Knockmore Beirne-d down in extra-time by Claremorris
Conor Diskin, Claremorris, is surrounded by Knockmore players during the Connacht Gold Mayo Primary Junior A Football Championship final at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, last Saturday night. Picture: David Farrell Photography
Claremorris are the Primary Junior A champions after their forward Adam Beirne took this game by the scruff of the neck late on, scoring 2-3 in extra time to secure victory.
It was a frustrating game for both sides with Knockmore hitting 15 wides from beginning to end and Claremorris spurning a number of goal chances.
The first half was a real slow-burner and both struggled to get going. Knockmore’s Declan Melvin put them ahead on four minutes and Stephen McGreal responded instantly for Claremorris. Charlie Bourke then put Knockmore ahead before the opposition took the next three unanswered through McGreal, Cathal Joyce and an Adam Beirne mark. Nathan Hardy and Fergal Keane replied to send the sides in level.
Bourke and Darragh Staunton fired Knockmore ahead before Joyce drew Claremorris level with a brace. Caolan Hopkins came off the bench and put the Parish of the Backs in front, scoring 30 seconds after coming on. Claremorris’ Matthew McCormack had a point-blank range shot saved well and then Adam Vahey leveled the game with a point.
Bourke and Hopkins fired over next for Knockmore and they looked in control coming down the closing stretch. Dylan Coleman came off the bench and hit two points, each one a reply to efforts from Cathal Joyce and Craig Cassidy.
Claremorris were not dead and buried and brought themselves to within a point thanks to Johnny Cummins, who fired over from close range after Brendan Walsh’s goal bound effort was blocked. About 35 metres out from goal, Brian Quinn called a mark with injury-time up. He remained cool and composed to pop the ball over the bar.
First half extra time mirrored the first of normal time in that both teams were slow to get going. Adam Beirne and Adam Battle scored for their respective teams to keep things level. Fatigue looked to be setting in for both sets of players but Beirne found a second wind for Claremorris.
Oran McNulty put them ahead 30 seconds into second half extra time before Beirne added another 40 seconds later. Beirne struck a point again to make it a three-point lead. Then Johnny Cummins found Beirne in space and he remained composed to apply the finish.
Knockmore were not out of it yet and Peter Naughton replied with a brilliant goal. Staring down the Claremorris blockade set up in the square, he went left, he went right, he went left again and smashed the ball into the net with his left boot.
Tadhg Staunton then sent a ball into dangerous territory from deep and every member of the Claremorris squad, management team and supporters let out a sigh of relief as it bounced over the bar. Up the other end, Adam Beirne put paid to any talk of penalties as he rounded the keeper and put the ball in the net once more.
