Glory for Kiltimagh after dominant county final display

MAYO JUNIOR FOOTBALL FINAL

Kiltimagh 1-17

Eastern Gaels 0-7

In Castlebar

IT was just after twenty-past-four when the pitch in MacHale Park became a swirling sea of blue. In the stands the loyal Kiltimagh supporters danced in the aisles and all across the world the diaspora looked to the heavens and dreamt of home. The mighty men in blue had won the county title and it was time to celebrate.

In truth, the new champions were clear and deserving winners against an Eastern Gaels team who left everything on the pitch, but never truly found their rhythm.

The first quarter was evenly-balanced with Eastern Gaels playing fine football and moving well. Jack Madden hit the Kiltimagh post with a goal effort in the opening minute and they led by two after 15 minutes, but with Paul Kelly beginning to dominate in the middle and Conor Mallee and Thomas Keegan kicking points, Kiltimagh were building a winning platform.

The blues led by three at half time and when Mallee and Keegan nudged them five clear after 40 minutes, all memories of sad days in MacHale Park were being blown away.

Brian Gallagher was mopping up ball all over the pitch, Liam Kelly was leading the team from centre-half-back, Fionnan Burke was showing well in attack and Paul Kelly was a colossus in the middle.

The Gaels launched a mini-revival when Evan Godfrey kicked a point and Shane Glynn landed a double, but the arrival of Aidan Cosgrove off the subs bench sealed the deal for Kilti'.

The man who had arrived home from foreign lands just a few hours earlier blasted over a point and then arrowed a shot into the bottom corner to leave the scoreboard reading 1-13 to 0-7 with four minutes left.

There was still time for winning goalkeeeper Jamie McNicholas to come forward and score a two-point free as Kiltimagh people across the planet began to celebrate a famous victory.

A full report and after-match reaction will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News.