Sweeney Cup success a breeze for Ardnaree
Ardnaree Sarsfields, 2026 North Mayo Sweeney Cup intermediate champions. Picture: North Mayo GAA
Ardnaree Sarsfields made devastating use of the strong wind in Kilfian first half on their way to winning the North Mayo Sweeney Cup intermediate final in convincing fashion last Saturday.
Despite trailing 0-15 to 0-2 at half-time, Cill Chomaín will themselves have hoped to make full use of the breeze, but Ardnaree would hit 1-2 in the opening eight minutes of the second half to ease to victory over a Cill Chomáin side that just never got going throughout.
It is early days of the 2026 Mayo GAA club season, and one would expect Cill Chomáin to improve greatly in the league and intermediate championship. For Ardnaree, who were surprise semi-finalists in the intermediate championship last year, picked up effectively where they left off from last year and should they go on another run, there would no shock this time around.
Ardnaree hit all six of their two-pointers in the first half and Ethan Convey, who would finish with 1-7, hit the first of his trio of orange flags inside two minutes, followed by a free.
Dylan Sweeney was next to strike from outside the arc, followed by Convey’s second two-pointer, this time from a free after Cill Chomáin failed to keep three players in the Ardnaree half.
The only complaint of Ardnaree’s first-half blitz was that they should have added at least a goal to their tally. First, Michael Sweeney saw a soccer style shot saved by Kian Ó Gallachóir. Then, a quick one-two between John Timlin and Seaghan Duffy was not finished off as the final pass to Duffy was a poor one.
Goals were not forthcoming at this time, but efforts from outside the 40-metre arc continued to flow, with Dylan Sweeney sending over a beauty from the right side on 18 minutes.
John Timlin then got in on the two-point act after his first single, which was quickly followed by a point from Seaghan Duffy. Cill Chomáin, whose only efforts in the half by the 28-minute mark were two-point free attempts against the wind by Kian Ó Gallachóir, would not go the half scoreless thanks to Seosamh O Corduibh’s stunning two-pointer off the deck but fittingly, Dylan Sweeney completed his hat-trick of two-pointers a minute before the break.
Cill Chomáin needed a quick start but instead, Kian Ó Gallachóir was forced into action to deny Ardnaree substitute Cathal Noone at point blank range. Ardnaree finally found a way past Ó Gallachóir as Michael Sweeney’s lovely ball picked out John Timlin, who fired an unstoppable shot into the net on 33 minutes. Ardnaree hit the next two scores through Convey and Jonathan Doherty to lead 1-17 to 0-2 with 38 minutes played and this was all but over.
Lorcan Mac Graith got Cill Chomáin’s third point on 41 minutes, but Ardnaree would net a second goal on 49 minutes, Convey rifling home the rebound after Charlie Beale saw his initial shot saved.
Cill Chomáin kept battling and added another four points in the closing stages, but this gam’s conclusion was settled long before.
Scorers – Ardnaree: Ethan Convey 1-2-3 (1tpf), Dylan Sweeney 0-3-0, John Timlin 1-1-1, Seaghan Duffy, Jonathan Doherty and Cathal Noone 0-0-1 each.
Cill Chomáin: Seosamh O Corduibh and Kian Ó Gallachóir 0-1-0 (1tpf) each, Justin Ó hÉilí 0-0-2 (1f), Lorcan Mac Graith 0-0-1.
Ardnaree: Ronan Connolly; Kevin Gillespie, Pat Mills, Kenzie McKee; Adam Parsons, Lee Grant, Matthew Walsh; Dylan Sweeney, Jason Crean; Michael Sweeney, Charlie Beale, Ethan Convey, Jonathan Doherty, Seaghan Duffy, John Timlin. Subs: Cathal Noone and Blaine Ginty (for Duffy and Connolly h/t), Shane Timlin (for Walsh 48), Luke Lavelle (for McKee 50), Tiernan Tighe (for M Sweeney 52).
Cill Chomáin: Kian Ó Gallachóir; Cathal Ó Dochartaigh, Seamus Mac an tSaoir, Eoghan Mac Graith; Kyle Mac Guibhir, Lorcan Mac Graith, Shane Ó Morain; Marc O Taidhg, Seán Ó hÉilí; Seosamh O Corduibh, Justin Ó hÉilí, Lucas O Taighg; Seán Ó hÉireamhain, Concobhar Mac an tSaoir, Gavin MacAindriú. Subs: Dalton Ó Murchu (for Ó Morain h/t), Orren MacAindriú (for G MacAindriú 43), Sean Ó Lenacháín (for L O Taighg 50).
REF: Declan Leonard (Ballina Stephenites).
