Kilmovee Shamrocks overcome slow start to dispatch Moygownagh in junior championship

Mayo Junior Football Championship Round 1

Kilmovee 0-15 Moygownagh 1-5

In Kilmovee

A slow start couldn't stop Kilmovee from securing an opening-round championship win over Moygownagh in East Mayo this afternoon. 

Seán Horan was the leading light for the victors, kicking 0-9 on a day when Moygownagh only pointed twice from play. 

Moygownagh had the better start, dominating possession and coming out on top of most of the 50-50 contests. 

They took the lead emphatically when John McDonnell sent a perfectly weighted fist pass towards Cormac Blehein, who delivered an even better finish into the top left corner. 

However, this was as good as it got for the North Mayo side, as Kilmovee turned the tables all over the field to regain the lead with five unanswered scores.

Trailing 1-2 0-6 at the break, the visitors fared no better after half-time, shooting just one score from play in the entire second half through Barry Gaughan, with the rest coming from Alan Gallagher frees. 

A fitter, and more clinical Kilmovee Shamrocks team powered on against a defensive opposition, clocking up another nine points to get their championship campaign kick-started with a seven-point win. 

A full report, plus reaction from Séan Horan of Kilmovee Shamrocks, will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News Sport.