Late Ardagh winner sinks brave Killala comeback
Ardagh’s Brendan Carr scoring the winning point against Killala during the Treanlaur Catering Mayo JFC round 1 tie at Killala this evening. Picture: David Farrell Photography
In a nailbiting finale, Brendan Carr broke Killala hearts with a late point in injury time as Ardagh claimed victory in the opening game of the 2025 Mayo Club Championship.
It appeared at one stage that Ardagh were going to saunter to victory as they led by seven points with eight minutes played in the second half. But Killala reeled them in, with scorer-in-chief Ben Stowe kicking five of his nine points to draw them level going into added time. The hosts themselves had chances to win it but where they missed, Ardagh kept their nerve to claim the two points.
After Killala opened the scoring, Ardagh found the net on four minutes through Stephen Rochford after he fired home from close range when James Carr’s free came back off the post.
The home side were back level by the end of the first quarter through Matthew Long and a pair of Stowe frees but Ardagh were back in front through a trio of James Carr points. Ardagh extended their lead further before the break as Kevin Moran punished a three-up breach by Killala with a short free and Brendan Carr sent over his first point but Stowe kept Killala in touch before the interval.
Leading 1-6 to 0-6 at half-time, Ardagh scored four of the opening five points of the second half and it all appeared smooth sailing.
The black and green’s accuracy began to waver however, with three point attempts dropping short allowing Killala a way back into the contest. Two points from Matthew Long and five from Stowe, including a two-point free, drew Killala level but Ardagh, who had gone almost 26 minutes without a score and went down to 14 men after the dismissal of Owen Pritchett, got the decisive one to nick the win.
Scorers – Ardagh: James Carr 0-0-4 (2f), Stephen Rochford 1-0-0, Brendan Carr 0-0-3, Kevin Moran 0-0-2f, Enda O’Hora, Paddy Walsh and Sean Moore 0-0-1 each.
Killala: Ben Stowe 0-1-7 (1 tpf, 6f), Matthew Long 0-0-3, Ray Murphy and Sean Gildea 0-0-1 each.
Ardagh: Gary Kenny; Declan O’Boyle, Fionn Barrett, Liam Pritchett, Ruairi O’Boyle, Brendan Carr, Tom Varkonda; Sean Moore, Paddy Walsh; Adam Foody, James Carr, Daragh Gough; Enda O’Hora, Stephen Rochford, Owen Pritchett.
Killala: Andrew Farrell; Paddy Gough, Kevin Walsh, Michael Gough; Michael O’Hora, Conor Gilvarry, Cian Monaghan; Liam Maughan, James McLoughlin; Matthew Long, Ray Murphy, Michael Nealon; Sean Walsh, Ben Stowe, Sean Gildea. Subs: Andrew Newcombe (for M Gough 13 inj), Ronan Coyne (for Monaghan 14-18 temp), R Coyne (For P Gough 60+3 inj).
REF: Enda Nolan (Balla).
