Mayo SFL Division 1A – Round 3
Charlestown4-12
Knockmore1-17
John Paul Heaney at Fr O’Hara Park, Charlestown
Those fortunate enough to be in Fr O’Hara Park last Sunday certainly won’t forget this game for a while. The football served up by both teams was highly admirable and some of the scores kicked of the highest standard, with the eventual outcome not decided until late on.
In a game that ebbed and flowed, Knockmore finished strongly but ultimately were unable to overcome the hosts for whom Mayo panellist Paul Towey hit 3-7, including 2-2 from play.
To be fair, both sets of forwards were on fire on a glorious day for football in the East Mayo town. Some of the long-range scores kicked were of the highest order with regular patches of team play being of an exceptional standard also. With a bit more composure down the home straight Knockmore might have won it; it was that sort of game.
The visitors had roared out of the blocks and at the end of the opening quarter had built a 0-7 to 0-1 lead. It was hard to keep up with all the action as the points flowed over; Aiden Orme made a blistering start and accounted for four of these seven points, including a ‘mark’, with Conor Flynn, Nathan Armstrong and Caolan Hopkins registering from play as well. And yet, despite this fabulous start, it was Knockmore who, quite remarkably, would trail at the break.
The second quarter continued at breathtaking pace but this time all the scoring was at the opposite end. Charlestown, seeking their first win of the season, won this section of the game 2-4 to 0-2 to hold a two-point lead, 2-5 to 0-9, at half-time, at which point everyone present was finally able to take a breath. Points by Niall Drudy, Jack Corley and a ‘mark’ by Paul Towey came before Alan Woods was fouled in the large rectangle and Towey blasted home the spot kick.
Their second goal was the pick of the evening and came as the clock hit the 30-minute mark, with Patrick Lenehan blasting across the face of Ryan McDonnell’s goal and into the far corner. Towey, who came off the bench the previous evening for Mayo against Cavan, finished the first-half scoring with a late point.
It wasn’t a huge surprise that the pace of the first-half didn’t repeat itself after the resumption but ten minutes in, Knockmore had drawn level, 2-6 to 0-12, with Caolan Hopkins, Nathan Armstrong and Aiden Orme, another free, all hitting the target. But the game took a decisive turn midway through the half when Charlestown blasted home 2-2 without reply in the space of five minutes to roar into a lead they would never relinquish.
A high ball in from Kiefer Craig was not dealt with properly and Paul Towey was at the back post to slot home. He completed his hat-trick minutes later, this time with a low finish to the bottom corner of the Knockmore net with just ten minutes remaining.
This contest wasn’t over however, as Knockmore refused to throw in the towel and in an absorbing finish, outscored their hosts 1-5 to 0-4. Points by Connell Dempsey, Caolan Hopkins and Aiden Orme came before midfielder Dempsey finished to the net from close range, with Nathan Armstrong also adding his third point of the evening to narrow the gap down to just two points as stoppage-time commenced. However, it was not to be as Charlestown held off this late rally; two late points from Towey, one from play and a free, along with Patrick Goldrick’s first of the evening proved just enough.
Referee John Walker showed late cards to Knockmore’s Darragh Staunton (straight red) and Charlestown’s Ruairi Cullen (black) but these decisions had no major impact on the outcome.
Scorers – Charlestown: Paul Towey 3-7 (1-0pen, 0-4f, 0-1m), Patrick Lenehan 1-0, Niall Drudy, Jack Corley, Alan Woods, Matthew Lenehan and Patrick Goldrick 0-1 each.
Knockmore: Aiden Orme 0-7 (2f, 1 ’45), Connell Dempsey 1-1, Nathan Armstrong and Caolan Hopkins 0-3 each, Conor Flynn, Liam Durkan and Darragh Staunton 0-1 each.
Charlestown: Kenneth Brennan; Niall Drudy, Gerald McLoughlin, Fergal Quinn; Ben Conway, Jack Corley, Alan Woods; Patrick Goldrick, Gareth O’Donnell; Kiefer Craig, Ruairi Cullen, Michael Marren; Matthew Lenehan, Paul Towey, Patrick Lenehan. Subs: Owen Flannery (for Marren 45), Niall Fleming (for P Lenehan 52), Jack Brennan (for Cullen 57), Niall Towey (for Craig 60+2).
Knockmore: Ryan McDonnell; David McHale, David McHale; Adam Battle; Conor Flynn, Nathan Armstrong, Kieran King; Darragh Staunton, Connell Dempsey; Caolan Hopkins, Aiden Orme, Pearse Ruttledge; Keith Ruttledge, Nathan Hardy, Liam Durkan. Subs: Oran Timlin (for K Ruttledge 45), Fergal Keane (for Hardy 57).
REF: John Walker (Cill Chomáin)
