Hollymount-Carramore hold off late Westport rally for league triumph

AbbVie Mayo SFL Division 6 Final 

Hollymount-Carramore ‘B’ 2-6 

Westport ‘C’ 0-11 

Stuart Tynan at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park

Hollymount-Carramore ‘B’ survived a late rally from Westport ‘C’ as the men from ’The Saucer’ claimed the Division 6 title last Sunday in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.

With only two points between the teams after a nervy second half, Hollymount-Carramore had chances to put the game to bed. Richie Bell saw a shot on goal denied by Malachi Forde while a point attempt by Matthew Saunders to open a two-point gap in added time came back off the post.

Robert Molloy did split the posts second later but Westport, playing against the breeze, needed a goal to win to steal it from underneath the noses of Holly-Carra. A chance fell to Ray Walsh after he was played in by Liam Shevlin, but he blasted his effort over the bar, and the restart saw referee Vincent Tomas end proceedings as the South Mayo side could begin their celebrations.

Westport made the wind their friend in the first half and led 0-4 to 0-1 after seven minutes through a two-point effort from Caolan O’Brien and singles from Cian Mulchrone and Rossa McAllister. But Hollymount-Carramore were level six minutes later as a well-worked move involving Aodh Murphy and Kevin Feerick was finished by captain Sam Connelly.

John Grady and Oisin Moran, a free, nudged Westport back in front but Hollymount-Carramore rifled home a second goal on 27 minutes. Conor Kelly slipped Doug Healy in, and the midfielder rifled the ball home.

Almost immediately at the other end, Healy was the hero again, this time denying Westport’s Rossa McAllister a goal thanks to a brilliant block, but the West Mayo men would leave the sides level at the break through a second Oisin Moran free.

Scores were at a premium int he second half for both, with Westport’s accuracy letting them down in particular as they failed to score in the third quarter. Molloy put Hollymount-Carramore back in front before a crucial moment arrived on 36 minutes. John Grady was in on goal for Westport but another brilliant block, this time by Barry Sheridan, denied the men in blue.

A JJ Connelly free on 43 minutes edged Hollymount-Carramore further in front but they were struggling to retain possession as Westport came at them in droves. A pair of frees by John Grady has Westport back on level terms but Kevin Feerick’s monster two-pointer for Hollymount-Carramore was a huge score against the run of play.

McAllister left a point between them on 56 minutes but while Hollymount-Carramore saw a pair of chances to finish Westport off go to waste, Molloy’s third point of the day would be enough to see Hollymount-Carramore but not without a late scare in the final action of the game.

Scorers - Hollymount-Carramore: Sam Connelly and Doug Healy 1-0-0 each, Robert Molloy 0-0-3, Kevin Feerick 0-1-0, JJ Connelly 0-0-1f.

Westport: John Grady 0-0-3 (3f), Caolan O’Brien 0-1-0, Oisin Moran (2f) and Ross McAllister 0-0-2 each, Cian Mulchrone and Ray Walsh 0-0-1 each.

Hollymount-Carramore: Rian Gilligan; Aodh Murphy, Sam Connelly, Adam Molloy; Padraig Feerick, Barry Sheridan, Conor Geraghty; Mike Sheridan, Doug Healy; JJ Connelly, Kevin Feerick, Jamie Walsh; Dylan Mallon, Robert Molloy, Jamie Walsh. Subs: Damien Kelly and Declan Feerick (for Kelly and Healy 38), Matthew Saunders (for Walsh 45), Richie Bell and Ben Sheridan (for Mallon and Murphy 56).

Westport: Malachi Forde; Martin Dunne, Eoghan Canavan, Cillian McKeown; Tim Carty, Josh Lally, Nathan Hoban; Caolan O’Brien, Cian Mulchrone; Tom McGeogh, John Grady, Ray Walsh; Oisin Moran, Rossa McAllister, Fionn O’Hora. Subs: James Noonan (for Hoban ht), Liam Shevlin (for Moran 38).

REF: Vincent Tomas (Ballycastle).