Sparks expected in high stakes southern shootout
Stephen Coen will be pivotal to Hollymount-Carramore's hopes of reaching the intermediate quarter-finals when they face Kilmaine on Friday evening.Picture: Conor McKeown
Under the Friday night lights in Garrymore, this South Mayo derby has all the makings of a classic.
Kilmaine responded brilliantly from their defeat to Moy Davitts with a top-tier performance against Louisburgh. Adam Barrett was in outstanding form, scoring 1-11, while Kevin Mullin and 18-year-old Luke Muniz also shone brightly. Their place in intermediate secure, it is effectively a free hit for Kilmaine now as they look to advance to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2021.
Hollymount-Carramore will feel it should not have come to this. They were eight points up against Moy Davitts at half-time but they conceded 1-5 without reply, leaving themselves now in a straight shootout to see who joins the Moysiders in the last eight.
Although they scored 2-14 on the day, Darren Coen was a big miss against Moy Davitts and his return would be a welcome boost for their attack. But it will be at the back that Stephen Coen, Stephen Conroy and Brian Maloney will need to be at their best. If Barrett, Muniz and Mullin get the better of them, Kilmaine are heading for the knockout stages.
