Mayo men to the fore as AbbVie win All-Ireland Interfirms title

Ten Mayo men were part of the AbbVie squad that captured the All-Ireland Intermediate Interfirms title, defeating Boston Scientific in the final on a 1-11 to 1-6 scoreline.

Comprised of staff from AbbVie’s Westport and Sligo campuses, the Connacht side overcame their fellow pharma giants, Boston Scientific, with an impressive five-point win in Bishopstown, Co Cork, over the weekend.

Three Mayo men, Killian Kilkelly (Westport), Brian Reape (Moy Davitts) and Sean Corcoran (Parke) kicked all of AbbVie’s scores on the day.

Only a point separated the teams at half-time. AbbVie began the match well when Killian Kilkelly kicked the first of his eight points after a wonderful run by Matthew Horan.

Boston hit back with three points in a row from Peter McKeena, Paudi Allen and a free by Evan Murphy.

Then, on 15 minutes, AbbVie struck a wonderful team goal where Fiachra Henry set Brian Reape up to palm the ball to the back of the net.

The former Mayo Minor, U-21 and senior footballer began taking the game to Boston after that and kicked a wonderful point before being denied by a brilliant save by Boston’s Padraig O’Callaghan, who directed Reape’s effort over the bar.

Boston retaliated with a point from Daniel Griffin before winning a penalty when Ian McAulliffe was impeded in the small square. Big full-forward Brian Hartnett stepped up and put the ball past Kilmeena’s Paul Groden, who stood in for Daniel Lyons, who could not play due to Sligo inter-county commitments.

AbbVie hit back with two points from Kilkelly to leave it 1-5 to 1-4 in their favour at half-time.

The second half was a more cagey affair, with both sets of defenders showing well. AbbVie were particularly resilient at the back, where the likes of Stephen Corrigan, Ryan Carroll, and Ian Barrett held Boston to just two points.

Kenneth Keane’s introduction also made a difference, with the Burrishoole man picking up several breaks.

AbbVie’s midfield of Tony Taylor and David McGovern gained control of the middle while the speedy Oisín McLaughlin (Fenagh) ran riot.

Parke’s Seán Corcoran got the victors up and running in the second half with a fine point.

Westport’s Killian Kilkelly added three more white flags to put AbbVie five points ahead as their much sought-after All-Ireland title slowly became a reality.

With five minutes to go, AbbVie’s David McGovern was shown a black card for a high challenge.

But the boys who make the Botox had done enough to secure the win, and the full-time whistle was greeted with wild celebrations from a group who fell agonisingly short in last year’s inter-firms decider.

ABBVIE: P Groden; S Corrigan, I Barrett, R Carroll; E Roache, F Henry, L Reilly; D McGovern, T Taylor; O McLaughlin, K Kilkelly (0-8), M Horan; S Corcoran (0-1), B Reape (1-2), S O’Grady.

Subs used: M King, D McDermott, R Gallagher, K Keane, P Kelly

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC: P O’Callaghan; K Roache, D Delahunt, J O’Regan; K O’Flynn, P Allen (0-1), K Crowley; B Hartnett (1-0), K Lenahan; E Kelly, E Murphy (0-1), G Twomey (0-2); P McKenna (0-1), I McAuliffe, D Griffin (0-1)
Referee: S Mulvihill (Kerry)