GAA
29 July 1998

MAYO LEAGUE TUOHY CUP FINAL BIZARRE GOAL A TURNING POINT IN URLAUR DECLINE. . . Erris end catalogues of failures

Erris United ............................. 2 Urlaur United .............................. 1

BY TOM KELLY. . .AT MILEBUSH

Erris United's catalogue of cup final disappointments has been sweep away in one fell swoop.

The Belmullet club lifted the Mayo League's Tuohy Cup for the first time at Milebush on Sunday with a memorable win over Urlaur United, a victory which crushed their reputation as a side which collapsed on the big occasion.

Ironically, they were put on the road to their finest ever moment of glory by an own goal as bizarre as any witnessed at the venue.

Urlaur goalkeeper Frank O'Boyle dropped a cross by Erris striker, David McIntyre, into his own net in the 25th minute. He did well to come and claim the ball in a crowded penalty area. But he allowed it slip from his grasp as he appeared to collide with one of his own players.

It was a disastrous moment for Urlaur who had been totally dominant up to that point, missing at least four clear-cut chances.

Erris custodian Padraig McIntyre kept his side in the match in the early stages with two saves of the highest calibre from Urlaur attackers, Ronnie Robinson and Chris Jordan.

Urlaur's bad luck in front of the target continued when midfield ace John Costello hit a post, and Tim Moriarty had an fine effort cleared dramatically off the goal-line.

It was not going to be Urlaur's day, an assertion which was reinforced when O'Boyle suffered the indignity of scoring an own goal.

Erris rode their good fortune, and increased the lead ten minutes before half-time. A direct free-kick by Martin McIntyre was struck clinically over the defensive wall and into a corner of the net.

DESPERATE BID

Erris should have had a third goal early in the second half when the outstanding Neil Shevlin set up David McIntyre. But the finish did not match the approach play.

Urlaur pushed towering midfielder Tim Moriarty into attack in a desperate bid to retrieve the situation.

It was a switch which worked the oracle when Moriarty pulled a goal back by heading the ball cleanly into the net following a free-kick on the right by John Costello in the 64th minute.

Now it looked as if Urlaur were poised to turn the match completely around, but they failed to create a feasible opportunity after that as Erris held firm at the back.

Nobody could begrudge Erris their victory. As Harry Reilly, the team captain, observed at the presentation afterwards, it was a long time coming. Hopefully it would be a turning point for the club, he added.

With skilful players like Shevlin, Gareth O'Malley, Paul Reilly and Martin McIntyre in the side, they certainly have the basis for a successful future.

Urlaur, on the other hand, will not be too disheartened. They played well enough to have won, but did not get the breaks.

Erris United: P. McIntyre, M. G. Reilly, A. Duffy, M. Dixon, M. McIntyre, P. Reilly, H. Reilly, J. Coyle, N. Shevlin, D. McNulty, G. O'Malley. Subs: N. McNulty (for M. G. Reilly), P. Munnelly (for H. Reilly); G. Reilly (for D. McIntyre).

Urlaur United: F. O'Boyle, M. Horan, B. Duffy, P. Beirne, J. Duffy, J. Costello, C. Jordan, T. Moriarty, N. Regan, P. Jordan, R. Robinson. Subs: D. Byrne (for Regan); M. Harrison (for Horan). Ref: M. Walsh (Castlebar).

*Star Rating: Neil Shevlin. . .intelligent midfield touches.

Kiltane finally wear down gritty Swinford

Kiltane 1-4 . . . . Swinford 0-5

From John Melvin in Bangor

It took a goal of real class from Edward McDonagh to rescue Kiltane and put them through to the quarter-final of the Mayo senior championship in this dour struggle played in a constant downpour in Bangor on Saturday evening.

The game ended on a sour note when referee Martin Murphy was accosted by a Swinford player, but contrary to rumours, the experienced Mayo official was not assaulted and did not feel in anyway threatened when a crowd gathered round him after the game..

It is understood the Ballinrobe official will be reporting a Swinford player for interference, but there was never any question of an assault.

