Second half goals gives champions statement win
Knockmore's Nina McVann breaks forward against Burrishoole. Picture: Conor McKeown
Knockmore claimed victory in a highly anticipated clash of football which lived up to expectation with a large crowd and three yellow cards across the 60 minutes of football.
The North Mayo side, who won the Division One League title earlier on this year in the same fixture, proved why they are the reigning champions after putting in a superb second half shift to secure the three points The visitors kicked the first point just before the three-minute mark through Ciara Durkan. Burrishoole were quick to respond as Maria Cannon used her pace to break through the Knockmore defence on two occasions, kicking two excellent points, before Lara Sweeney did manage to point from a free to level the game in the eighth minute.
The reigning champions were playing some good football, displaying a seamless transition from defence to attack, but it was Burrishoole who were finding the scores. Maria Cannon pointed once again before Burrishoole were dealt a significant blow on 18 minutes as midfielder Sarah Baynes was shown a yellow card.
This could have been detrimental for the home side, but they played the period of ten minutes to perfection. The teams exchanged points before Leona Ryder and Ava Palasz kicked their first of the day to give Burrishoole a three-point lead. As soon as Burrishoole were back to 15 players on the pitch, Knockmore were reduced to 14 when Sweeney was shown a yellow card with 29 minutes on the clock after a dangerous tackle. Tensions were high as the half-time whistle sounded, the scoreboard reading 0-6 to 0-3 in favour of Burrishoole but there was a big second half in store.
After the sides exchanged free, Maria Cannon pointed again before the tide turned. Shauna Howley was bearing down on goal before she was brought down inside the box and awarded a penalty and the Mayo star slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Howley, who had been kept quiet by Clodagh McManamon in the opening period, came to life and scored two points on the bounce, while Amy O’Connor scored one, to put the champions two up. Cannon reduced the deficit to one before the visitors raised the green flag for a second time. Lara Sweeney saw her attempt on goal saved by Lauren McLoughlin, but Clodagh Keane was alert to the rebound and fired the ball home.
Despite the best efforts of Burrishoole, particularly Cannon who kicked three points in the remaining minutes, the home side were unable to claw back the game. Knockmore, led by the likes of Mia Traynor and captain Sarah Mulvihill, played some excellent football, while Shauna Howley and Amy O’Connor added a point each to their team's tally. Roisin Flynn was shown a yellow card in the 61st minute, but Knockmore had done enough to secure the victory and confirm themselves as one of the favorites to lift the cup this year.
