Louis go doo-Lally as Kilmaine set up huge South Mayo showdown
Louisburgh goalkeeper Matthew Kilcoyne dives the correct side but can’t stop Adam Barrett converting his penalty for Kilmaine. Picture: John Corless
On what was a poignant afternoon in Kilmaine last Saturday, the men in green and red got their championship hopes back on track with an excellent victory over Louisburgh.
Exactly ten years to the day after the tragic passing of clubman and former All-Ireland minor winner Darragh Doherty, Kilmaine put on a scoring clinic that the late forward would have been proud of. Adam Barrett was the star of the show, shooting 1-11, while Kevin Mullin and Luke Muniz also dazzled as the South Mayo side were too strong, even without the injured Hugh O’Loughlin.
Yet it all started so well for the visitors. Basil McLeod made a great run and fired into the net for the opening score of the game on two minutes. Adam Barrett kicked a pair of two-pointers, the first a free, to put Kilmaine ahead before Edward levelled the game on eight minutes.
Dylan Prendergast, Louisburgh’s brightest performer on the day, kicked a two-point free and then a single placed ball to edge them in front but Kilmaine ramped up their attacking threat as Muniz, Adam Barrett, Kevin Mullin and Rory Barrett all combined for six unanswered points. The second point for Muniz could have been more his strike was directed over the bar from a fabulous save by Matthew Kilcoyne.
The final three minutes of the first half would dictate how the second played. Oisin Lally struck a two-pointer, but his moment of brilliance was followed by a moment of madness a minute after scoring. A strike out at Adam Barrett meant the referee had no option but to show a straight red card. On the cusp of the interval, Kilmaine were awarded a penalty after Adam Barrett was brought down, and Barrett made no mistake in placing his effort into the bottom corner.
Louisburgh did get the first two points of the second half through another Dylan Prendergast free and a point from play by Edward Ball, but the spaces began to open up for Alan Burke’s men. Kyle Munroe had the goal at his mercy, but he went for placement instead of power and his shot was easily blocked by Alfie Morrison.
Mullin and Muniz extended their lead further before the game was put to bed by a wonderful Kevin Mullin goal, who ran 50 metres before firing past Kilcoyne.
Louisburgh battled to the bitter end and Dylan Prendergast, Basil McLeod and Cian O’Malley (two, one free) got their final scores, but Kilmaine finished with a flurry through Mullin, Muniz Finn O’Loughlin, Adam Barrett and Evan Heraty to run out sixteen-point winners.
That could now prove crucial. Kilmaine can join Moy Davitts in the quarter-finals should they avoid defeat to Hollymount-Carramore in the final group game as a result of their superior scoring difference.
