Breaking Sports News: Mayo Senior, Intermediate Championship roundup

Monday Update: Weekend of High Drama in Senior and Intermediate Club Championships

They may be the favourites to win this year’s Mayo senior football championship but Crossmolina had to come from behind to salvage a draw with Ballintubber in the opening round yesterday.
John Maughan’s side needed three late points from Peadar Gardiner, Henry McLoughlin and SeΡn Kelly to grab a 0-9 to 1-6 draw on home ground.
A first half goal from Ballintubber’s Alan Plunkett had put James Horan’s (a two-time All Star winner) side in the driving seat, but the Deel Rovers late rally denied the visitors a famous win.

Elsewhere, 2008 champions Ballaghaderreen slumped to a shock nine-point defeat against rank outsiders Ballinrobe on Saturday evening.
Four points from Mark Walkin and a powerful midfield performance by Mayo’s Donal Vaughan helped Ballinrobe to  fully-deserved 1-11 to 0-9 victory.

County goalkeeper, Kenneth O’Malley, also saved a second half penalty from his Mayo team-mate Andy Moran.
There was also a shock result in Islandeady as West Mayo (an amalgamation of junior clubs in Islandeady, Balla, Louisburgh and Parke) stunned Kiltane with a 0-13 to 0-10 victory.
AUDIO West Mayo manager Padraig Walsh reflects on victory over Kiltane

Garrymore made a winning start to their championship campaign too with a comprehensive 2-9 to 0-4 victory over near-neighbours Claremorris. Goals from Brian Walsh and Jimmy Killeen proved decisive in the end.
Killeen ended the match with 1-5 as 14-man Garrymore pulled away to win easily despite having Brian Lynskey sent off during the first half.

Meanwhile, six points from the boot of veteran Kevin O’Neill helped Knockmore to a 0-10 to 1-5 win at home to Ballina Stephenites in the big north Mayo derby.

Mayo forward Aidan O’Shea was the hero for Breaffy away to Westport as his injury-time free from long-range stole victory (0-11 to 1-7) at the death.
AUDIO After Breaffy’s win over Westport we caught up with winning manager Jim O’Shea

Peter Ford’s Castlebar Mitchels also got off to a positive start with a 0-10 to 0-7 victory over Shrule/Glencorrib with late scores from Neil Douglas, Ger McDonagh and Pat Kelly proving crucial.

In the Mayo Intermediate championship, title favourites Burrishoole (who are managed by former Mayo star Colm McManamon) made a winning start with a 1-10 to 0-4 win over an outclassed Ballyhaunis.

Sunday Update: Breaffy Leave it Late

Aidan O'Shea's long range free late in injury time gave Breaffy a dramatic one point win in Westport on Sunday afternoon.
The winners had trailed by four points at half time but had the better of the exchanges in the second half and dug deep late on to secure a vital opening victory in the five team section.
AUDIO After Breaffy’s win over Westport we caught up with winning manager Jim O’Shea

Also on Sunday afternoon, Knockmore won the north Mayo derby beating Ballina by 0-10 to 1-5 to join Ballinrobe at the top of Section four.
The early scores also saw some interesting results.
In section 2 of the Senior Championship, Castlebar have come through a tight tussle with Shrule winning 0-10 to 0-7 in a game that boiled over on more than one occasion.
In the second of the early starts in the Senior Championship. Crossmolina scored three late points to earn a draw at home to Ballintubber.

Meanwhile in the Intermediate Championship, Burrishoole had an expected facile vocitory over Ballyhaunis winning by ine points while Belmullet and Kiltimagh played out an exciting 1-11 to 2-8 draw.
Elsewhere, Cill Chomain toppled Hollymount by three points and Bonniconlon got off to a good start with a three point victory over Mayo Gaels.

