Kilmovee Shamrocks edge Northern Gaels for first championship win

JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP 2

Northern Gaels 0-12

Kilmovee Shamrocks 0-14

In Kilfian

It was an entertaining nailbiter up North as Kilmovee Shamrocks showed grit and fighting spirit, to just nudge over the finishing line.

Eoghan Duffy was outstanding for the visitors. The half-forward didn't only contribute three crucial points, his work rate at both ends of the pitch was off the charts. Duffy knocked balls out of opposition players' hands, blocked passes, threw himself into every tackle, and basically was an effective disruptor as well as ball carrier.   

Right from the start until the end, it was palpable that the season was on the line for both teams after they each lost their first group matches two weeks ago. This was already play-off football at its most dramatic.

Kilmovee were in front for the whole match, holding on to the advantage as if their lives depended on it. Northern Gaels on the other hand were missing Sean McKeown. Their most potent attacking weapon was absent through injury.

Too many good opportunities were missed by the home side, for example a late two-point-free, struck by Niall McDonnell, just about kissed the post but on the wrong side from the home side's perspective.

For Northern Gaels, the last group match against Kiltimagh will be a last chance saloon. With a win the Northerners are still within a chance of advancing to the quarter-final.

Kilmovee face a similar challenge in their last group match against Tourmakeady, who bested Kiltimagh on Sunday.

A full match report will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News.