The minor melee was over a in a few seconds and came at the end of a tension filled, and indeed hard fought a battle, played in extremely testing conditions and which ended with a player from each side- Kevin Barrett (Kiltane) and Sean Roughneen (Swinford) being sent off minutes from the end.. The two became embroiled after one responded to a dangerous tackle by the other.

There was even some confusion about the final score, but it emerged that just two points separated the sides at the end, and not three as many of us had thought. The halftime score gave Swinford a slender one pint lead 0-3 to 0-2.

That controversial Swinford point came in a low scoring and tight marking the first half and when they look back on the chances they had in this game, and indeed if they were not missing three of their top players, they might well have at least earned a draw, if not caused something of an upset.

But for a young side they did remarkably well against a psychically stronger and vastly more experienced Kiltane side and Kiltane were pushed right to the edge by a gritty Swinford side whose youth always militated against them causing an upset against their much more seasoned opponents.

On the first half evidence it was Swinford who looked the most likely side to succeed having held led Kiltane by 0-3 to 0-2 at the break and had the benefit of a strong wind in the second half.

However, when all hands were called for on deck it was the experienced players Kiltane who rebounded and none more so than their centre back Michael Doherty who was in the thick of everything.

Full back Eamon Niland, Kieran Carey who prized out several opening for scores and was inst1rumental in creating the goal, Edward McDonagh and Sean Carey gave Kiltane a line of steel down the middle in the second half and it was those players in particular who rescued Kiltane from what was a very tricky situation.

Both teams must be given credit for playing some good football in very trying conditions as this game was played in a constant downpour.

Under the circumstances mistakes were aplenty and a slippery ball which squirted everywhere caused nightmares for both sets of backs who coped admirably under the circumstances.

But it was Kiltane's ability to carve out opening and particularly the excellent work of Kieran Carey which proved critical in creating that all important goal which came ten minutes into the second half and proved so crucial in the end.

That goal lifted Kiltane into a 1-3 to 0-3 lead, and while Tim Gallagher pulled back a point from a free almost immediately, Dave Sweeney burst forward to score a crucial point to keep Kiltane's three point lead intact.

It wasn't threatened again until Timmy Gallagher hit the target with a free a minute from time and they came so close to that golden goal but Eoin Gallagher was denied

Kiltane: P.J.Carey, Enda Brogan, Eamon Niland, Packie Sweeney, Dave Sweeney (0-1); Michael Doherty, Martin McAndrew, John Conmy, Kieran Carey (0-1); Martin Coyle, Edward McDonagh (1-0); Brendan Carey, Damien Carey, Sean Carey (0-2); Michael Gaughan. Subs: Kevin Barnett for Michael Gaughan.

Swinford:John Dunne, Noel Gallagher, John McCallion, Noel McCallion, Alan Heaney, Dave Heaney, Vinnie Roughneen, Gary Smith, Aiden McNally, Paul McDonagh, Eoin Gallagher, leo Gavin, Tim Gallagher (0-3); Sean Roughneen (0-2); Enda Murtagh. Subs: C. O'Hara and V. Gavin.

Ref: Martin Murphy (Ballinrobe)

MAJESTIC McHALE MAPS SAFE PASSAGE FOR BALLINA

Ballina 0-14 -- Hollymount 0-8 From John Melvin in Ballina

LIAM MCHALE scripted, directed, produced and took the leading role in yet another Ballina winning performance as they swept aside the challenge of Hollymount to clinch a semi-final meeting with Kiltane in the Howley Distribution Mayo senior football championship.

Showing no ill-effects from his honeymoon, this was the master craftsman at work in his own backyard-James Stephens Park-as he directed operations from the middle of the field, distributing fast ball into open spaces which Ballina's pacey attack thrived on while he also linked well with Ballina's impressive half-back unit..

There was little Hollymount could do. They tried a number of combinations in an effort to outwit McHale and his hard working partner David Brady, but it was the Ballina alliance which held sway for most of the hour, the first quarter of the second half being their most dominant as Ballina rattled over five unanswered points to lead by double scores - 0-10 to 0-5.

