14-man Knockmore cruise to comfortable victory over Belmullet
Knockmore’s Aidan Orme (left) kicked 0-5 in their win over Belmullet last Saturday. Picture: David Farrell Photography
Fourteen-man Knockmore ran out comfortable winners against a disappointing Belmullet side on their home patch on a wet and windy Saturday evening last.
Despite losing Shane McHale to two quick yellow cards in the second-half it was the home side who looked the more comfortable throughout and never looked like being caught by their opponents.
The visitors, playing against a strong wind, did open the scoring in the fifth minute when Daithi Cosgrove slotted over a free in front of the posts.
Three minutes later David McHale had the hosts level with a point from out on the right and on 11 minutes, a long range effort from Connell Dempsey pushed Knockmore into a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Shane McHale almost rattled the Belmullet net on 14 minutes when a Keith Ruttledge shot dropped short and the midfielder beat Aaron Carey to the ball but his fisted effort came off the crossbar.
Caolan Hopkins pushed Knockmore’s lead out to three with a free and a point from play before the game’s big talking point as Dempsey found himself lucky not to receive his marching orders on 25 minutes.
Dempsey and Evan Ivers found themselves in a tussle on the ground when the big Knockmore wing forward connected with a punch to Ivers face. Referee Paul Lydon missed the altercation as the play moved forward and Dempsey survived in the game.
Cosgrove had a chance to hit the net for the visitors on 30 minutes when Oisin O’Donnell burst through the middle and set passed to the full forward in front of goal but his low shot was saved by Brian McMahon.
Two points from corner forward Aidan Orme left five between the sides at the half-time break.
The second period began as the first had ended with Hopkins and Orme both raising white flags as Knockmore continued their dominance.
Fionnan Ryan had a chance to bring Belmullet back into the game when he caught a long ball in front of goal but his shot from close range cannoned back off the crossbar.
Dara Murray eventually hit Belmullet’s second score of the game on 41 minutes and Cosgrove added another two minutes later but that was the end of the seasiders scoring efforts for the evening.
Orme grabbed two more for the home side before McHale received his marching orders on 50 minutes and Pearse Ruttledge rounded out the scoring with an effort two minutes later. From there the game petered out to its inevitable conclusion.
