Kiltimagh win Mayo Junior A Football Championship

Kiltimagh recorded a superb 1-17 to 0-7 victory against Eastern Gaels in the Treanlaur Catering Mayo Junior A Football Championship final at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, writes Patrick Hennelly.

Played in wet and windy conditions, both sides struggled to notch scores, especially during the first half.

Eastern Gaels were appearing in a first county final in their 41-year history and they made a positive start to the game when David Smith guided over the opening point after four minutes.

The opening exchanges were keenly contested and a gem of a point from Kiltimagh’s Conor Mallee levelled matters at 0-3 apiece after 17 minutes.

The blue and white edged the battle for possession during the final 10 minutes of the first half, and points from Fionnan Burke (an awesome two-pointer free), Jack Niland, and Jordan Henry, mustered a 0-7 to 0-4 half-time lead for Mick Regan’s side.

A goal for Eastern Gaels would have been the perfect tonic and it almost arrived on 35 minutes, but David Smith just missed out on Ethan Owen’s delivery, and the loose ball was cleared to safety by a mightily relieved Kiltimagh defence.

Kiltimagh upped the tempo and a marvellous two-pointer from Paul Kelly on 47 minutes, helped garner a 0-12 to 0-6 lead for the blue and white.

Shane Glynn worked tirelessly for the Eastern Gaels cause and his point on 48 minutes kept his team-mates in the game.

However, on 56 minutes, Kiltimagh secured the spoils when a neat attacking foray involving Thomas Keegan, Liam Smyth and Aidan Cosgrove, ended with the latter rustling the back of the net.