Mayo GAA News 9 July 1997
Knockmore 2 -9 Ballaghaderreen 1- 9
Aiden Henry reports from Ballaghadereen
Knockmore may be on a league-losing streak, but the message came loud and clear on Sunday- they are still the team to beat in the championship.
The defending county and Connaught champions, put their recent poor showing in the division 1 league behind them to record a great win over Ballaghaderreen in the first round of the Mayo senior championship on Sunday last. In doing so, they served notice to all remaining clubs in the championship that they do not intend giving up their title easily.
Both sides lined out without a number of players who were on the injured list. Kevin O'Neill was the main absentee from the North Mayo side while Ballaghaderreen were the hardest hit with injury ruling out Kevin Cahill and star forward, James Mitchell. However, at the end of the day the main difference between the two sides was Ray Dempsey. Throughout the hour he caused all sorts of the problems for the Ballaghaderreen defence and ended up scoring 2 - 1 of his sides total.
Knockmore who played against a strong breeze in the first-half got off to a dream start. From the thrown-in Kevin Staunton gained possession and found Padraig Brogan who in turn sent Ray Dempsey clear with an inch perfect pass. The former Mayo player gave Pat Towey in the Ballaghaderreen goal no chance with a powerful shot to the back of the net. A Padraig Brogan free and a point from play by Peter Butler put Knockmore five points clear after seven minutes. At this early stage it looked as if Knockmore were going to have an easy passage to the next round. However, Ballaghaderreen had other ideas and once Dessie Lynch scored their first point from a free in the 10th. minute they quickly got their act together. In the 12th. minute the industrious Enda McGreevy sent over their second point. The sides were level three minutes later when Tom Morgan after receiving a great pass from Dessie Lynch found the back of the Knockmore net with an unstoppable shot.
For most of the second quarter, Ballaghaderreen with Dermot Flanagan stamping his authority on the game, took over. Matt Regan for Ballaghaderreen and Liam McHale for Knockmore swopped points before McGreevey, Regan and Lynch left the home side in front by 1 - 6 to 1 - 3 at the break.
With the breeze behind them for the second-half Knockmore decided to use the long ball into Brogan and Dempsey. This ploy proved to be a match winning tactic. Declan Dempsey for Knockmore and Maurice O'Gara for Ballaghaderreen each scored in the first three minutes. Knockmore's second goal came in the 4th. minute when a long high ball by Kevin Staunton deep into the Ballaghaderreen half was caught by Ray Dempsey who for the second time in the game left Pat Towey helpless with a low shot into the corner of the net. Shane Sweeney put Knockmore back in front with a point in the fifth minute and Ray Dempsey increased their lead with another fine effort in the 8th. minute. At this stage Knockmore took complete control and should have extended their lead. Padraig Brogan had three great chances in the 13th.,14th. and 15th. minute but failed to find the target.
As the game entered the last quarter Kevin Staunton made a great run forward and blasted over a point with a goal at his mercy. Campbell Brennan reduced Knockmore's lead to two points in the 21st. with a fine effort from thirty yards. However, two points from Padraig Brogan put Knockmore back in the driving seat. With time running out Ballaghaderreen put in a storming finish. A point from a free by Dessie Lynch left just a goal between the sides as the game went into injury time. Ballaghaderreen's full-forward Tom Morgan, had a shot which looked to heading for the back of the net only for it to be cleared off the line. A foul on Knockmore's Fergus Sweeney by Dessie Lynch resulted in the Ballaghaderreen player getting his marching orders. One final attack by Ballaghaderreen failed to bring the necessary goal that would have forced a replay.
For Knockmore Joe Davis, Liam McHale, Kevin Staunton, Declan Dempsey, Padraig Brogan and Ray Dempsey were best.
Ballaghaderreen's best players were Campbell Brennan, Declan McHugh, Dermot Flanagan, David McKenzie, Gerry Carmody, Enda McGreevy and Tom Morgan were best.
Knockmore: P. Reape, F. Sweeney, D. Sweeney, G.O'Hora, J. Davis, L. Armstrong, L. McHale (0-1), K. Staunton (0-1), D. Dempsey (0-1), S. Sweeney (0-1), P. Butler (0-1), P. Cawley, P. Corcoran, P. Brogan (0-3), R. Dempsey (2-1).
Ballaghaderreen: P. Towey, C. Brennan (0-1), .Dillon, T.O'Grady, K. Keegan, D. Flanagan, D. McHugh, P.O'Grady, D. McKenzie, G. Carmody, D. Lynch (0-3), M. Regan (0-2), E. McGreevy (0-2), T. Morgan (1-0), M. O'Gara (0-1). Subs: D. McGarry for (Dillon).
Ref: John Walsh.
