Kilmeena survive ambush in Tourmakeady to advance to Intermediate semi-finals

Mayo Intermediate Championship Quarter Final

Kilmeena 1-11 Parke 1-9

Oisín McGovern in Tuar Mhic Éadaigh

KILMEENA survived an ambush in Tourmakeady this afternoon to reach the Mayo Intermediate semi-finals for the second year in a row.

The final quarter cast an unfair reflection on a Kilmeena team that dominated every area of the field.

John Reilly’s men were leading 1-10 to 0-6 in the 52nd before Parke rattled off 1-3 in three minutes to and had the stand in Páirc Naomh Muire hopping.

Parke tried to land an equaliser, but it was a Jack Carney-inspired Kilmeena that worked a winning free which Darragh Keaveney nailed in the 65th minute.

Caolach Halligan made light of Kilmeena’s slow start by kicking two lovely scores to open their account.

The West Mayo men went 1-2 to 0-1 ahead when Keith Joyce kick-passed to John McGlynn to land their only goal.

Parke struggled against a Kilmeena defence that thrived in the wet and only managed one point from play in the first half.

Kilmeena looked to be on the home stretch when Darragh Keaveney put them seven points ahead in the 50th minute.

That was before an Aaron McHale point, followed by a ‘Hail Mary’ into the square by Ronan Carolan which got a faint touch from Darragh Reilly before bouncing into the net.

Follow-up points from Cathal Keaveney and Sean Corcoran had the Parke faithful in full voice, but they were drowned out by wasted opportunities and a killer Darragh Keaveney free.

There will be a full report plus reaction from the Kilmeena manager John Reilly in Tuesday’s print edition of The Mayo News.