East meets West as last of the final pairings become known

The two teams perhaps identified as the best there was in the intermediate championship at the start of the season are indeed the two teams left standing at the end of it, with Moy Davitts and Kilmeena set to face off in next Sunday’s county final after emphatic semi-finals wins this afternoon.

Moy Davitts gave their supporters a bit of a scare when trailing 5/2 outsiders Ardnaree Sarsfields by three points at half-time in James Stephens Park, however, an outstanding second-half display by the East Mayo side saw them outscore their opponents by fifteen points to eventually win 1-20 to 0-11 – the goal by former Mayo attacker Brian Reape just 80 seconds after half-time kickstarting his side’s stunning revival.

For their part, Kilmeena remain on course to secure a return to the senior championship at the first time of asking after they swept aside Kiltane in the first of the day’s intermediate semi-finals played in Knockmore.

Kilmeena held the lead at half-time, 1-11 to 2-05, and exploded from the blocks after the restart to move eleven points clear before goals from Charlie Ginnelly, a penalty, and Mikie Sweeney, helped reduce the Eriss side’s arrears to four points with minutes remaining. But after chances to narrow the deficit further passed Kiltane by, their West Mayo opponents pushed on to record a 2-20 to 4-06 victory.

The final will form part of a double-header with the Mayo SFC Final which sees Ballina Stephenites bid for a third consecutive title when taking on previous champions Westport.

Elsewhere, Killala puled off something of a surprise eleven points win away to defending champions Achill to book their place in the final of the county junior ‘B’ football championship while a hotly disputed late goal saw Tooreen win a fifth straight Mayo SHC title at the expense of Ballyhaunis in a lively final at the latter’s home ground. It finished 2-17 to 0-21 after the Blue Devils had also held the half-time lead, 1-11 to 0-10.

See Tuesday’s Western People for full coverage of the Mayo GAA Club Championships.