Goals the difference as five-star Knockmore dispatch Ballinrobe

MAYO SENIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1A ROUND 1

KNOCKMORE 5-14

BALLINROBE 0-14

In Knockmore

Knockmore produced a fine first-half display to dispatch Ballinrobe and open their season with a bang.

The men in primrose and blue were magnificent on Saturday evening. By half-time, they were already 16 points to the good against a toothless Ballinrobe, who were playing against a huge breeze.

Conor O’Brien and Ewan Duffy put the men from the banks of the River Robe two up early doors, but Ray Dempsey's home side rallied with Caolan Hopkins and Peter Naughton levelling up before long.

The trio of Naughton, Aiden Orme, and Dylan Coleman were on fire up top, and all chipped in with goals in Act One, leaving visitors Ballinrobe at the base of a mountain as referee Frank Flynn signalled for half-time.

The guests did their best to eat into a monstrous deficit in the second half and notched a few placed-ball two-pointers via the ever-accurate Ewan Duffy.

That said, there was no way back, and Knockmore substitute Liam Durkan twice rolled the ball into the bottom corner to firmly slam the door on any miniscule glimmer of hope for Ballinrobe.

Knockmore, who recently added Joe Brolly to their management team as head coach, were by far and away the better side on the day at a sun-drenched Saint Joseph’s Park.

Their forwards were clinical, their defence was ferocious, and some of their fetching was tigerish around the middle.

Meanwhile, it's back to the drawing board for Ballinrobe, with the visit of Ballina Stephenites to Flanagan Park next on the menu.

A full match report, plus reaction from Knockmore head coach and selector Joe Brolly, will be available in Tuesday’s edition of The Mayo News