Second-half surge from Moysiders sends them through
Moy Davitts’ Brian Heneghan scored 1-2 in their win over Hollymount-Carramore. Picture: David Farrell Photography
If ever proof was needed of the old adage “a game of two halves,” Sunday’s clash in ‘The Saucer’ provided it in abundance.
Both teams came into this encounter off the back of opening round victories and understood that a win would all but secure a quarter-final berth entering the final round.
It was the home side who set the early pace, racing into a three-point lead thanks to scores from Tom Morris, Tiernan Egan and the lively Matthew Morris. It took Moy Davitts almost ten minutes to get off the mark through a Cian McHale free, quickly followed by a Conor Reid effort.
Moy Davitts were finding great difficulty in breaching the home sides rearguard and were continuously turned over in the early proceedings through the hard-working Stephen Coen, Enda Maloney and Oisin Duffy.
The teams were level at 0-4 apiece after the opening quarter, but Hollymount-Carramore finished the half strongly. Points from Tom Morris, Matthew Morris and a Conor Heneghan free opened up some daylight before a decisive moment arrived just before the break. Matthew Morris, who had been at the heart of much of Hollymount’s best play, offloaded to Brian Maloney who palmed to the net. Two further scores before the whistle left Hollymount-Carramore firmly in control at 1-9 to 0-4 at half time.
Serious questions were being asked of Moy Davitts’ credentials, but they answered emphatically after the restart. Within three minutes, scores from Cian McHale, Colin McHale and a brace from Brian Heneghan cut the deficit to just four.
A Conor Heneghan ’45 and a fine effort from wing-back Enda Maloney briefly steadied the Hollymount Carramore ship, but from the 40th minute onwards Moy Davitts took complete control. A blistering spell of 1-5 without reply turned the game on its head, with scores from Cian McHale, Brian Reape, Ronan Clarke and a superb David Byrne goal.
Brian Heneghan struck for Moy Davitts’ second goal to effectively seal the contest, though Tom Morris did raise a late green flag for the home side.
Hollymount-Carramore will have serious regrets over their game management in the third quarter having established a healthy eight-point lead at the short whistle but nonetheless were powerless to stop a Moy Davitts juggernaut that simply did not let up.
In the end, Moy Davitts’ firepower proved decisive as they ran out four-point winners, booking their place in the last eight. For Hollymount-Carramore, it now comes down to a straight shootout with Kilmaine for a quarter-final spot.
Mark Concannon will no doubt take solace in his sides first half display and their ability to cause the East Mayo side plenty of concern for long periods; however, he will also be acutely aware it won’t count for much if they don’t emerge victorious against Kilmaine in the final round.
