Knockmore and Westport play out a draw in Mayo Senior Championship clash

MAYO SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

Knockmore 0-14

Westport 0-14

In Knockmore

THIS is what championship is all about. Two teams tearing into one another, a big crowd roaring them on, contested calls, swaying scores and a big finish.

There was never much between the sides and in truth, a draw looked likely from a long way out despite Knockmore leading into the dying moments.

Knockmore began well and kicked the first four points of the game. They were attacking at pace, playing with power and winning the contests.

Then, Westport arrived. The men in blue tore into every challenge and the physical exchanges were a joy to behold. Brian McDermott and Niall McManamon were racing out of defence and Eoghan McLaughlin was driving forward from the middle.

Killian Kilkelly was doing well at full-forward and when Conal Dawson swung over a 16^th minute free the Clew Bay men were in front, 0-5 to 0-4.

Kilkelly soon had two between the sides and Knockmore were hit by a hammer-blow just before half time when impressive attacker Caolan Hopkins left the field injured.

Westport led 0-7 to 0-5 at the break and extended it further when Dawson kicked a fine point after the resumption.

That's when Knockmore went into overdrive. Connell Dempsey began to dominate in the middle and Sean Holmes was excellent at the back. Points arrived from Peter Naughton, Liam Durkan, Aiden Orme, Pearse Ruttledge and Naughton again to leave the home boys two points clear after 40 minutes.

Westport needed to respond and Pat Holmes did so by introducing Brian O'Malley to the middle of the field. That gave the men in blue a foothold and they roared back into it.

Three points in succession from Kilkelly had Westport in front eight minutes later. Indeed, Westport felt they should have had a penalty when Joey Holmes went to ground in the square but referee John Glavey gave a free for a foul on the ball.

Knockmore needed a response and they powered up the field as excitement bounced around the ground. They were rewarded when Darren McHale pointed from play and Naughton knocked over a free to leave them one clear, 0-12 to 0-11.

Aidan Orme was hugely aggrieved to be booked for diving as time ticked away and it was hard to blame him. The former Mayo attacker used his displeasure to good effect to put two between them and when Darren McHale extended the gap to three after 56 minutes it looked like Knockmore would win it, but Westport refused to fade away.

They swarmed forward for Dawson to land a free and then in deepest injury time Westport were given the chance to balance the scores. The referee moved a free from the left wing forward 50 meters and when the ball was moved to a central position, Paddy O'Malley had the opportunity to kick a two-pointer and balance the scores.

The goalkeeper did just that and the Westport roars could be heard back at the foot of The Reek.

The scores were tied, the spoils were shared and both sides left the pitch with their championship hopes still intact.