Border boys battle their way into final
Shrule/Glencorrib's Evan Cawley scored a point fir his side.
Mayo JFC ‘A’ Semi-Final
Shrule/Glencorrib 0-5
Cill Chomáin 0-3
The fact that this was such a low-scoring and dogged battle won’t matter one iota to a gutsy Shrule/Glencorrib who can now relish a county final appearance in a couple of weeks’ time.
This was certainly a bizarre last four showdown played in blustery Westport on Saturday, and the nature of the battle was epitomised one minute into first-half stoppage time when Shrule/Glencorrib’s first strike at the posts saw them level the game at 0-1 apiece.
Shrule/Glencorrib had oodles of possession up to then but faced a ferocious Cill Chomáin defence that time and time again forced the Maroon, White, and Green into frustrating turnovers. At the other end, had an injury ravaged Cill Chomáin — minus the services of the imperious Justin Healy, Derk Moran, and Martin Geraghty from their attack — been more ruthless in front of goal, then perhaps it would be the North Mayo side who would now be preparing for the county final.
Cill Chomáin had the swirling wind at their backs during the first-half and managed to notch the first score of the game after two minutes, when David Walker split the posts.
Tom Burke’s Shrule/Glencorrib outfit soaked up the early Cill Chomáin onslaught and the South Mayo men tried to find an avenue back into the tie, but faced a stubborn and miserly opposition defence, that refused to concede any decent scoring opportunities.
The North Mayo supporters were eager to see some positivity and Cill Chomáin very nearly notched what could have been a gamechanging goal on 23 minutes, however, Joe Corduff’s thunderbolt crashed against the crossbar, much to the relief of the beaten John Murray.
Cill Chomáin enjoyed the better of the chances during the first-half, but the Black and White’s profligacy in front of goal was proving to be their downfall.
Shrule/Glencorrib’s first attempt at a score arrived in stoppage time and yielded a successfully converted free by the industrious Evan Cawley.
The border outfit’s joy was shortlived though, as one minute later, Walker struck over a free, thus earning a slender 0-2 to 0-1 half-time advantage for the North Mayo men.
The heavy half-time downpour only further hampered the playing conditions, but the swirling wind had slightly abated and there was hope that this game would finally ignite.
The umpires were called into action on 32 minutes when Shrule/Glencorrib’s Ronan Ward struck over a smashing free from an acute angle to level matters, much to the delight of the raucous South Mayo supporters.
Cill Chomáin then produced probably the best passage of play on 38 minutes, when an intricate and free-flowing move involving Luke Tighe, Darragh Murphy, and David Walker ended with the latter regaining the lead for his team. But alas, that would prove to be the final time the brave Black and White warriors would trouble the scoreboard operator.
As the game entered its final quarter, Eoin Hennelly guided over a peach of a free from an acute angle and this proved to be the turning point of the battle.
Indeed, the aforementioned Hennelly played a crucial supporting role in Shrule/Glencorrib’s next point, with the dynamic Conor Bohan edging Burke’s troops in front for the first time after 51 minutes on a score-line of 0-4 to 0-3.
Shrule/Glencorrib were beginning to find vital pockets of space in the Cill Chomáin defence, and a patient and deadly move culminated in the rampaging Kevin Ryan fisting over a close-range effort on 55 minutes.
Cill Chomáin regrouped and they were full of bustle as they bombarded the opposition’s goal during the dying embers of this tense battle. However, the sands of time ran out and the sounding of the full-time whistle signalled great joy and despair in equal measure as both sides came to terms with the outcome.
Shrule/Glencorrib, who suffered a gut-wrenching defeat in last year’s semi-final against Islandeady, can now finally look forward to a county final.
Scorers — Shrule/Glencorrib: Eoin Hennelly (f), Evan Cawley (f), Conor Bohan, Ronan Ward (f), Kevin Ryan 0-1 each.
Cill Chomáin: David Walker 0-3 (1f).
Shrule/Glencorrib: John Murray; John Sheridan, Johnny Naughton, TJ Canavan; Noel Sheridan, Ronan Walsh, Eoin Hennelly; Evan Cawley, Conor Bohan; Ronan Ward, Kevin Ryan, John Flood; Ross Gibbons, Adrian Moran, Brendan Ryan. Subs: Cormac Garvey (for Gibbons 51), Rory Hennelly (for Sheridan 60+1, inj).
Cill Chomáin: Kian O’Gallachóir; Seán O’Flannabhra, Seamús Mac an tSaoir, Lorcán MacGraith; Lorcán Mac an tSaoir, Eoghan MacGraith, Seosamh O’Cordubh; Brendaín O’Móráin, Seosamh Mac an tSaoir; Seán O’Murchú, Mark O’Taidhg, Luke O’Taidhg; Dáithí Mac an tSiúil, Darragh O’Murchú, Liam O’Maoldomhnaigh. Subs: Jason O’Muirithe (for O’Flannabhra 55), Martin O’hÓireachtaigh (for Mac an tSiúil 58), Shane O’Móráin (for O’Cordubh 60+1).
REF: Frank Flynn (Aghamore)
