August 19th 2018 Mayo Senior League

Ballintubber 2-16 Hollymount/Carramore 0-13

An under-strength Ballintubber side saw off the challenge of neighbours’ Hollymount/Carramore in warm, humid conditions in Clogher today. In the absence of three of the O’Connors and both the Plunketts, young guns Stephen O’Malley and Jamsie Finnerty stood up to the plate, amassing over half of the scores for the Red and White. Darren Coen and Kevin Feerick in particular impressed in the early stages for the visitors but it was Alan Dillon and Jamsie Finnerty’s second-half goals proved absolutely crucial in securing the two points for the boys from The ‘Tubber. A strong final ten minute spell sets us up perfectly for a mouth-watering clash with local rivals Breaffy on Saturday evening.

The away side took two-point lead early in the second half through points from cousins Darren and Stephen Coen. However we replied with a goal from Mayo legend Alan Dillon which rolled into the net in an almost accidental manner after Padraic O’Connor and the former Mayo captain threw random fists at the ball. The home side added a second when Jason Gibbons set up spritely corner-forward Jamsie Finnerty to finish a low shot into the back of the net, stretching their lead to four mid-way through the second half. The electric Kevin Feerick missed a great chance to raise green flag for the visitors in the final minutes but by then Ballintubber had already raced seven points ahead through points from Stephen O’Malley, Alan Dillon and Noel Geraghty.

Both sides had been quite evenly matched in the opening two quarters with seven points apiece by the half-time whistle. Ballintubber had five different point-scorers while Kevin Feerick and Darren Coen shared six between them, with Coen blazing an effort narrowly over the bar in the twenty-second minute. A typically dogged Hollymount/Carramore outfit were ruthlessly efficient in turning over ball, with all seven of their first-half scores coming from sloppy play and unforced errors on the part of the home side.

The Abbeysiders did gain more composure in the second half, as Jason Gibbons came into the game more and helped his side to gain a foothold in midfield. Bar a pair of quick-fire scores from second-half substitute Conor Keane to bring his side’s points tally to thirteen, Hollymount failed to register a score in the final ten minutes. At this point Jamsie Finnerty and Alan Dillon had also raised green flags for the home side, leaving the visitors chasing a three point deficit before we clocked up six unanswered points.

Only slightly too old for Minor, Ballintubber’s youthful trio of Jamsie Finnerty, Stephen O’Malley and Ciarán Gavin did the lion’s share of the second half scoring, kicking some impressive scores off their stronger and weaker boots. The more experienced heads of centre-forward Alan Dillon and team captain Damien Coleman added singles to ensure we saw off this game comfortably.

Ballintubber team: (1)Brendan Walsh (2)Gary Loftus (0-1) (3)Cathal Hallinan (4)Declan Larkin (5)Myles Kelly (6)Brian Murphy (7)Damien Coleman (0-1) (8)Jason Gibbons (9)Joe Geraghty (10)Ciaran Gavin (0-2) (11)Alan Dillon (1-2) (12)Sean Larkin (13)Jamsie Finnerty (1-2) (14)Padraic O’Connor (15)Stephen O’Malley (0-7, 4f)

Subs used: Darragh McGovern for Joe Geraghty, Noel Geraghty (0-1) for Seanie Larkin, Hugh Geraghty for Darragh McGovern