Orme on form as Sarsfields suffer a Knock’ out

Mayo SFC Quarter-Final 

Knockmore 0-13 

Charlestown 0-9 

Nathan Guilfoyle in Canon Gibbons Park, Claremorris 

Aiden Orme was at his very best on Saturday, kicking three points and involved in everything that went right for Knockmore in their four points victory over a gallant Charlestown Sarsfields outfit.

This county senior quarter-final was an electrifying occasion. Played in torrential conditions in front of a massive crowd in Claremorris, Knockmore showed the class and resilience that all great champions possess.

Playing against an extremely strong breeze in the second-half, Aidan Kilcoyne and John Brogan’s men dug deep and ground out a well-earned spot in the semi-finals of the championship, as the team pursues its third senior title in four seasons.

In what turned into a breathtaking affair, Knockmore were able to find an extra gear in the final five minutes and see off an extremely impressive and heroic Charlestown side who simply gave it their all.

The favourites only led by two points with five minutes to go and it looked like the result could swing either way, but Knockmore’s old reliables were excellent when it mattered. The likes of Kevin McLoughlin, Aiden Orme, Peter Naughton and Darren McHale all stepped up when the game was firmly in the balance. Indeed it required late points from the aforementioned McLoughlin and Naughton, who kicked two in the final minutes, to finally put an end to what was a brilliant second-half Charlestown resurgence.

With fifteen minutes left in the game it had seemed that Charlestown might produce a brilliant shock in what was their first quarter-final appearance since 2014. Stephen Healy’s side, who trailed by five points at half-time, died with their boots on and showed outstanding heart and determination, with Paul Towey their star of the show. The Mayo ace kicked six wonderful points and whilst some of those were from frees, they were from acute angles and seemingly impossible distances.

Charlestown were hampered by a black card shown to substitute David Caffrey entering into the last ten minutes, which perhaps made their task slightly too much to overcome.

It was a game that seemed to be going as many had predicted it would when Knockmore raced into a 0-8 to 0-3 half-time lead. Playing with a slight breeze at their backs, the North Mayo side played some lovely football on a horrid day, and kicked some brilliant scores, with McLoughlin and Orme setting the tone with long distance efforts in the opening minutes.

Charlestown could not quite get going early on and only registered their first score at the end of the first quarter through a free from Paul Towey.

Knockmore enjoyed the majority of possession, and nudged further ahead through lovely scores from Connell Dempsey, Aiden Orme and Darren McHale.

Charlestown were to find some life up front however, and would reduce the gap to three with five minutes of the first-half to go through excellent points from Towey and former Mayo U20 captain Jack Mahon. Knockmore took advantage of a breeze that was picking up though, and were firmly in control at half-time after further scores from Orme and teenager Oliver Armstrong.

A perfect reaction came from Charlestown upon the restart. With improved energy, determination, and spirit, the East Mayo outfit would kick four points in-a-row to start the second-half in tremendous fashion; they were absolutely flying when after two super scores from play through Ruairi Cullen and Matthew Lenehan, Towey steadied the ship and reduced the gap to just a point with two expertly converted frees.

Playing against an extremely strong wind, Knockmore found it hard to get their efforts at the posts to even flirt with going over the bar, and their backs were thoroughly against the wall. They did register their first score of the half after thirteen minutes however, with Naughton converting a free from close range to stop the rot. Towey and Naughton would exchange further frees minutes later, leaving Knockmore two points up entering the final ten minutes.

After slack handling out the field from Charlestown, substitute David Caffrey took one for the team when pulling down Orme, after the forward had won possession with Charlestown goalkeeper Patrick Walsh having vacated his goal and joined the attack. Referee Garryowen McMahon was left with no choice but to black card Caffrey, and it looked to be a hammer blow to Charlestown’s hopes.

Naughton was automatic from dead balls, and nudged Knockmore ahead by three points. Towey would reduce the gap to two points with five minutes remaining but Knockmore always seemed to just have a small bit more in the tank, and pushed on further, After a beauty of a point by Kevin McLoughlin, Charlestown were three down and had to throw everything at Knockmore deep into stoppage time, however it was not to be. After a devastating counterattack, Darren McHale was fouled while through on goal, and Naughton made the margin four with the last kick of the game.

It was simply a breathtaking second-half for which both sides deserve credit, with Knockmore showing why they were the 2020 and 2021 champions, and Charlestown showing that they too may not be all that far away from achieving something special.

Scorers – Knockmore: Peter Naughton 0-4f, Aiden Orme 0-3 (2f), Darren McHale (1m) and Kevin McLoughlin 0-2 each, Connell Dempsey and Oliver Armstrong 0-1 each.

Charlestown: 0-6 (5f), Jack Mahon, Ruairi Cullen and Matthew Lenehan 0-1 each.

Knockmore: Colm Reape; Ollie Armstrong, Marcus Park, Adam Battle; Aaron Timlin, David McHale, Kieran King; Kevin McLoughlin, Shane McHale; Connell Dempsey, Darren McHale, Pearse Ruttledge; Aiden Orme, Peter Naughton, Caolan Hopkins. Subs used: Liam Durkan, Adam Naughton.

Charlestown: Patrick Walsh; Fergal Quinn, Enda McLoughlin, Jack Corley; Ben Conway, Gerry McLoughlin, Conor O’Donoghue; Gareth O’Donnell, Matthew Lenehan; Patrick Goldrick, Jack Mahon, Ruairí Cullen; Paul Towey, Patrick Lenehan, Joe McBrien. Subs used: David Caffrey, Alan Woods, Thomas Meehan.

REF: Garryowen McMahon (Davitts)