Sunday Scores

Senior Championship
Section 1
Crossmolina 0-9, Ballintubber 1-6
Section 2
Castlebar 0-10, Shrule Glencorrib 0-7
Section 3
Westport 1-7, Breaffy 0-10
Section 4
Knockmore 0-10, Ballina 1-5

Intermediate Championship
Section 1
Belmullet 1-11, Kiltimagh 2-8
Bonniconlon 1-10, Mayo Gaels 1-7
Section 2
Hollymount 1-7, Cill Chomain1-9
Section 3
Burrishoole 1-10, Ballyhaunis 0-4
Kilmeena 1-5, Swinford 0-6

Saturday Update: Ballinrobe Stun Ballagh'

Ballinrobe provided the shock of the first round of the Mayo senior football championship with a nine point victory over Ballaghaderreen.
The South Mayo side were 3/1 outsiders to beat the 2008 county champions and produced a stunning display to run out 1-11 to 0-9 winners in Charlestown.
Ballinrobe led by 0-6 to 0-4 at half-time but the game turned when Mayo goalkeeper, Kenneth O’Malley, produced a magnificent save to deny Ballagh’s Andy Moran a goal from the penalty spot five minutes into the second half.
Norman O’Brien’s Ballinrobe never looked back, tacking on 1-5 without reply over the final thirty minutes as Ballaghaderreen failed to break down the winner’s defence.
Man of the match, Mark Walkin, scored five points from play for the winners with Mayo’s Donal Vaughan adding two points from midfield. Their goal was scored by sub, Shane Owens, in stoppage-time.

West Mayo are off the mark also, having lost their opening game to Charlestown late last month. The amalgamation of Junior talent in the west of the county were rank outsiders at the start of play in Islandeady today but out-fought last year's quarter finalist Kiltane, winning by 0-13 to 0-10 in the end.
They led by 0-9 to 0-4 at half time but the sending off of John Hegarty on 28 minutes meant the second half was always likely to be a tough battle.
In the end however, West dug deep with a fine rearguard action in the second half.
Ollie Feeney, his brother Vinny Feeney, Simon Cloherty and Brian McCormack all excelled.
AUDIO West Mayo manager Padraig Walsh reflects on victory over Kiltane

Elsewhere today, Garrymore produced a tremendous all round display to overwhelm Claremorris in stunning fashion.
The local derby was a completely one-sided affair with outsiders Garrymore winning by 2-9 to 0-4 against a completely out of sorts Claremorris.


Saturday Update: Kilmaine, Davitts and Tourmakeady secure Intermediate Victories

Kilmaine are up and running in Section 4 after a late surge in Achill turned a sticky situation into a comforable 1-10 to 1-5 victory.
The favourites coming in trailed by three with 15 minutes remaining but produced a surge in the closing stages that saw them score 1-5 without reply.
Paul Doherty was the key man in all this scoring four fine points, a Padair  McDonagh goal in the midst of that spell proved crucial.
Achill had led by 1-2 to 0-4 at half time after Michael McNamara's goal. The game was held up in those closing stages due to an injury to Joey Moloney (knee). He had kicked three first half points.
In the other game in Section 4, Davitts also won away. They toppled Killala 1-12 to 1-9 thus ensuring that two south Mayo clubs top the pile in that division. 
Meanwhile in Section 1, Tourmakeady are up and running in fine style after the overwhelmed Crossmolina B today with 4-11 to 0-10 victory in a game that was moved to Ballinrobe.

AUDIO Kilmaine's Gearoid O'Dea after his sides five point victory. Listen


Saturday Scores

Senior Championship
Section 1
Garrymore 2-9, Clarmorris 0-4
Section 3
West Mayo 0-13, Kiltane 0-10
Section 4
Ballaghaderreen 0-5, Ballinrobe 1-11

Intermediate Championships
Section 2
Tourmakeady 4-11 Crossmolina B 0-10
Section 4
Achill 1-5, Kilmaine 1-10
Killala 1-9, Davitts 1-12