Lahardane save intermediate status with one-point win over Islandeady

MAYO INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP RELEGATION SEMI-FINAL

Lahardane 0-13 Islandeady 0-12

In Parke 

As expected, this one went right down the wire.

But in the end, it was the veteran Adrian Leonard who struck the winning free to ensure Lahardane MacHales’ intermediate status for another season.

In a game that was level five times, the winning of the game came down to an injury time free from Bryan O’Flaherty which looked to be going over the bar but crashed off the post, spurning Islandeady’s last chance in a game that ebbed and flowed from start to finish. 

A large and noisy crowd enjoyed a full-blooded game in which Islandeady went five points up with the wind in the first half. 

Lahardane replied with four of their own from Shane Finnerty (3) and Kyran Jordan to trail 0-6 0-7 at the break. 

The second half was equally as interesting, and had Islandeady’s Seamie Lally not sent an effort crashing off the crossbar in the 46th minute, the West Mayo men would have gone five up. 

Instead, Lahardane nudged their way back in front before Islandeady goalkeeper Bryan O’Flaherty levelled the game for the fifth time.

The last five minutes saw Adrian Leonard kick the winner and O’Flaherty miss a free, after which Lahardane leapt for joy while a despondent Islandeady turned their sites to a doe-or-die relegation final against Kiltimagh. 

A full report plus reaction from Lahardane’s Shane Finnerty will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News.