Kiltimagh reach Connacht Final after shoot-out delight in Roscommon

Connacht Junior Championship Semi Final

Kiltimagh 2-11

St Croan’s 1-14

(After Extra Time)

Kiltimagh win 3-2 after a penalty shoot-out

In Ballyforan

On a perfect day for football, Mick Regan’s Kiltimagh side travelled up to the Roscommon Galway border while producing a heroic win after a dramatic afternoon in which a penalty shoot-out was needed to separate the sides. 

The East Mayo men got off to a flyer early on as Paul Kelly who celebrated his birthday blasted to the net with four minutes played. Nip and tuck right throughout the first half, it was the Mayo champions that went in at the break leading 1-6 to their Roscommon’s opponents tally of 0-5.

The Roscommon side reduced the deficit to the bare minimum as Keith Muldoon, Richie Thompson and Aiden Brogan all scored for Croan’s. 16 minutes into the second half, Kiltimagh needed a score to settle and they got it when goalkeeper Jamie Mc Nicholas booted over with a fine two pointer free. Just three minutes later, Kiltimagh were in dreamland when Fionnan Burke blasted to the net after excellent work from Liam Smyth. 

They may have led by six entering the final quarter but the clash was far from over. The Roscommon side hit to the net when Callum Pacey palmed in, while momentum gathered for the Ballintubber based side. Kiltimagh’s Kevin Mulderrig was issued with a black card and St Croan’s started to dominate entering injury time. With the last kick in normal time, Keith Muldoon equalised from a free. Full time in normal time, Kiltimagh 2-8, St Croan’s 1-11. 

Extra time came and St Croan’s enjoyed the majority of possession but in the final stages of the second half, Thomas Keegan hit the equaliser for the men from Gilmartin Park. Full time in extra time and the sides remained deadlocked with the scoreboard reading Kiltimagh 2-11, St Croan’s 1-14. 

Onto penalties, and as five players from each side stepped forward, the tension in St Aidan’s Park was on a knife edge. After five penalty kicks each, both scored twice which meant sudden death was to come. 

Fionnan Burke stepped up for Kiltimagh and made no mistake while pressure turned to St Croan’s captain Ger Connaughton. As the full back stepped up, Jamie Mc Nicholas stood tall and made a fine save resulting in wild scenes where the Kiltimagh squad invaded the green grass ahead of them. 

A remarkable end to a remarkable day. For Kiltimagh, they march onto the Connacht Final where Leitrim side Aughavas await in two weeks time.

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

READ MORE: Mayo champions well beaten in Connacht semi-final in Roscommon