Hurricane Caolach blows Kilmeena into Connacht semi-final

CONNACHT IFC QUARTER FINAL

Kilmeena 4-18

Annaduff 0-8

Michael Gallagher

Castlebar

They started slowly and were five points down after 20 minutes of Sunday's provincial quarter final in Castlebar but when Kilmeena began to roll they over-ran the gallant men from Annaduff and a stunning second-half return of 2-4 from Caolach Halligan sealed the deal.

The Mayo champions were red-hot favourites going into the game but the Leitrim men paid no heed to that and established a 0-6 to 0-1 lead thanks to fine play from lively centre-half-forward Darren Cox and Ray Cox on the edge of the square.

Then, Kilmeena located their mojo and took charge around the middle with Jack Carney, Jack Mulchrone and Ciaran Kilcoyne prominent.

Johnny McGlynn, Keith Joyce and Darragh Keaveney cut loose and the gap was down to just two, 0-5 to 0-7, when the short whistle sounded.

That was as good as it got for Annaduff, because Kilmeena's Caolach Halligan was about to take centre-stage. The Meath native had a goal and two points scored before three minutes of the second half had elapsed and that was the end of the affair.

The Mayo champions took charge around the middle and Annaduff were pinned in. They couldn't get past the marauding Clew Bay boys and the only score they got in the second half arrived from a Darren Cox free six minutes from the end,

By that stage Halligan had kicked another 1-2 and when Carney and marauding wing-back Niall Feehan hit late goals the deal was sealed.

Darragh Slattery, Liam Moore and Sean Ryder also troubled the umpires before the end and when the final whistle sounded the Kilmeena battalions were planning next Sunday's trip to Tuam for the Connacht semi-final against Monivea Abbey

A full match report and aftermatch reaction will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News