Shamrocks are drenched as Burrishoole march on

Mayo LGFA Senior Championship – Group A – Round 3 

Burrishoole 2-8 

Kilmovee Shamrocks 2-6 

Anthony Hennigan in Canon Henry Park, Kilmovee 

The scenario was straightforward here; whoever won on Sunday morning would qualify for the quarter-finals of the Mayo LGFA Senior Championship. And despite what the scoreline might suggest, the result was never really in doubt.

In the context of a two points margin, storming into a 2-2 to no score lead inside five minutes of the throw-in was the winning of this game for Burrishoole, who bounced back superbly from their opening round defeat away to Knockmore to record back-to-back group wins over Hollymount and Sunday’s hosts Kilmovee Shamrocks.

To be fair, they were without current Mayo player Lucy Wallace and former Mayo player Ciara McManamon for that first round loss, and it’s no surprise the side’s upturn in fortunes coincided with the return of both. Wallace, operating at corner-back for the county this year but on the half-forward line for her club last Sunday, had the ball in the back of the home side’s net after only three minutes – and it was Ciara McManamon who gave her the pass.

Burrishoole’s reward is to play defending champions – and their West Mayo rivals – Westport in the county senior semi-final on Sunday, October 12. And whilst beaten, Kilmovee Shamrocks still have a Shield final to look forward to, as they finished third in the group table. Tantalisingly, their next door neighbours Charlestown Sarsfields will provide the opposition.

Shamrocks can take a fair amount of heart from the manner of their fightback against Burrishoole. They outscored the visitors 2-3 to 0-2 in the second-half and will wonder what might have developed had an additional couple of minutes been played after Sinead Cafferky’s stoppage time goal had narrowed their arrears to two points.

The weather was almost as poor as it was for the Round 1 fixtures a fortnight earlier, with incessant downpours leaving the handling of ball akin to predicting the lotto numbers. But Burrishoole adapted quicker to the unfavourable conditions and laid down several early markers.

Hannah Sheehy pointed a third minute free after which Lucy Wallace ran in from the right wing to receive Ciara McManamon’s pass and fire a bullet into the bottom left corner of Elaine Duffy’s net. Ava Palasz added a point and when a low shot by Clodagh McManamon, who was operating at full-forward, evaded both goalkeeper Duffy and Aisling Rushe on the line, that second goal pushed the White and Green into an eight points lead, while some supporters were still only arriving into Canon Henry Park.

Lisa Cafferky settled Kilmovee nerves somewhat with a tenth minute point but those nerves would have been much less frayed had a goal attempt by Shauna Golden, after set-up by the Cafferky sisters Lisa and Sinead, not been blocked by the Burrishoole backs.

By the end of the opening quarter the away team were nine points in front, as Hannah Sheehy, a free, and Leona Ryder, with a huge kick from outfield, both raised white flags, and Kilmovee’s difficulties could have become even greater had Elaine Duffy not gone full stretch to her bottom right to keep out a 21st minute goal effort by Ryder. Duffy injured herself in the process and was soon replaced by Mayo underage goalkeeper Meabh Lavin who cut a very composed figure between the sticks from thereon.

The Cafferky girls added Kilmovee’s second and third points, Sinead’s from a free, but Sheehy’s third converted free of the half, and a fisted point by wing-back Grace McDonnell saw the McGovern Park outfit lead 2-6 to 0-3 at the turnaround.

Playing into the clubhouse end for the second-half, Kilmovee seemed to signal their intent when Shauna Golden scored a first minute point but like in the opening half, the sporadic pattern of their scoreboard contributions was to cost them dearly, with four wides in the third quarter stunting their challenge.

Golden’s score was negated by Ava Palasz but the fact that Burrishoole would add just one more point for the entire match, which was another Sheehy free, gave Shamrocks every chance of applying some serious pressure upon the visitors.

A superbly finished 40th minute goal by Lisa Cafferky, who shot right to left across Burrishoole goalkeeper Grainne McManamon, was supplemented by a point from the same player on the three-quarter mark, while Sinead Cafferky’s first point from play, in the 52nd minute, reduced the arrears to five points.

A lengthy stoppage followed, after a collision of heads between Kilmovee defender Rebecca Towey and Clodagh McManamon, which necessitated the removal of both bloodied players, but for all the extra time added on, Kilmovee left it too late before scoring their second goal. It was a good one though, as Lisa Cafferky’s pressure in midfield overturned the Burrishoole ball carrier and she dribbled the ball forward before picking up and offloading to sister Sinead who slammed the ball home.

There wasn’t a minute left in the game however, and Burrishoole held on to make sure of their place in the last four.

Scorers – Burrishoole: Hannah Sheehy 0-4f, Clodagh McManamon and Lucy Wallace 1-0 each, Ava Palasz 0-2, Leona Ryder and Grace McDonnell 0-1 each.

Kilmovee: Lisa Cafferky 1-3, Sinead Cafferky 1-2 (0-1f), Shauna Golden 0-1.

Kilmovee Shamrocks: Elaine Duffy; Mary Horan, Clare Duffy, Rebecca Towey; Serena Hanley, Lynda Hanley, Aisling Rushe; Sinead Cafferky, Leah McHugh; Katelyn Regan, Ilana Phillips, Shauna Golden; Ellen Regan, Lisa Cafferky, Saerlaith Dillon. Subs: Meabh Lavin (for E Duffy 25, inj), Lucia McDonnell (for E Regan 40), Katelyn Regan (for Towey 55, inj).

Burrishoole: Grainne McManamon; Carla Palasz, Alana McDonnell, Chloe Donnellan; Grace McDonnell, Doireann Guilfoyle, Clodagh McManamon Jnr; Jennifer Cawley, Ciara McManamon; Leona Ryder, Lucy Wallace, Hannah Sheehy; Caoife Moran, Clodagh McManamon, Ava Palasz. Subs: Louise Sheridan (for Clodagh McManamon 55, inj).

REF: Seamus Regan (Éire Og)