Islandeady Kil’ hopes in straight shootout
Islandeady's Darragh O'Malley competes against Kilmaine's Matthew Keady and Finn O'Loughlin during Saturday's winner-takes-all clash in Cong. Picture: Conor McKeown
Islandeady booked their spot in the Mayo IFC quarter-finals following an excellent performance in their win against Kilmaine last Saturday afternoon.
With Ardnaree Sarsfields already guaranteed to top Group 4 and Kiltimagh in the relegation playoff, both sides were safe of their status for another year – so this was shootout to see who joined Ardnaree in the last eight.
Kilmaine only needed a draw due to their superior points difference but aside from Adam Barrett and Hugh O’Loughlin, too many players from the South Mayo side were off-colour as they saw their year conclude in rather a limp fashion despite a late rally.
Islandeady looked hungrier and played with a greater intensity. Zac Collins and Darragh Joyce did the damage in the attack but also came up with some big turnovers while Levi Barrett, Ryan McNamara, Peter Gordon and Peter Collins all provided assured displays in one of the club’s best performances at this level in recent years.
Despite playing against the breeze, Kilmaine led 0-4 to 0-2 after 13 minutes thanks to Rory Barrett, Naoise Burke, Adam Barrett and Luke Muniz. Islandeady’s score came from a wonderful two-pointer off the outside of Levi Barrett’s right boot but even though they were behind, the momentum was quickly going in their favour.
The Islandeady response would be 1-6 without reply as they took control. Cailin Joyce, Levi Barrett and a two-pointer from Darragh Joyce put them in front before a brilliant ball by Barrett was flicked on by Zac Collins into the path of McNamara, who rifled home their first major of the day.
Rory Barrett and Hugh O’Loughlin responded for Kilmaine but they were soon hit by a second Islandeady goal. Levi Barrett’s two-point attempt came back off the crossbar and was not dealt with by the Kilmaine goalkeeper, leaving Zac Collins to accept the gift as the West Mayo side led 2-8 to 0-7 at half-time.
Kilmaine had the wind at their backs for the second-half, but Islandeady had stretched their lead to eight by the 40th minute thanks to Darragh Joyce, Jack Carney and Zac Collins, the latter’s point coming from a turnover.
The Green and Red’s response came through a pair of Adam Barrett singles before Barrett, who had been involved with the Mayo senior panel earlier this year, brought it back to six with a two-point free. Kilmaine were then presented with a golden opportunity to half the deficit. A short Islandeady kickout was intercepted by Micheál Hession and he barrelled down on goal. To Bryan O’Flaherty’s credit, he drove Hession out wide before his shot was cleared off the line by Peter Gordon.
The gap would remain at six going into the final two minutes of normal time as points from O’Loughlin, Barrett and Darren Munroe were cancelled out by two singles from Zac Collins and a Darragh Joyce free, but the game would take a dramatic turn as Islandeady were reduced to 14 men for the remainder of the game after a black card for Ryan McNamara on 59 minutes.
Two minutes later, Kilmaine were awarded a penalty after Kevin Mullin was hauled down, and Barrett converted the spot kick. But from the restart, O’Flaherty picked out substitute Seamie Lally, who ran from the middle of the field to the 20-metre line, before setting up Darragh Joyce to palm into the net to seal Islandeady’s progress, with another Barrett two-point free proving too little too late.
Scorers – Islandeady: Zac Collins and Darragh Joyce (1f) 1-1-2 each, Ryan McNamara 1-0-1, Levi Barrett 0-1-1, Cailin Joyce and Jack Carney 0-0-1 each.
Kilmaine: Adam Barrett 1-2-4 (1-0pen, 2tpf, 2f), Hugh O’Loughlin 0-0-3, Rory Barrett 0-0-2, Naoise Burke, Luke Muniz and Darren Munroe 0-0-1 each.
Islandeady: Bryan O’Flaherty; Jack Carney, Peter Gordon, Ciaran Burke; Andrew Gallagher, Ryan McNamara, Liam Coyne; Peter Collins, Darragh O’Malley; Levi Barrett, Zac Collins, Cailin Joyce; Sean Collins, Darragh Joyce, Brendan Gibbons. Subs: Seamie Lally (for O’Malley 44), Mark Kerby (for C Joyce 55).
Kilmaine: Adam Keady; Darragh Acton, David Hughes, Naoise Burke; Darren Munroe, Kyle Munore, Luke Muniz; Matthew Keady, Hugh O’Loughlin; Rory Barrett, Adam Barrett, Kevin Mullin; Micheál Hession, Cathal Murphy, Tom Moran. Subs: Finn O’Loughlin (for Moran 41), Tomas Fahey (for Murphy 44), Conor Flannery (for Hession 55).
REF: John Glavey (Aghamore)
