After the first day of the weekends action in the Mayo GAA Football Championships this weekend, we now know that Knockmore, Mayo Gaels and Kilmeena will be in the senior, intermediate and junior finals respectively - while Balla maintained their status in the senior championship for another year.
Knockmore second half surge sees them home
Knockmore 2-11
Garrymore 0-11
A powerful second-half showing from defending champions Knockmore saw them book a spot in the Mayo GAA Senior Football Championship final in a fortnights time.
Ray Dempsey’s side were under the pump in the first half, with outsiders Garrymore leading by four points at the switch around on a score of 0-8 to 0-4.
The south Mayo me were both abrasive in defence and silky in attack during the opening half hour, while Knockmore’s normally well oiled machine was stuttering as it tried to work through the gears.
Garrymore led 0-7 to 0-3 at the first water break, with a trio of points on the bounce from Cathal Slattery a particular highlight of the opening exchanges - allied with scores from Mark Tierney (2 ), Trevor Nally and Paul Deeley.
Knockmore’s scores came from an early Aidan Orme free (but his shooting radar was off target after that as he pulled a few scoring chances wide and short of the target ), a fine Connell Dempsey effort and Pearse Ruttlege point.
The second quarter saw Garrymore reduced to 14 men for ten minutes when Justin Commins was shown a black card - but Knockmore were only able to add a single point to their tally through a Peter Naughton free, which was responded to by a Darren Quinn point to keep the gap at four points at the half-time break in favour of Damien Egan’s side.
However, Knockmore aren’t the defending champions for no reason and they dug deep in the second half and were the stronger side as Garrymore struggled to keep up the pace they had started with over the final half hour.
Connell Dempsey and Mark Tierney traded early second half points, before Dempsey pulled a great goal chance wide of the far post as Knockmore started to ratchet up the pressure. Twelve minutes into the second half that pressure paid off.
A long ball from Shane McHale into the danger area saw a Garrymore man get a fist to it, but it skewed into the path of Keith Ruttledge who had come on at half time and he made no mistake from close range firing the ball to the net. Liam Durcan who have a very impressive second half also after coming on in its early stages nipped over a point for the champions and the game was all square.
The champions then struck again for a second goal, Pearse Ruttledge was awake inside there box after a Garrymore defender failed to control ball that had broken to him and it slipped through to Ruttledge who hammered it home and the champions were there clear. Naughton clipped on a point not long after and they were four to the good at the second water break.
From then on it was going to be a huge task for Garrymore to reel in the champions. They had a brilliant chance not long after the resumption of the fourth quarter when Liam Og Horkan was played clear through on goal.
Colm Reape pulled off a great save from his initial effort, and Horkan drove his rebound wide of the target. It was a matter of seeing it out from there on in for Knockmore and they did that in a composed and considered way.
It’s on to the final and either Westport or Belmullet standing in their way in a fortnights time as they go looking to retain the title.
Scorers
Knockmore: Keith Ruttledge (1-2 ), Pearse Ruttledge (1-1 ), Connell Dempsey (0-2. 1f ), Liam Durcan (0-2 ) Peter Naughton (0-2 ), Aidan Orme (0-1 ), Adam Naughton (0-1 ).
Garrymore: Cathal Slattery (0-3 ), Mark Tierney (0-3, 1f, 1m ), Darren Quinn (0-3, 2f ), Paul Deeley (0-1, 1f ), Trevor Nally (0-1 )
???? Short audio report from @Gaa_Knockmore win over @Garrymoregaa in the @MayoGAA SFC semi-final ???? The champions got over a tough first half to come strong in the second #mayogaa pic.twitter.com/8mdQNOfYyJ
— Colm Gannon (@ColmGannon ) November 6, 2021
Balla hold on to senior status
Last years intermediate champions retained their senior status for next year after the came from behind to beat Kiltane and send the north Mayo down to intermediate football for next year.
Kiltane led the game at half time, but a strong second half showing saw the west Mayo men run out 1-12 to 0-9 winners and keep themselves in the top level of club football for 2021.
A beaut of a point from Gary McHale as Balla beat Kiltane to retain Senior status #ballagaa #mayogaa pic.twitter.com/B34pphOiH8
— Shane Galvin (@galvionie ) November 6, 2021
Video: Shane Galvin/Twitter
Mayo Gaels show their quality to book intermediate final spot
Mayo Gaels 0-11
Kilmaine 0-6
In the all South Mayo Mayo Intermediate Football Championship semi-final, Mayo Abbey based outfit Mayo Gaels were commanding winners over Kilmaine in Ballinrobe on Saturday afternoon.
The Gaels played with the wind at their backs in the first half and they used it to their advantage to build up an 0-4 to 0-1 lead at the first water break.
James Jennings kicked a wonderful score to get things moving, before a brace of points from John Gallagher and a single from Jack Fallon had the Gaels moving with Adam Barrett getting the solitary point for Kilmaine in response.
James Fallon’s side kept the scoring up in the second quarter, adding on five more points before the break with Gallagher kicking three more along with one from his brother Adam and second point of the day from Jennings, with another Barrett point going the way of Kilmaine - to leave the score 0-9 to 0-2 at the short-whistle.
The second half saw Kilmaine try to eat into the Mayo Gaels lead, but a strong defensive performance along with some poor shooting from Kilmaine saw Mayo Gaels able to keep themselves out of trouble.
They even missed a penalty with Kilmaine and Mayo veteran Brian Maloney saving Adam Gallagher’s spot kick with his first involvement in the game after Adam Keady was shown a black card for a foul on John Gallagher with 15 minutes left.
The Gaels march on to the final on a final score 0-11 to 0-6 where the winner of tomorrow afternoons clash between Louisburgh and Ballyhaunis will be waiting for them.
Scorers
Mayo Gaels: John Gallagher (0-6,5f ), Adam Gallagher (0-2 ), James Jennings (0-2 ), Jack Fallon (0-1 )
Kilmaine: Adam Barrett (0-4, 4f ), Jarlath Mullin (0-2 )
????Quick audio report from @MayoGAA IFC semi-final between @mayogaelsgaa and @kilmainegaa this afternoon ???? The Gaels booked their spot in the final with an commanding display #mayogaa pic.twitter.com/j7R4L5qurg
— Colm Gannon (@ColmGannon ) November 6, 2021
Kilmeena book junior decider place
In the all West Mayo Mayo GAA Junior Football Championship semi-final, Kilmeena had big 1-19 to 0-6 win over Islandeady in Newport.
The victors led 1-5 to 0-5 at the half time break with Niall Feehan getting the goal, but they really showed their class in the second outscoring their opponents 0-14 to 0-1. The will wait for the winners of Sunday’s meeting between Shrule-Glencorrib and Cill Chomain in the final.
