Mayo Gaels beat Kiltane in thrilling league final

SFL DIVISION 4 FINAL (after extra-time)

Kiltane ‘B’ 4-11

Mayo Gaels ‘B’ 3-26

In MacHale Park

This final may have finished in a comfortable enough win for Mayo Gaels in the end, but don’t be fooled. This one had everything. Wonder-goals, exhibitions in shooting, red cards, and an end-to-end extravaganza of football.

When Kiltane went up by seven after a fine Johnny Deane effort, Mayo Gaels would’ve been forgiven for throwing in the towel.

Instead, they went feverishly about getting on the comeback trail. With practically the last kick of normal time, Peter Gallagher stood on the edge of the arc with the chance to save his side.

The wily number 13 showed composure far beyond his years to drag the game to extra time. Plenty of chaos ensued then, but the class of the Gaels showed, and they powered on to secure a memorable win.

The scoring got underway on the three-minute mark, when Peter Gallagher edged Mayo Gaels ahead.

Doherty’s looping fourth-minute attempt resumed parity, but the shared scoreline was fleeting, as former League of Ireland player Ryan Connolly struck to open his scoring.

Luke Gallagher and Ryan McGurrin pushed it to three, and a series of wides from Pat McDonagh’s men seemingly proved costly.

However, within a minute, the advantage was flipped on its head.

Doherty, who has plied his trade for the Kiltane seniors, let fly from outside the arc for a fine two-pointer 18 in.

63 seconds on, Daniel McDonagh laid off to an onrushing Aaron Barrett. Barrett passed the O’Neills to Rory Ginty. The full-forward unleashed a missile past Jarlath Judge to put Kiltane ahead for the first time.

Gallagher and Jennings clawed Gaels back level, but Doherty produced a stunning single from an acute angle.

On the stroke of the changeover, the crowd saw their second three-pointer. A fine Johnny Deane run following a kickout saw him find his Kiltane team-mate Micky Ginnelly.

Ginnelly’s first strike was massive, as he dispatched into the far right corner to push the lead out to four at the break.

Immediately after, Kiltane had their third major. This time, when Deane was tasked with providing the finish, he made no mistake, putting the boys in blue at the base of a mountain.

Two straightforward Gallagher placed balls, coupled with a Phelim Prendergast curled effort had the game back to four with 20 to go.

Mayo Gaels had a golden goal chance to bring the game back to one with 46 to go. A fine pinpoint pass had David Quinn one-on-one with Shane Gallagher.

His shot was ferocious; however, it almost bent the crossbar as it ricocheted back out. Quinn had another chance to break his side’s duck in the 51st minute, but effort was tigerishly blocked by John Coyle.

Coyle was shown red by Paddy Chambers 53 in for ill-discipline.

Another free from Gallagher left a goal between the sides, as Gaels continued to hurl aerial offensives into the mixer.

Kiltane would have been cursing when they coughed up a simple effort for a breach of the three-up, three-down rule, narrowing the deficit to two with two minutes to go.

Prendergast saw a chance to go for goal with 30 to go in normal time, but his ambitious effort fizzed wide of the left stick.

Keelin McNamara also had a gilt-edged chance, but Shane Gallagher was out in a flash to deny him.

A Johnny Ginty soccer-style attempt at the other end needed tipping over by Judge. Shane Gallagher pushed the game out to five in injury time.

Gaels weren’t done there. Gallagher proved crucial, and two two-pointers, one of which was awarded for another inexplicable breach from Kiltane, sent the game to injury time. Before the orange flag, a red to Johnny Ginty saw Kiltane down to 13 for the rest of the tie.

The drama was far from over. A Gallagher white flag was eclipsed by an Owen Doherty orange one. Phelim Prenderast fisted over to level yet again.

Then, Kiltane got their fourth goal, as Pat Deane outjumped everyone to flick the ball over the line.

Mayo Gaels goals are like Dublin buses. You wait 74 minutes for one, and then two come along at once.

Padraig Jennings showed that he has springs on his feet when he rose highest to turn the ball in, before the very same man got on the end of a sweeping move to round the ‘keeper.

Kiltane’s numerical disadvantage told, and Mayo Gaels exposed tired legs. Gaels kept ticking over, pushing the lead out.

A stunning Andrew Quinn top-bins goal capped off a purple patch for Mayo Gaels, and ensured that they would be climbing the steps.

A report, plus reaction, will be carried in Tuesday’s edition of The Mayo News