Top flight football for Claremorris next season

CLAREMORRIS will be playing top flight football next season after the south Mayo side recorded a 3-1 victory against Ballyhaunis Town in the promotion/relegation play-off, played on Saturday evening at Michael Keaveney Park, Ballyglass.

Claremorris began the tie in a bright fashion and Simon Collins’ troops pinched the lead on 12 minutes. A superb delivery from Liam Kearns found Liam McCormack and the latter’s header nestled in the bottom corner of the net.

Ballyhaunis very nearly fashioned the equaliser on 19 minutes when Isaac Owusu raced through on goal, but his effort received a faint touch from Claremorris ‘keeper Scott Hewson and the ball flashed inches wide for a corner-kick.

The Concannon Park side then doubled their lead on 23 minutes courtesy of Kearns, after he was set up through Brandon Walsh’s in-swinging corner-kick.

However, Ballyhaunis’ bid to avoid the drop to the second tier received a boost on 34 minutes. Jake Powers cut inside the penalty box and his swerving delivery was inadvertently diverted to the back of his own net by Claremorris’ Fionn McLoughlin, for a most unfortunate own goal.

Ballyhaunis trailed 2-1 at the interval and a positive start to the second period was imperative for the east Mayo side. However, Claremorris added a crucial third goal on 47 minutes.

The green and white were awarded a free kick from outside the box, with James Morley’s short pass teeing up Brandon Walsh and the latter’s sublime effort flew to the back of the net.

Ballyhaunis were reduced to 10 men on 85 minutes when David Leavy was dismissed by referee Damien McGrath.

Richie Crinnigan’s outfit could well have set up a grandstand finish, but Powers’ effort was just marginally off target.