Ballagh boys finish strong to claim top spot

MAYO SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 

Ballaghaderreen 3-14

Ballintubber 2-13

In Garrymore

On a wet evening in South Mayo, It was Patrick Sharkey’s Ballagh side came out on top in what turned out to be a competitive affair. 

Going into the game, both teams were booked into the knockout stage but this clash on Saturday evening was to determine who finished top of the group. 

It was the West Mayo side that started best with Stephen O’Malley and Diarmuid O’Connor impressing in attack. Without the injured Cillian O’Connor, Damien Coleman’s side raced into a healthy lead with early goals coming from the youngest of the O’Connor’s while Noel Geraghty followed up with a second. 

With 20 minutes played, ‘Tubber led 2-9 to Ballagh’s 0-7 but with Kuba Callaghan to the fore, the East Mayo men battled gamely. Callaghan’s goal from the penalty spot meant that there were just two between them going in at the break with Ballintubber leading 2-10 to Ballaghadereen’s 1-11.

In a low scoring second half, it was the men in white and green who rose to the occasion. Ballintubber struggled in the scoring department as the accurate O’Malley scored all three of their second half points which all came from frees. 

Kuba Callaghan’s second penalty of the evening kicked the division two league champions into gear before substitute Cian Hanley scored a crucial goal which came in the 59th minute. In the dying stages, Cormac Doohan fisted over to seal the deal. 

Ballaghadreen will now enjoy a home quarter final while Ballintubber will have an away day in the last eight.

READ MORE: Breaffy earn quarter-final spot with last kick of the game in Ballina.

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