Claremorris pip Ballyhaunis at the post
South Mayo side stay senior after late scoring burst
Mayo Senior Club Championship
Relegation Play-Off
Claremorris 0-9
Ballyhaunis 0-7
TWO POINTS in added time saw Claremorris retain their senior status for 2024 and sent Ballyhaunis into a relegation play-off final against The Neale on Sunday.
This was a dogfight from start to finish and the sides were level heading into stoppage time.
But Claremorris showed nerves of steel down the stretch though with goalkeeper Darragh Fallon nudging Kevin Beirne's team ahead with a superb 45' into a tricky breeze, despite slipping.
A quickfire Niall Hurley effort followed a minute later to get Claremorris over the line.
After leading at half-time by 0-5 to 0-3, Ballyhaunis looked like they would edge it with minutes remaining, but they remarkably hit the post twice in the last quarter and only scored two points in the second half.
Claremorris showed excellent character with points from Colin Gill, Niall Hurley and Adam Beirne clawing them back into the game, in a contest where every point felt like a goal.
Ballyhaunis stayed in front though entering the last quarter through frees from Jason Coyne and Adrian Phillips.
Substitute Mark Maloney kicked the equaliser heading into the last ten minutes after being set up brilliantly by the outstanding David O'Reilly.
Both sides missed chances to go ahead in a chaotic ending, but it was crucially Claremorris who converted the final two chances that were created.
A full match report and reaction from Claremorris manager Kevin Beirne will be available in Tuesday’s edition of The Mayo News.