Electric Conroy hits hattrick to get Neale back on track

Mayo IFC Group 4 – Round 2 

The Neale 4-14 

Burrishoole 4-9 

Patrick Hennelly in St Feichin’s Park, Cong 

An avalanche of goals at picturesque Cong on Saturday evening captivated those in attendance from first whistle till last.

The Neale blitzed their opponents during the embryonic stages of this eight-goal thriller, with an early point from Paraic Walsh buttressed by three goals inside eight minutes, courtesy of Tommy Conroy (a quick-fire brace) and the energetic Tom Lydon, with the latter going on to produce a barnstorming second-half display.

Burrishoole may have been shell-shocked but they managed to notch points from Fintan McManamon, a free, and Pat Chambers, to leave the scoreboard reading 3-1 to 0-2 after a frantic opening.

On nine minutes, the South Mayo side could have been out of sight when they were awarded a spot-kick after the darting Robbie Hughes was fouled inside the area. Lydon was given the subsequent dead-ball effort but his strike was brilliantly saved by the diving Eoin Mullarkey.

This reprieve was gladly accepted by the visitors and three points from Adam Rehill, two from frees, and Fintan McManamon, a free, helped steady the Burrishoole ship somewhat.

There was also a bizarre incident that saw Burrishoole’s under-pressure midfielder Joe McLoughlin divert a goal chance for The Neale over his own crossbar on 17 minutes, which helped prevent the hosts from garnering a nine point cushion.

Liam O’Malley’s troops then managed to bag a three-pointer of their own on 23 minutes, when the poaching Patrick Chambers fired home from close-range. The once healthy home lead was now reduced to just three points, 3-3 to 1-6.

Things got even better for the West Mayo outfit on 29 minutes when they were awarded a penalty themselves, for what appeared to be a pick off the ground in the small square by the under-pressure Brian Holleran, and after Rehill’s subsequent strike rustled the back of the net, the sides were level at 3-3 to 2-6.

Despite seeing their commanding advantage reeled in, The Neale had the final say of the first-half and a tidy point from Lydon on the stroke of half-time ensured a slender 3-4 to 2-6 lead for Donal Costello’s charges.

The Neale’s half-time pep-talk worked wonders and early second-half points from Paraic Walsh and Dylan Keane, a sky-scraper, were boosted significantly on 36 minutes. A peach of a cross-field ball from Sean Cosgrove was collected by Conroy and the latter darted towards goal and finished with aplomb to register his hat-trick of goals.

However, the dingdong nature of the tie continued and Burrishoole’s Jason Doherty plundered a goal on 39 minutes, with singles by his teammates Joe McLoughlin and Rehill, a free, reducing the home side’s advantage to a single point after 45 minutes, 4-6 to 3-8.

The Neale didn’t panic and a marvellous long-range point from Lydon on 47 minutes signalled a crucial period of dominance by the South Mayo men.

A flurry of points from Paraic Walsh, a free from an acute angle, Robbie Hughes, and Lydon, four, including three frees, helped muster a vital 4-13 to 3-9 advantage for The Neale after 59 minutes. Indeed, Lydon’s points during that aforementioned period of dominance by The Neale were superb, as the full-forward fired over some marvellous long-range efforts, much to the delight of the home supporters.

Burrishoole’s outstanding full-forward Rehill managed to crash home a goal on 60 minutes but it would prove to be a mere consolation effort, as The Neale claimed the spoils to reignite their championship campaign.

The players to shine for The Neale on the day were Killian McHugh, Paraic Walsh, Steven Conroy, Tommy Conroy and Tom Lydon. Whilst for Burrishoole, Colm Guilfoyle, Patrick Chambers, Jason Doherty and Adam Rehill all impressed.

Scorers – The Neale- Tommy Conroy 3-1, Tom Lydon 1-6 (0-3f), Paraic Walsh 0-3 (1f), Sean Cosgrove (f), Dylan Keane, Robbie Hughes, Joe McLoughlin (own-point) 0-1 each.

Burrishoole- Adam Rehill 2-5 (1-0pen, 0-4f), Patrick Chambers 1-1, Jason Doherty 1-0, Fintan McManamon 0-2 (both frees), Joe McLoughlin 0-1.

The Neale: Keith Hennelly; David Morrin, Dan Kelly, David McGrath; Ronan Hughes, Killian McHugh, Harry Costello; Michael Varley, Paraic Walsh; Sean Cosgrove, Tommy Conroy, Steven Conroy; Dylan Keane, Tom Lydon, Robbie Hughes. Subs: Brian Holleran (for McHugh 28), Jamie Kelly (for Cosgrove 41), McHugh (for Holleran 43), Adam Flynn (for Keane 60+1).

Burrishoole: Eoin Mullarkey; Charlie Brown, Aaron McDermott, James Keane; David Nevin, Colm Guilfoyle, Paddy Cannon; Joe McLoughlin, Jack Walsh; Darragh McNulty, Fintan McManamon, Patrick Chambers; Jason Doherty, Adam Rehill, James McManamon. Subs: Alan Ryder (for McNulty 41), John Sammon (for Walsh 51), Adrian McManamon (for Ryder 58), Ryder (for McLoughlin 60+1).

REF: Michael Daly (Ballyhaunis)