O’Neill points Knockmore through against Ballaghaderreen

O’Neill points Knockmore through again


SFC section 4
Knockmore 0-15
Ballagh’ 0-9

Austin Garvin
Charlestown

LAST year’s beaten county finalists lived up to their billing as pre-match favourites with an emphatic win over an understrength Ballagh’ in the third round of the Mayo SFC at Fr O'Hara Memorial Park, Charlestown on Saturday evening last.
In doing so they topped their group and delivered a warning to all and sundry that they will surely have a major say in the destination of the Moclair Cup later on in the season.
Having said that, it took them quite a long time to fully see off the challenge of a Ballagh’ side that certainly didn't turn up to make up the numbers even though they were out of the reckoning for qualification for the last eight. Paul McHugh’s team were competitive for a large portion of the game and only succumbed in the final quarter.
The programme listed Trevor Howley at right corner forward for Knockmore with Kevin McLoughlin at left half back. In actual fact Howley played at left-half back with McLoughlin at right-half forward. They also made several other positional changes prior to the game commencing.
The first quarter of the game proved to be evenly contested with Ballaghadereen, if anything, having the better of the exchanges.
The sides were level at three points apiece after fifteen minutes; Kevin McLoughlin (2) and the hugely influential Kevin O'Neill accounted for the Knockmore scores with Andy Moran (free), Joe Dillon and Peter Kelly raising white flags for Ballagh'.
An Andy Moran pointed free together with a score from the towering Ronan McGrath pushed the losers two points to the good.
After this Knockmore enjoyed a purple patch and, with Kevin O'Neill giving full vent to his vast repertoire of tricks, they hit five unanswered points between the 19th and 26th minutes of the half. O'Neill accounted for two of them from frees with Damien Munnelly, Andrew Keane and Aidan Kilcoyne having the others.
Just before the break Andy Moran and Kevin O'Neill exchanged points from frees, leaving the score at half-time: 0-9 to 0-6. This score just about reflected the trend of the play.
Knockmore extended their lead with a great point following the resumption when Kieran Langan pointed after Aidan Kilcoyne had set up the chance. A minute later Kilcoyne should have found the net when he found himself inside the defence following a deft flick from Kevin O'Neill.
Two minutes later Michael Solan narrowed the Knockmore lead after Andy Moran had hit a crossbar.
Knockmore though were gradually gaining control of the game and should have made it tell when James Ruddy missed an open goal on 38 minutes.
Howver, they then scored three unanswered points inside a four minute spell from Aidan Kilcoyne, and Kevin O'Neill (2) to leave six points between the sides with ten minutes left to play.
Nigel Reape's men looked impressive at this juncture as they sprayed the ball around with abandon. Damien Munnelly pointed from play in response to a James Kilcullen score at the other end of the field.
Knockmore dominated to the finish with Ballagh' showing commendable effort even though the result was out of their hands at this stage. Just before the end Andy Moran and substitute Craig Reape exchanged points leaving Knockmore emphatic winners.
Judged on this performance they will definitely have a say in the destination of the Moclair Cup again this season.

Knockmore
N Canavan; B Gibbons, S McHale, J Brogan; K Langan (0-1), D Sweeney, K McLoughlin (0-2); J Ruddy, S Sweeney; A Kilcoyne (0-2), K O'Neill (0-6, 3fs), A Keane (0-1); T Howley, G Higgins, D Munnelly (0-2).
Subs used; C Reape (0-1) for K Langan; P Clarke for J Ruddy.

Ballaghadereen
O Flanagan; G Conway, K Rogers, T Regan; D Drake, S Drake, D McGarry; J Kilcullen (0-1), A Moran (0-4, 4fs); M Solan (0-1), A Hanley, P Kelly (0-1); D Keegan, R McGrath (0-1), J Dillon (0-1).
Subs used; B Solan for D Keegan; K Roddy for D McGarry; G Fitzgerald for J Dillon; R Conway for B Solan; C Doohan for M Solan.

Referee: D Harrington (Tourmakeady)