U16 Boys West Mayo ‘B’ Final.
Tuesday 11th September 2018
Kilmeena vs Breaffy
Islandeady was the host venue for this West Mayo B Final. Weather conditions were good – cloudy but dry with just a light breeze.
‘With so many players carrying injuries and some recovering from a recent bout of illness, the odds were somewhat stacked against the Kilmeena lads on this occasion, but they played the game with heroic effort and determination from start to finish – so much so, that they probably deserved something other than to be second best on the day..........’
Ronan O’Donnell opened Kilmeena’s account with a pointed free. Breaffy responded with a point from play and the teams exchanged a pointed free over the following few minutes of play. A superbly taken point by Ian Murphy was followed by another Breaffy minor. Breaffy then exposed the Kilmeena defence to score the game’s first goal. Shortly afterwards, the Breaffy efforts at pressing the Kilmeena kick-outs yielded possession and some quick interplay by the Breaffy lads landed a second goal for the team in blue and white.
But instead of rolling over, the men in black and white dug in and utilising quicker ball into the Kilmeena forwards combined with excellent running from Ian Murphy, their efforts began to pay off. Ben Lennon scored a neat point from play. Then a ball driven into the Breaffy danger area from the boot of Chris McNally was fisted to the back of the Breaffy net by Cillian O’Grady – Kilmeena were back in the contest. Breaffy did respond with three further points but the men in black and white equalled them; with two cracking scores from Ian Murphy and the final score of the first half – a point from Cillian O’Grady.
And so, at the small whistle Breaffy had 2 point advantage.
Kilmeena ; 1 – 7, Breaffy; 2 – 6
Shortly after the commencement of the second half, Robbie Staunton was forced off through injury and was substituted with Oisin Grimley. The second period turned into a somewhat more scrappy contest. With the effects of recent injuries and illness catching up with some players, Kilmeena’s energy levels began to wane.
Ian Murphy did made a lung-bursting run up the field to score his fourth point of the evening and Ronan O’Donnell kept Kilmeena in touch with two well taken frees. But Breaffy kept the scoreboard ticking over with scores of their own from play.
With about 8 minutes of normal time remaining, Kilmeena were within a score of the Breaffy men only for the men in blue and white to put four between the teams. And then came the killer blow – a third goal from the Breaffy men.
Now seven points adrift and with only a few minutes remaining, the tiring Kilmeena players just couldn’t muster the charge to close the gap. Kilmeena did manage one additional point from play to leave six between the teams at the final whistle – but in the end it was victory for Breaffy.
Having beaten Breaffy earlier in the season, this was bitterly disappointing for Kilmeena, but the men in black and white went down fighting.
Final score: Kilmeena; 1 – 12, Breaffy; 3 - 12
The panel present this evening comprised of the following:
Cathal Cawley, Harry Sheridan, Adam Sheridan, Tom Smythe, Robbie Staunton, Ronan O’Donnell, Chris McGlynn, Kian Moore, Mikey Hastings, Jason McGlynn, Ian Murphy, Mark Hastings, Ben Lennon, Chris McNally, Cillian O’Grady, Oisin Grimley, Jack Walsh, Liam Moore, Rory Nolan, Daniel O’Malley, Darragh Slattery, Colin Hastings.
Click here for images from the game.
