Knockmore power past Belmullet to reach quarter-finals

MAYO SFC ROUND 3

GROUP 3

Knockmore 1-14

Belmullet 1-1

CROSSMOLINA

KNOCKMORE showed great resilience and passion to secure a quarter-final when they overhauled their Erris opponents in front of a big crowd in St Tiernan's Park.

Belmullet were much the better team in the first half and led by two at the interval, 0-6 to 0-4, but Knockmore were a different prospect after the resumption and kicked an impressive tally of 1-10 in the second half.

Ryan O'Donoghue was back from injury and started for Belmullet alongside his Mayo team-mate Eoin O'Donoghue who was returning from suspension. The men in red played some fine football in the opening half with wing-back James Lavelle highly impressive.

Belmullet had extended their lead to four after 40 minutes and it seemed as if they were bound for victory but Knockmore had other ideas. David McHale and Darragh Staunton were very impressive at the back for the chasing side and with Charlie Bourke working tirelessly in attack, the men in saffron and blue were still in the game.

Aiden Orme and Caolan Hopkins halved the deficit and when Orme intercepted a Belmullet kick-out and raced through for a goal, Knockmore were in front for the first time after 43 minutes.

Belmullet hit back in spectacular fashion seven minutes later when Ronan Murray sent a screamer into the top corner and the Erris men were back in front but there was no stopped Knockmore who steadied the ship and then struck for home.

They restricted Belmullet to just one more point in the closing stages while adding five of their own to secure a place in the quarter-finals in two weeks time, while Belmullet must prepare for a relegation battle.

A full report and aftermatch reaction will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News.