's two-pointer at the very start of the second period gave them a three-point cushion, and after they somehow survived a goalmouth scramble, Mark Gibbons pointed at the other end to leave them four up.
There were still four minutes to go, however, and Belmullet set up a grandstand finish when Fionn O'Donoghue collected possession in a tight spot on the right in front of goal and unleashed an unstoppable shot, cutting the deficit to one.
There was a minute plus injury time left, and it was anyone's game.
In the closing seconds, Ryan O'Donoghue won a free outside the arc, giving his side the chance to snatch it. Shane Nallen tried to repeat his earlier two-point free trick but, with the ground getting slippier under the rain, he didn't make a good connection and the effort fell short.
Garrymore eventually worked the ball out and the final whistle was met with cries of joy from players and supporters as it confirmed their place in the county final for the first time since 1982. They will meet Castlebar Mitchels in the decider later this month.
*Read the full report in Tuesday's print edition of The Connaught Telegraph