Parke pack a knockout punch with stirring comeback

Homeland Minor ‘B’ Football Championship Final 

Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin 0-12 

Sarsfields Shamrocks 0-11 

Maggie Chambers at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park

A superb second-half comeback by Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin last Wednesday evening meant that the Black and Amber left Castlebar with the Michael Waldron Cup, after they defeated the amalgamated side from Charlestown Sarsfields and Kilmovee Shamrocks – scoring the final five points of the game to win by one.

The near galeforce wind in Castlebar dictated play, as Sarsfields Shamrocks, who had it at their backs in the opening half, had opened up a four points lead at the interval, but Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin used it to their advantage in the second period, and a point in the 61st minute sealed the victory.

The first point of the evening came with 50 seconds played, as Peter Horan kicked a brilliant free. Horan started as he meant to go on and across the 60 minutes the Kilmovee man kicked a whopping nine points, including four from play.

With only four minutes played he kicked his second point of the day whereas Parke were struggling to breakdown the Sarsfields Shamrocks defence, with former Mayo minor Colm Lynch being tightly marked by Liam Boyle and the East Mayo side also dropping an extra man into their defence.

The Black and Amber got their first score in the fifth minute, through a free from Evan Walsh. However, Sarsfields Shamrocks quickly responded, with Peter Horan kicking two sensational frees to give his side a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 10 minutes.

The teams then exchanged scores through a second for Parke’s Evan Walsh before Paddy Joe Dunleavy hit one from distance.

With 18 minutes played, Peter Horan stepped up again to hit an outside of the boot beauty. Sarsfields Shamrocks used the wind to their advantage, playing long balls into the full-forward line whenever possible.

Both teams continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over, with former Mayo minor Dara Neary standing out for Parke, but as the half-time whistle sounded it was Sarsfields Shamrocks who owned the scoreboard with a 0-9 to 0-5 advantage.

The second-half began as a lower scoring affair and by the 50th minute the teams had only kicked two points apiece. However, with 10 minutes remaining, and a championship title on the line, Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin found an extra gear. Colm Lynch began the comeback with an excellent point and on 55 minutes, Parke wing-back Matthew Kelly made a brilliant run up the field to get his first score of the day. It was an important one, as the gap was now closed to two points.

With five minutes left on the clock, Alan Lynskey's side was applying mountains of pressure on the Sarsfields Shamrocks kickouts, and it was paying off. Dara Neary reduced the deficit to one point Colm Lynch levelled the game in the 57th minute.

The West Mayo boys did not stop there; a stunning stoppage time strike from Dara Neary had Parke supporters on their feet, as it meant their side led for the first time throughout the 60 minutes, and that the Minor ‘B’ title would be heading home to the club grounds in Turlough.

Scorers – Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin; Dara Neary 0-5 (2f), Evan Walsh 0-3 (2f), Colm Lynch 0-2, Lucas Kenny and Matthew Kelly 0-1 each.

Sarsfields Shamrocks; Peter Horan 0-9 (5f), Paddy Joe Dunleavy and Cian Towey 0-1 each.

Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin: Dominic Dunne; Andrew Geraghty, Jack Rava, Cormac Cronin; Matthew Kelly, Lucas Kenny, Paul Hurst, Dylan Carroll, Ruairi Kelly; Peter Lynskey, Dara Neary, Evan Walsh; Sean Cosgrove, Colm Lynch, Mark Bolger. Sub: Morgan Neary (for Bolger 53).

Sarsfields Shamrocks: Luke Bourke; Evan Gavaghan, Liam Boyle, Liam Frain; Paddy Joe Dunlveavy, Tadgh Horkan, Dean O’Toole; Oran Frain, Christian McEntire; Oisin Duffy, Declan Duffy, Oisin Maloney; Cian Towey, Eoin Murphy, Peter Horan. Subs: Darragh Towey (for Maloney 39), Ryan McDonagh (for Gavaghan 53), Craig Buckley (for Murphy).

REF: Declan O’Boyle (Ardagh)