Islandeady bounce back with win over Ardnaree

Mayo Intermediate Football Championship Round 2

Islandeady 0-15

Ardnaree 1-11

In Islandeady

Islandeady remain firmly in contention to escape their championship group after they secured a hard-fought one-point win over Ardnaree.

A dominant final 20 minutes saw the West Mayo men march to a win which leaves each team in their group on two points ahead of what promises to be an enthralling third round. 

Trailing 1-9 to 0-8 in the embryonic stages of the second half, few could have predicted that Islaneady would completely flip the game on its head with seven unanswered scores in immaculate conditions. 

A goal from Martin Rafter was the difference between the sides at the break as the scoreboard read 1-8 0-8 in favour of the boys from the banks of the Moy. 

Cian Burke stretched their lead to four points after just 15 seconds, but it all went downhill from there for the North Mayo men. 

Substitute Zac Collins had an instant impact as he scored from play within seconds, adding to earlier points by Darragh Joyce and Liam Joyce with his first from play.

Three further points by Darragh Joyce, a ’45 by Levi Barrett and Ciaran Bourke with his second of the day, put daylight between the sides late on.

Ardnaree never threw in the towel and reduced the gap to one point in injury-time, but it was too little, too late and Islandeady held out for victory.

A full report plus reaction will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News Sport.