Kilmaine booked their place in the Mayo intermediate championship final pulling up on Sunday evening in McHale Park. The south Mayo men ran out seven point winners against Parke, with their opponents failing to register a single score in the second half. Kilmaine's centre half forward Joey Maloney was the main man on show kicking eight of his sides half a dozen scores. Seven of those points were from frees, with sub Joe Cooper putting his hand up for a starting spot in the final with a two point cameo off the bench in the second half.
The sides went in at the break level at five points each and Park will be kicking themselves that they didn't go in at least a couple of points to the good missing three scroable frees in the closing stages of the half. Kilmaine hit the first score of the game right from the throw in with Cathal Murphy setting up Maloney for his only score from play within ten seconds of the start. Parke were playing with the aid of a strong breeze and put themselves in to a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after 12 minutes. Ronan Carolan kicked the black and amber men's first two points, with Simon Cloherty adding one from distance. Parke's fourth point came form full forward Sean McHale. Two Maloney's free's kept Kilmaine in touch early on during this Parke scoring burst, along with a good point from play from the boot of Cathal Murphy
Simon Cloherty one of Parke's go to men could and should have buried the ball in the back of the Eamon Mulderig's net on 20 minutes, but he chose to put the ball over the bar rather then test the Kilmaine keeper. That was as good as it got for Parke as they kicked a couple of wides and Maloney leveled it up before the break.
The second half was a dour affair for all in McHale Park unless you were there supporting Kilmaine as they pushed themselves over the line without ever really having to exert themselves. Maloney and Francis Burke kicked points to put their side two points to the good and the never looked back. Maloney kept the scoreboard ticking over with Joe Cooper kicking a brace as they ran the game down. Parke will be disappointed with their second half display, but for Kilmaine, they've a bigger date to look forward to.
North Mayo men march on
Kiltane booked their place in the final with a big second half performance against The Neale in the second game of Sunday's double header running out 2-18 to 1-11 winners.
The first half saw Kiltane and The Neale put on a great 30 minutes of football, with the north Mayo men going in leading by 1-7 to 0-8 at the break. Mikey Sweeney's goal just after the quarter of an hour mark swung the game back in his sides favour after The Neale had got off to a great start and were leading by 0-6 to 0-2 at that stage. Sean Cosgrove the hero of last years junior final win over Ardnaree kicked four points over the first half with sub Dara Moran chipping in with two for the south Mayo men. Their other scores coming from Pat Casey and Paddy Hopkins. While for Kiltane John Reilly and his midfield partner Jason Healy accounted for five of their sides points, with Tommy Conroy adding the other two. Pat Joe Gaughan was ball of energy for Kiltane in the half, working very hard on and off the ball and linking up play superbly.
The second half started in dramatic fashion with Pat Casey being fouled inside the large rectangle and Sean Cosgrove putting it to the back of the net with aplomb and putting The Neale back in the lead. Shane Lindsey almost wiped out that goal seconds later, but Keith Hennelly pulled of a wonderful save, the resulting 45 which was driven over the bar by Darragh Carey.
A two minute spell between the 12th and 13th minutes saw Kiltane kick 1-2 without reply to put themselves into a five point lead with Tommy Conroy fining the back of the net and Shane Lindsay and Mikey Sweeney adding on points, to put their side into what was a winning lead with Shane Lindsay, Mikey Sweeney, Tony Gaughan and Edmund Barrett all chipping in with scores before the end as they ran The Neale ragged in the closing stages under the floodlights in McHale Park.
