Resilient Claremorris send message to Mayo with win over six-goal Westport
Niall Hurley shone for the winning side as last year’s Moclair Cup finalists recorded a loss on the road
Claremorris 1-28
Westport 6-11
Claremorris
How does one begin to encapsulate a game that has 7-39 split between two teams?
What is rare is wonderful, and this game truly was. In years gone by, the side managed by Kevin Beirne have constantly had the moniker of having a soft underbelly thrown at them, but days like today prove that those tags are well and truly blown off.
Six times on Saturday evening, they had to endure the hammer blow of having their net shaken. Six times, they bit down on their gumshields in what was a fascinating bout from first bell to last.
Their dance partners, Westport, deserve credit for their part in the tango. Some of their forward play to carve out three-pointers was exemplary.
However, Claremorris weren't for turning. Without key players, chief amongst them Darragh Beirne, they tore into the task at hand, hustling and harrying. Now, they have guaranteed their spot in the knockout stages with a game to spare.
Said hustling and harrying brought them their first point, earning a free for Cathal Joyce to convert. A two-point placed ball from Joyce followed. When Niall Hurley and Mark Maloney added singles, things were looking ominous for a toothless Westport side up until that point.
However, their first meaningful attack was a prelude for what was to come. Ben Holmes drove through the heart of the Clare Lake-siders before rolling into the bottom right corner.
Hurley and Maloney doubled their tallies, prompting swift replies from Holmes and Killian Kilkelly. Then came the second net-shaker. This time, Joey Holmes nearly cracked the crossbar as he rifled past Darragh Fallon to give the Covies the lead.
Paul Gilmore and Dara Hurley edged the home side ahead once more in what was already showing the hallmarks of a ding-dong battle.
However, Ben Holmes helped carve open the Claremorris rearguard when he passed across to Brian O’Malley to dispatch into the onion bag.
Niall Hurley brought it back to the minimum, before Joyce put on an accuracy clinic to re-establish the home ascendancy.
Three two-point frees from him, coupled with a cracking Jack Noone effort from downtown, had the gap out to seven with moments to go.
However, the orange flags were being hoisted high at pace down the pitch also, as Finbar McLaughlin and Killian Kilkelly had things back to four at the changeover.
Maloney pointed to widen it to five, but the goal mayhem wasn’t condemned to Act One.
Killian Kilkelly’s attempted free from distance may have dropped short, but it wreaked havoc. Darragh Fallon couldn’t get his gloves on the leather, which spilled invitingly for Luke Tunney. The grateful half-back took his chance soccer-style, bringing the gap back to two.
A Conal Dawson free had Westport snapping at the hosts’ heels. Then it became the Niall Hurley show.
A stunning single on the loop with a Westport defender breathing down his neck, a rasping goal under Paddy O’Malley and a curling two-pointer capped off a red-hot five minutes which had clear blue water between the teams.
However, Westport had other ideas. Kilkelly raised an orange flag, Lee Keegan popped up with a brace, and a Ben Holmes effort trickled over the line and into the net.
In the blink of an eye, parity was restored. But there was still plenty of action to be packed into ten minutes.
Claremorris looked home and hosed as Niall (3) and Dara Hurley landed what appeared to be killer blows, leaving the gap at four with three minutes of injury time gone.
However, Westport threw one last roll of the dice. Joe Holmes, after being upended in the box, stuck home a penalty with ice in his veins.
Suddenly, Claremorris were scrapping for their lives. Substitute James Stretton sparked delirium when he struck over with 64:07 on the clock.
However, calamity struck. A free was awarded to Westport perilously close to the two-point arc. Many were resigned to a draw. However, Paddy O’Malley’s effort trailed wide of the left stick.
After an hour of utter pandemonium, Claremorris stood tall. They took down one of the favourites and sent a message that they are a serious force to be reckoned with for those looking to take home the Moclair.
A full report will be carried in Tuesday’s edition of The Mayo News.