Islandeady go the direct route against Louisburgh

Islandeady go the direct route


Semi-Final
Islandeady 1-14
Louisburgh 2-8

Trevor Watson
Westport

ISLANDEADY emerged victorious from this West Mayo tussle in perfect conditions at St Patrick’s Park, Westport last Saturday evening. It was an exciting, tense affair right to the end, but Louisburgh, despite a very strong finish, left themselves just too much to do.
After Danny McGowan’s third minute point put Islandeady ahead, they maintained that lead for the full 60 minutes.
They were in control for most of the first half, but for a late Louisburgh flourish, and the second half told a similar story, as they led by six points with just six minutes left, but once again were clawed back by a determined Louisburgh side.
Islandeady’s direct brand of football was a joy to watch. The composure of Niall McCormack and Ollie Feeney at the back, the fielding and industriousness of Peter Collins and Shane Heraty (who scored 1-1 from play) in the middle, and the movement and energy of Cormac Gordon, Liam Joyce and Vinnie Feeney up front was well worth the entry fee.
Louisburgh had their heroes too, with both midfielders, Jarlath O’Malley and Stephen O’Grady, Brendan Heneghan, John Hegarty and Kevin Gibbons all trying hard for the cause.
The game might have been different had Islandeady’s Colin Moylette not denied Kevin Gibbons with a brilliant save early in the first half. A goal there would have put Louisburgh ahead. Instead, the men in white kicked on with a goal and four points uninterrupted.
Islandeady were quickest out of the blocks. Two wonderful scores from McGowan (from distance) and Cormac Gordon (on the run) edged them ahead early on. Jarlath O’Malley struck a free for Louisburgh but two points from Vinnie Feeney, one a free, saw his team three ahead at the end of the first quarter.
Then came Islandeady’s purple patch. Liam Joyce, Shane Heraty and Feeney with another free stretched the lead to six before Heraty collected a Niall McCormack centre, turned and rifled into the roof of the net. The men in white were cruising.
As often happens though, the goal sparked the opposition to life. First, John Hegarty raised the white flag after a great run and one-two with Gibbons. Then the same player collected from Jarlath O’Malley and unleashed a powerful shot which was half blocked but still found its way into the Islandeady net. Another O’Malley free meant there was just four between them at the interval.
The second half started in the same vein as the first, with Liam Joyce and Feeney extending Islandeady’s lead from placed balls. Then Brendan Heneghan sparked Louisburgh to life again. He intercepted a sloppy pass in the opposition defence, played a swift one-two with Gibbons and rattled a thunderous left foot drive into the roof of the net.
The ever-reliable Vinnie Feeney steadied the Islandeady ship with two more points, one a free, before Stephen O’Grady replied for Louisburgh with a wonderful point on the run.
On 55 minutes, Feeney hit his eighth point of the evening but O’Grady hit back immediately with another free for Louisburgh.
The men in black and amber were getting more on top as the game entered the closing stages. Joyce chipped over from close range to stem the tide for Islandeady, but after that it was all Louisburgh. Frees from James Gibbons and two from Jarlath O’Malley brought them to within a goal.
With almost the last kick of the game, Kevin Gibbons, who worked tirelessly throughout, raised the white flag from play, but Louisburgh, despite a committed and spirited effort, just ran out of time.

Islandeady
C Moylette; T Gibbons, N McCormack, P Moylette; M Feeney, O Feeney, M Joyce; P Collins, S Heraty (1-1); T Moylette, D McGowan (0-1), C Gordon (0-1); V Feeney (0-8, 5fs), D Gordon, L Joyce (0-3, 1f).
Subs used: B Gibbons for T Moylette (h/t).

Louisburgh
D O’Malley; P O’Grady, M O’Malley, A Moran; J McDonnell, J Gibbons (0-1, 1f), J Reilly; Jarlath O’Malley (0-4, 4f), S O’Grady (0-2, 1f); M Gibbons, B Heneghan (1-0), J Hegarty (1-1); K Gibbons (0-1), F Morahan, James O’Malley.
Subs used: D Fetherson for M Gibbons (27 mins); S Gibbons for F Morahan (40 mins); S Corrigan for James O’Malley (48 mins); D Morahan for J Reilly (51 mins).

Referee: L Devenney (Ballina)