Shrule blow Aghamore away

Shrule blow guests away


SFC Section 2
Shrule/G’corrib 1-17
Aghamore 0-7

Daniel Carey
Shrule

WHAT a difference a week makes. Last Sunday week, Alan Freeman scored 2-3 as Aghamore beat Moy Davitts in their opening championship match. Seven days on, Freeman having departed for Chicago, the East Mayo side were blown away by Shrule/Glencorrib.
Chicago wasn’t the only ‘windy city’ last Sunday. It was blustery in Shrule too, where a strong diagonal breeze favoured the hosts in the first half. They had built up a 12-1 advantage by half time, having kept the umpires at what is traditionally the ‘scoring goal’ even busier than usual. Aghamore had the elements at their backs in the second half, but the horse had already bolted, and Shrule/Glencorrib won with more than a bit to spare.
Mind you, the South Mayo side had a number of early wides, although Mark Ronaldson and Conor Mortimer fired over frees on either side of a fine effort from Trevor Mortimer. The Mayo captain had earlier seen an off-target effort clear the netting at the back of the goal, giving an indication of the strength of the gale behind him.
Shrule/Glencorrib had Neil Sullivan sent off after just 16 minutes for his second bookable offence, and Liam Groarke opened Aghamore’s account with a free two minutes later. But the hosts then found their shooting boots with a vengeance, firing over nine points in the remaining stages of the first half. Conor Mortimer led the way with three, while there were two apiece from Kevin Walsh (both splendid efforts), Mark Ronaldson and Trevor Mortimer.
Aghamore put up something of a fight in the second half, but had far too much ground to make up. Cathal Carty landed their first point from play immediately after the restart, and added a free after Simon McGuinness was fouled. Liam Groarke scored two frees, and midfielders McGuinness and SeΡn Óg Robinson both got on the score-sheet late on.
But Shrule/Glencorrib outscored their opponents again in the second half, and the outcome was obvious for so long before the end that even the usual slagging between rival fans was virtually non-existent. Conor Mortimer added another three points, including one after a great move started by full-back David Geraghty, and another angled effort after a good rob by Kevin Walsh. Number 15 Mark Ronaldson got point number 15 (again Geraghty played a part in the build-up), while his older brother Eoin came off the bench and kicked a nice dinky score.
The younger Ronaldson also played a pivotal role in creating the game’s only goal, playing Bastian Schweinsteiger to Conor Mortimer’s Miroslav Klose.
Victory over Moy Davitts should see the border boys through to the quarter-finals, while Aghamore need to get something out of their meeting with Castlebar Mitchels.
Afterwards, one man who had already touted James Horan and Colm McManamon for the Mayo manager’s job in light of Ballintubber’s and Burrishoole’s easy victories added Kenneth Mortimer’s name to his ever-burgeoning list. Inter-county issues of a more immediate nature were exercising one supporter, who rang home on his way out. “Was it worth missing the Munster final for this?” he asked. Answer: no.

Shrule/Glencorrib
P Conroy; Dermot Geraghty, David Geraghty, R Walsh; J Naughton, L Garvey, N Sullivan; K Conroy, J Lohan; Kevin Walsh (0-2), Kieran Walsh, R Ward; C Mortimer (1-7, 0-3f), T Mortimer (0-3), M Ronaldson (0-4, 2f).
Subs used: D McTigue for Naughton; E Ronaldson (0-1) for Ward; J Martyn for Kieran Walsh; P Bruen for Garvey.

Aghamore
N Walsh; N Freeman, C Caulfield, M Morley; P Bonner, R Byrne, C Garvey; S Óg Robinson (0-1), S McGuinness (0-1); I Carty, C Carty (0-2), K Cassidy; L Groarke (0-3, 3f), P Hunt, K Feeney.
Subs used: J Kilkenny for Cassidy; R Lyons for Hunt.

Referee: V Neary (Bonniconlon)