It was a game which produced some good quality, football, started in dramatic style, but ended in a whimper as Ballina took control in the second half as Hollymount ran out of steam and ideas.. Referee Michael Daly had a busy afternoon as he rigorously imposed the personal foul rule and entered the names of several players in his book, however he was unable to convict the culprit who had polaxed full forward Paul McGarry who needed attention for almost four minutes before play could resume.

Despite checking with a full jury- linesmen and umpires- and Ballina players very close to carrying out their own lynching on one Hollymount individual, the case was dismissed due to a lack of evidence and the game resumed.

That was just after five minutes by which time Paul McGarry had opened the scoring with an excellent point after Ballina swept down through the middle with a move, inevitably started by McHale and finished by the impressive full forward from Lacken.

It was evident from an early stage that Hollymount were being caught for pace at the back and by the 10th minute two pointed frees from Martin McGrath had Ballina three points clear.

Hollymount were getting a poor service to their forwards, but their best player, Noel Conneely, who started at corner forward, but later transferred to midfield, forced a magnificent save from John Healy before Ardil Jennings finally got his side off the mark with a well taken point from play from all of fifty yards after 17tn minutes.

Ballina's response was swift, McHale coming in on the end of a nice move with McGarry to restore Ballina's three point lead, but by half time this match was all square, Hollymount having the better of the fare in the final ten minutes, but needing all those scores as they had to face a stiffiish wind in the second half..

Noel Stagg pulled another point back in the 23rd minute and a superb point from a very tight angle by the impressive Keith Lynn a minute later kept Ballina sitting on that three point cushion. However, it was Hollymount who came back strongly in the last ten minutes with points from Morley and two frees from John Stagg to tie it at 0-5 each at the break. Twelve minutes into the second half Ballina had taken command again with five unanswered points as Hollymount's challenge began to evaporate. An excellent point from McGrath, McGarry with a gem from a very tight angle, Brady, who really got stuck in for the second half, McGrath from a fifty, having forced a great save from the Hollymount keeper, and Brian McStay all carded good scores from moves that carved open the Hollymount defence.

Jarlath Jennings, subdued in that opening half, pointed a free to provide Hollymount with some spark of hope but any hope of Hollymount igniting a late fire was extinguished by the excellent Barry Heffernan who pointed after a forty yard foray down through the middle.

There was still fifteen minutes left and Hollymount five point adrift but they never looked like finding a route back You'd have to say Ballina look a safe bet for the final, although I expect Kiltane will prove a much tougher test than Hollymount, who were disappointing given the heights they have reached in the past. McHale, with good support from Brady, provided a good supply, but Ballina will need a better return form their attack with McGarry, Lynn, McGrath and Brian McStay doing best.

Shane Sweeney at left half back impressed in a very god half back line of Heffernan and Ruane while they have an excellent keeper in John Healy while, despite some anxious moments a youthful looking full back line of Duffy, Divinney and Golden stood firm in the second half .For Hollymount it must be a case of rebuilding for the future. They look jaded at times and they have a few players who have more than their fair share of mileage up.

Paul Keane, Noel Jennings, Kenneth Morley, Ray Conneely, Noel Conneely, Noel Stagg and John Stagg were the pick on the day.

Ballina : John Healy, Keith Duffy, James Divviney, Kenny Golden, Brian Ruane, Brian Heffernan (0-1); Shane Sweeney, Liam McHale (0-1); David Brady (0-1); Brian McStay (0-1); Denis Coen, Martin McGrath (0-6- four frees 1-50); Paul McStay, Paul McGarry (0-1); Keith Lynn (0-2). Subs: S. Barrett (0-1) for P. McStay.

Hollymount: Paul Keane, Mike Jennings, Mike Morris, Noel Jennings, James Regan, Kenneth Morley (0-1); Ollie Conneely, Ray Conneely, Ardil Jennings (0-1), Jarlath Jennings (0-2); Noel Stagg (0-1), Conor Gill, Noel Conneely, P.J. Coen, John Stagg (0-3). Subs: G. Stagg for Regan, Pat Ruane for Ollie Conneely.

Ref: Michael Daly (Ballyhaunis).

Man of the Match......Liam McHale... director of operations......

Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - July 1998