Kilmeena march into Connacht Final after impressive victory in Castlebar

Connacht Intermediate Football Championship Semi Final

Kilmeena 0-22

Coolaney Mullinabreena 1-9

In Castlebar

The men from St Brendan’s Park booked their spot in next Sunday’s Connacht Final after the West Mayo men produced a fine performance to overcome Sligo’s finest. Damien Egan’s side kicked 20 points from play in what was an impressive showing from the men in black. 

It was the Sligo kingpins who started the game brightly as it was nip and tuck in the opening stages. With 13 minutes on the clock, the Mayo side led by one but ten minutes later, that lead increased to eight as Liam Moore, Darragh Slattery, Darragh Keaveney, all contributed to the scoreboard. 

The Barrett brothers, David and Eoin tagged on scores for the Sligo men but John Mc Glynn kicked back for the Mayo Champions as Kilmeena led at the break on a scoreline of 0-12 to Coolaney Mullinabreena’s 0-4.

The men in blue opened the scoring with a point from joint-captain Barry Gorman but Kilmeena kept the scoreboard ticking with Keaveney, Moore and Mc Glynn all pointing. The impressive Liam Moore kicked a superb two pointer as the roar from the Kilmeena contingent echoed in the Castlebar air. 

Looking in control, Kilmeena rotated their squad as substitutes Brian Durkan and Daniel Kelly got their name on the scoresheet with well worked points. Entering the final stages, Coolaney Mullinabreena’s Ciaran Gorman kicked a long ball into the Kilmeena danger zone with Criostoir Davey getting a flick which saw the ball go past Paul Groden in nets. 

However, as the full time sounded, it was Kilmeena who celebrated with a Connacht Final against Roscommon Champions Strokestown awaiting the West Mayo men next Sunday, November 23 with Hastings Insurance MacHale Park set to host. 

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