Knockmore bounce back in style with big win in Ballaghaderreen
Knockmore’s Pearse Ruttledge is tackled by Ballaghaderreen’s Matthew Connor as his teammate Luke O’Grady awaits the outcome during the Connacht Gold Mayo SFC tie in Ballaghaderreen last Saturday evening. Picture: David Farrell Photography
Two teams who both lost first time out met in Ballaghaderreen on Saturday night and it was Knockmore who responded in decisive fashion.
Ray Dempsey’s side played like men with a point to prove after their opening round loss against Belmullet and they were exceptional at times in this game. Ballaghaderreen, though, looked a long way off that level and were far too reliant on Kuba Callaghan in attack.
It was a long way removed from the clash between the clubs at the same venue two years ago when Ballagh’ pulled off an upset.
This game was as good as done by half-time when Knockmore took an 11-point lead in at the break. It was hard to see that happening after a first quarter where the visitors failed to score.
Ballagh’ had plenty of ball in the first quarter but only one point to show for it themselves, a Kuba Callaghan point from play after nine minutes. It wasn’t until Ollie Armstrong pointed after 15 minutes that Knockmore were off the mark, but it sparked an exceptional 14-minute period where they scored 1-11 without reply.
The platform was laid at midfield where four big units in Darragh Staunton, Connell Dempsey, Tom Clarke and Ollie Armstrong dominated. They put Jamie Lunt’s kickouts under savage pressure while Colm Reape’s restarts at the other end were immaculate throughout.
Add to that their physicality around the loose ball – Knockmore were very strong in the tackle and if a ball went loose, there were invariably more Knockmore jerseys pouncing.
They played with serious intent with the ball too, kicking long as often as it was on and linking superbly through the hands also.
Connell Dempsey followed up Armstrong’s opening point with a fine two-pointer from the right wing. More scores followed from Peter Naughton (four), Dempsey (a two-pointer and a single), an Aidan Orme slicer and a well-taken goal from Adam Naughton.
Ballagh’ ended a 21-minute scoreless drought on 30 minutes when Kuba Callaghan converted a two-point free. It was telling that came after referee Jerome Henry brought the ball forward 50 metres after Knockmore fouled after the whistle – Ballagh’ didn’t look like launching an attack any other way.
Rapid second half points from Pearse Ruttledge and Peter Naughton, the former after a superb 60 metre pass from Colm Reape, appeared to confirm the inevitable. There was a chink of hope for Ballagh’ when they got their goal in the 35th minute. David McBrien drove through the defence and squared to Callaghan who finished well but the gap never came within ten.
Knockmore didn’t let up with sub’ Caolan Hopkins coming on to score four points while Peter Naughton and Aidan Orme kept the scoreboard ticking too.
The day went from bad to worse for Ballagh’ when their talisman Kuba Callaghan was shown a straight red card by Jerome Henry on the advice of the linesman John Brennan for striking.
Ballagh’ kicked two late two-pointers from Ryan Lynch and Luke O’Grady to take the bare look off the score but the reality was they only raised flags on seven occasions. They look like they are heading towards the relegation play-offs.
Knockmore had no such limitations. And the biggest cheer of the day came on 60 minutes when Darren McHale, whose season has been blighted by injury, came on.
Last year’s semi-finalists haven’t gone away.
Scorers – Knockmore: Peter Naughton 0-0-7 (4f), Connell Dempsey 0-2-2, Aidan Orme and Caolan Hopkins 0-0-4 (1f) each, Adam Naughton 1-0-0, Ollie Armstrong, Pearse Ruttledge and Kieran King 0-0-1 each.
Ballaghaderreen: Kuba Callaghan 1-1-1 (1tpf), Ryan Lynch and Luke O’Grady 0-1-0 each, Aaron Duffy and Arainn McDermott 0-0-1 each.
Knockmore: Colm Reape; Nathan Armstrong, David McHale, Kieran King; Conor Breslin, Shane McHale, Tom Clarke; Darragh Staunton, Connell Dempsey; Pearse Ruttledge, Aidan Orme, Ollie Armstrong; Charlie Bourke, Peter Naughton, Adam Naughton.
Subs: Caolan Hopkins (for Bourke 38), Keith Ruttledge (for Clarke 52), Daniel Breslin and Luke Kelly (for P Naughton and N Armstrong 58), Darren McHale (for P Ruttledge 61).
Ballaghaderreen: Jamie Lunt; Aaron Lynch, Séamus Cunniffe, Domhnall Forrest; David Drake, David McBrien, Aaron Duffy; Ryan Lynch, Darragh Kelly; Seán Buckley, Conor Moriarty, Luke O’Grady; Callum Coleman, Kuba Callaghan, John Higgins.
Subs: Daniel Hanley (for A Lynch 28), Arainn McDermott (for Higgins 35), James Puncheon (for Kelly 52).
REF: Jerome Henry (Castlebar Mitchels)
