Claremorris win Touhy Cup  in five-goal thriller

Touhy Cup Final

Claremorris 3 Ballyhaunis Town 2

Oisin McGovern in Milebush

A dominant Claremorris claimed Touhy Cup silver after a cup final that lasted over 100 minutes.

The winners were two goals up on two occasions, but each time Ballyhaunis Town clawed one back despite not creating too many chances.

The first half was all Claremorris.

As expected, the winners broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute when Mickicus swung the ball in for Ryan McLoughlin to tap it into an empty net.

The half-time whistle came like a song of relief for Ballyhaunis, who looked shaky at the back for the entire first half.

But they emerged from the dressing room with a far more attacking mindset, creating two chances within five minutes of the kick-off.

However, Claremorris snuffed out the danger in the 61st minute when an unmarked Noel Mellett bundled in a corner kick.

Ballyhaunis made it 2-1 five minutes later when James Reynolds fired past Keith Saunders after receiving a cross.

This, coupled with their substitutions, gave a new lease of life to ‘Town, who pressed ahead but failed to turn their momentum into chances.

The excellent winger Rokas Mickicus looked to have sealed the deal for Claremorris in the dying seconds of normal time when he fired home after dribbling from the left wing.

However, there was time for one more goal when Robert McCormack blasted in a deflected free kick in the 101st minute.

Claremorris held out for one more minute to clinched the silverware.

Read the full match report plus reaction in Tuesday’s Mayo News.

Claremorris: K Saunders; B Walsh, Mellett, C Joyce, O Brady; D Broderick, J Murphy, J Morley, R Mikcuckis; N Silva, R McLoughlin

Subs: F Brady for Broderick (77 mins, inj.), Caolan Walsh for McLoughlin (90 mins), J Heneghan for Mickicus (90+6 mins), Cathal Walsh for Silva (90+7 mins), F McLoughlin for Mellett (90+9 mins)

Ballyhaunis: A Noone; P McGee, D Lyons, J Morley, M Waldron; K Byrne, W Maughan, J Connaughton, J Carney; J Reynolds, J Webb

Subs: M Alom for Maughan (h-t), R McCormack for Waldron (60 mins, inj.), O Turcu for Webb (66 mins), S Burke for Lyons (77 mins), R Crinnigan for Connaughton (86 mins)

Referee: T Jennings