Bonniconlon and Cill Chomáin to do it all again after junior county final ends in draw

MAYO JFC FINAL

Bonniconlon 1-9

Cill Chomáin 2-6

In MacHale Park 

BONNICONLON and Cill Chomáin will clash swords for the fourth time in 2024 after the Gaeltacht men spurned a game-winning chance in injury time, sending the junior championship final to a replay. 

After a brave but often wasteful display, Cill Chomáin got a free in the early seconds of injury time shortly after David Walsh levelled with a high-pressure place kick. 

Darragh Murphy passed the free off sideways to Eoghan McGrath, who sent a point attempt wide. 

Referee Kieran Barnicle then blew up the game after 62 minutes - despite four minutes of injury time having been announced.

Two Justin Healy goals at key junctures kept Cill Chomáin in contention in a game where Bonniconlon were dominant for long periods. 

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Nobby McLoughlin’s men were the better team in the first quarter as they outscored their Gaeltacht opponents 1-2 to 0-0 in the first twenty minutes. 

James Harrington struck the goal for Bonni’ as a wasteful Cill Chomáin failed to score until wing-back Eoghan McGrath hit their first in the 21st minute. 

The men from the Ox Mountains were still better in every department and were on course for a handsome half-time lead. 

That was until Joe Corduff swept a long ball into full-foward Justin Healy who, in a moment of inspiration, turned under pressure and rifled it low into the back of the net. 

Cill Chomáin received another boost shortly after when Bonniconlon’s Sean Neary was given the line for a second yellow seconds before half-time. 

Trailing 1-2 1-5 at the break, Nigel Reape’s men began the first half slowly, but began the second half with a bang as Justin Healy struck a goal and a point in the first two minutes. 

Cill Chomáin were three points up by the 43rd minute but failed to score thereafter as Bonniconlon reduced the gap with scores from midfielder Jonathon Lavelle (2) and a David Walsh free. 

The sides will meet again in a replay to crown the 2024 Mayo junior champions. The time and date of the replay has yet to be confirmed. 

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