Staunton wonder goal fires Tourmakeady into Mayo JFC quarters

GAA - MAYO JUNIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

Tourmakeady 4-6

Kilmovee Shamrocks 2-9

In Mayo Abbey

What a war of attrition this was.

At times, between the score updates from the Kiltimagh-Northern Gaels game, the teeming rain, and the utter carnage unfolding in the stands and on the sidelines, it was hard to keep track of who was in and who was out of the Mayo Junior Championship.

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This game needed one man to stand tall and deliver for the Tourmak’ troops, and Sean Staunton was that man.

With the clock ticking into the red, his side were one down, but he stood tall. When the O’Neill’s left his boot and soared beautifully into the far top left corner, the Gaeltacht elation in Mayo Abbey almost tore through the clouds themselves.

For the Shamrocks, it was fatal. Had they held on, it would be themselves and not the Gaeltacht men looking at a home quarter-final. Instead, they find themselves rooted to the other end of the table, and their Pete McDonnell journey ends here.

The men from the shores of Lough Mask will take plenty from this. They somehow, through Patrick and Luke Lydon's goals, found the lead in the first half, despite the fact that they had few forays forward on any occasion in the opening quarter.

Kilmovee were in decent fettle in the opening period, with Oisín Duffy’s two-pointer a signal of what they were capable of on a day where conditions didn’t exactly lend themselves to free-flowing fare.

Peter Horan’s goal saw them back ahead after 19 minutes, and a Colin Duffy single in treacherous conditions had them up by three.

Somehow, despite being found wanting offensively, the man in black were within touching distance as the changeover loomed.

Their resolve was tested when, just as they were about to see the roles reversed and earn the breeze on their backs, Daniel Walsh was shown the line by Jamie Hoban after an off the ball incident.

That wasn’t to deter them however. Ronan Malee had it back to two at the break, and the wily full-forward almost tore the net within seconds of the throw-in for the second period.

Kilmovee would have been kicking themselves for some of their wasteful kicking before the break, but Kieran Flatley’s men showed they had plenty of magic still in their boots, not least when Sean Horan’s net-shaker had them four ahead again as they took control in this arm-wrestle of a game.

There was always going to be a revival from this gutsy Tourmakeady team, and when they needed a spark, Staunton lit the touchpaper. His superb single as the final quarter loomed left just three between the sides.

Sean Joyce stepped up to the plate to raise the game’s second orange flag, and with ten to go, skipper Malee had the crowd on tenterhooks.

You could hear the whispers as everyone frantically refreshed their social feeds, trying to find out anything from the other game in Bofeenaun.

However, on the turf, both bands of brothers were oblivious.

Kilmovee midfielder Cathal Horan received his marching orders for a second booking for persistent fouling.

That didn’t stop goalscorer Sean Horan from raising what looked to be a vital white flag to seemingly snatch the spoils.

Enter Sean Staunton. Time stood still as many begged him to aim over the bar, knowing a draw would be enough.

Instead, he gambled on the big one, and boy did it pay off. Johnny Granaghan added insult to injury, and by the final whistle, Shane Moran’s men were dancing wildly among the showers after they were finished with some post-match exchanges with their opponents.

One suspects they won’t top the Kilmovee Shamrocks Christmas card list, but they won’t care.

They’ll be hoping to have Pete McDonnell under the tree instead.

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