No silverware for Mayo clubs at Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta

There was no joy for the Mayo sides in action at the Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta in Ráth Chairn, Co Meath last weekend, as Cill Chomáin and Béal an Mhuirthead failed to return home with silverware.

Béal an Mhuirthead had two teams in action, with their men’s footballers involved in the senior competition and their ladies footballers fielding in the junior grade.

Their quarter-final ties formed part of a triple header in Dunderry on Saturday, with both teams facing Galway side An Spidéal in last-eight encounters.

In the senior men’s tie, Béal an Mhuirthead were unlucky to lose out following an entertaining encounter which ended in a 1-16 to 3-6 win for the Connemara side.

An Spideal led by 1-12 to 1-1 at half-time and continued to impress in the second-half. However, a black card for their goalkeeper Manus Breathnach saw Béal an Mhuirthead take advantage, registering two second-half goals. But An Spidéal held out for a four-point win.

Earlier in the afternoon, the Béal an Mhuirthead ladies were also in fine goal-scoring form, and had enough to account for An Spidéal by 3-7 to 1-6. Béal an Mhuirthead signalled their intent from the off and were full value for a 2-5 to 0-2 half-time lead.

Although they only travelled with nineteen players they certainly proved their worth. Laura Nic Hale and Caitriona Bairead found the net in the opening half, with Nic Hale registering 1-3 and Bairead adding 1-1 before the break.

An Spidéal worked hard on the restart to cut the gap, with just three points separating the sides late in this contest. However, Beal an Mhuirthead finished strongly with Nic Hale grabbing her second goal late on to ensure a seven-point victory.

This win ensured Béal an Mhuirthead advanced to a semi-final on Sunday afternoon against Wolfe Tones from Meath, who had a comprehensive 4-16 to 0-4 win over Laochra Loch Lao from Belfast in their quarter-final. However, Béal an Mhuirthead’s involvement ended at the semi-final stage, following a 5-5 to 1-6 loss.

As they were in their quarter-final victory against Laochra Loch Lao, Wolfe Tones proved goal hungry in this last-four clash. The Meath side led by 2-4 to 0-4 at half-time, and were 4-5 to 1-6 ahead with five minutes remaining, before grabbing a fifth goal late on.

Meanwhile, Cill Chomáin men also advanced to a semi-final, but lost out in a last-four encounter in the junior competition. Cill Chomáin got their weekend off to a perfect start with a 2-15 to 2-4 quarter-final win over An tSean Phobail in Saturday’s quarter-final in Dunderry.

Sean Ó Murchú registered Cill Chomáin’s first-half goal, which helped his side to a 1-7 to 0-2 interval lead. Gary Ruddy also found the net five minutes into the second-half to help ensure a 2-8 to 0-2 advantage, and although An tSean Phobail hit the net twice, Cill Chomáin had done enough to advance.

This victory ensured a semi-final date with Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta 2025 hosts Clann na nGael on Sunday morning. The Ráth Chairn side entered the competition at the semi-final stage due to a bye being handed to the host club, and used their home advantage to full effect, recording a 3-12 to 1-11 win over Cill Chomáin.

‘Tús maith leath na hoibre’ – ‘a good start is half the battle’ and this certainly proved its worth for Clann na nGael as they made the most of the opening half, leading 2-7 to 0-3 at half-time, with Tomás Ó Duill and Ben Corkery registering their goals.

It could have been so different early on when Justin Healy had the ball in the back of the net for Cill Chomáin, but his three-point effort was disallowed in the fourth minute.

Clan na nGael raced out of the blocks and led by 0-3 to 0-0 after twelve minutes, before Healy opened Cill Chomáin’s account.

Clan na nGael exerted further misery early in the second-half when Josh Mac Craith completed their hat-trick just 20 seconds after half-time, but Cill Chomáin made a strong comeback.

Liam Maloney proved very effective from two-point efforts registering a brace back-to-back, while Daithi Walker was also in fine scoring form in the second-half. Walker converted a 55th minute penalty to leave the score at 3-11 to 1-9, and the centre-half forward added a point from a free soon after to cut the deficit to seven points with less than four minutes left on the clock. However, this was as good as it got for Cill Chomáin despite their best efforts late on.

Darren Kelly ensured a 3-12 to 1-10 lead for Clan na nGael, before Walker brought his tally to 1-3 for the half with a pointed free, but it was far too late.