Reilly on song as Parke beat Ballinrobe in U-21 championship semi-final

MAYO U-21 B CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL 

Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin 3-14 Ballinrobe 1-14

In Clogher 

PARKE are through to an U-21 county final after an enthralling battle against a Ballinrobe team that had them to the pin of their collars for long periods. 

Former Mayo Minor Darragh Reilly was the star of the show with 2-6. However, Parke showed great poise to thrive in the absence of the black-carded Dara Neary in the second half. 

Ballinrobe were level four times in total and looked set to take advantage when the black and amber lost Neary in the 42nd minute.

Instead, Fintan McHale’s side shot 2-3 in his absence, with the introduction of Mayo U-20 Cathal Keanvey having a huge effect.

Parke went so far ahead that a late Conor Jennings goal straight from a free meant very little to Ballinrobe. 

Played with an attacking, free-flowing mindset, this game was a thriller from start to finish. 

Darragh Reilly announced his presence with a point after just 56 seconds and found the net in the eleventh minute before Parke took a 1-7 0-8 lead at half-time. 

The teams were on an even keel until Dara Neary got the sin bin. But Parke reacted gallantly as goals from Reilly and Colm Lynch helped steer them to a convincing victory. 

A full report plus reaction from Parke manager Fintan McHale will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News.