Gaels are unable to blow Lahardane boys off the title course

Mayo JFC ‘A’ Semi-Final 

Lahardane MacHales 1-12 

Eastern Gaels 1-9 

Lahardane will be delighted to have booked their place in the showpiece game of the junior ‘A’ championship, but their passage was anything but smooth as there was strong resistance from an Eastern Gaels side who just refused to fade away. There was ebb and flow to Saturday’s clash in Foxford and while Lahardane always seemed the stronger of the two sides, the scoreline reflects a well-fought contest.

Lahardane started the quickest in a game that took a while to get going, the first five minutes only producing two points from James Maughan frees, both close and central to goal. Five minutes later, Eastern Gaels captain Joe Boyle replied with a free of his own, but Lahardane really began to take control.

Shane Loftus had a bit of space out on the right wing and lamped a ball in on the turn that hung up in the air, just waiting to be met. Met it was, with James Maughan punching towards the goal from inside a crowded Gaels area, and although his effort came back off the crossbar, Matthew Maughan reacted quicker than the Gaels defence to fire into an open net.

Another James Maughan free and a Mark Noone point from play set Lahardane on the right track.

Eastern Gaels did reply in a big way though, cutting the lead back to three points after Ethan Owens punched a goal from a ball fisted across the box after a swift counterattack from their own half. Dean Lyons added to that goal with a lovely curling point from the left wing.

Lahardane’s Kyran Jordan got his first point when he doggedly got through two tackles on a diagonal run from the right, turning to his left and sending the ball high and over off his left boot having made his way to a central area.

Poor short kickouts at either end saw both result in points for the opposition, with Evan Godfrey scoring from a free for Gaels which was followed by an Adrian Leonard score from play for Lahardane. The half would end with Lahardane ahead by two.

James Maughan picked up where he left off when winning possession on the left wing and curling over a 20-metre point off his right foot. Joe Boyle’s first from play negated that but matters weren’t helped when Eastern Gaels defender Luke Mannion received a black card in the 38th minute. Lahardane made the most of their numerical advantage when Matthew Maughan put the finishing touch to a series of quick handpasses between the forwards, getting his first score from play, before Shane Loftus pointed a close range free won by Mark Noone.

The Nephin outfit could have sealed their victory midway through the half when a push in the back on Matthew Maughan won them a penalty, but as was Eastern Gaels attitude all game it would not be that easy; James Maughan’s powerful spot kick was well-saved by Ronan Forde down to his right.

Boyle’s third free of the game made it nervy again but points from Matthew and James Maughan took the edge off Lahardane’s worries. Eastern Gaels had another free sail over courtesy of Boyle, this time a central 20-metre effort, as Evan Godfrey also doubled up on frees for the day. But Mark Noone led a late Lahardane counterattack to seal the win, being dragged down for Maughan to point the free.

Shane Glynn’s late point meant little for the Gaels and Lahardane held on to secure a final showdown with Shrule/Glencorrib.

Scorers — Lahardane: James Maughan 0-6 (5f), Matthew Maughan 1-2, Adrian Leonard, Mark Noone, Shane Loftus and Kyran Jordan 0-1 each.

Eastern Gaels: Joe Boyle 0-5 (4f), Ethan Owens 1-0, Evan Godfrey 0-2f, Dean Lyons 0-1.

Lahardane: Joe Queenan; Barry Leonard, Cathal Finnerty, Kieran Lynn; Aaron Murphy, Jairlath Maughan, Aodan Cronin; Kyran Jordan, Darragh Walsh; Shane Loftus, James Maughan, Mark Noone; Matthew Maughan, Adrian Leonard, Shane Finnerty. Subs: Benny Joyce, Jack O’Shea, Jack McHale.

Eastern Gaels: Ronan Forde; Nathan McGarry, Darren Concannon, Ethan Owens; Henry Concannon, Luke Mannion, Brian Kelly; Joe Boyle, Evan Godfrey; Michael Finnegan, Dean Lyons, Jack Madden; Dean McGarry, Shane Glynn, Michael McGarry. Subs: Jack Ronayne, Ciaran Kelly, Paul O’Gara.

REF: Neil Cooney (Achill)