Mayo IFC: Islandeady withstand late Kilmaine rally to book last eight spot
Islandeady produced one of their best performances of the year at Cong as they recorded a hard-earned 3-14 to 1-16 victory over Kilmaine, and the west Mayo club can now start preparing for the quarterfinals of the Egan Jewellers Mayo Intermediate Football Championship.
The opening exchanges of this clash were keenly contested and Islandeady led 0-6 to 0-4 after 16 minutes, thanks in no small part to Levi Barrett and Darragh Joyce, who both registered two-pointers.
Islandeady then pounced for a goal on 17 minutes courtesy of the poaching Ryan McNamara, and this helped muster a 1-6 to 0-4 advantage for his team-mates, before his team-mate Zac Collins guided over a sublime two-pointer.
Kilmaine tried to reel in the deficit and singles from Rory Barrett and Mayo All-Ireland winner Hugh O’Loughlin reduced the arrears ever so slightly.
However, Islandeady finished the first half strongly and an opportunistic goal from Zac Collins on 52 minutes helped garner a healthy 2-8 to 0-7 half-time lead for the green and white.
Kilmaine were fired up for the second half and two perfectly placed frees from their talisman Adam Barrett, delighted the south Mayo supporters. Adam Barrett then landed an awesome two-pointer free on 39 minutes, before the green and red almost manufactured a goal, however, Cathal Murphy’s strike was blocked on the goal-line by the vigilant Islandeady full-back, Peter Gordon.
Islandeady always seemed to be able to keep Kilmaine at arm’s length and following points from Joyce (free) and Zac Collins, the green and white held a 2-13 to 0-13 advantage after 53 minutes.
The west Mayo side’s game plan suffered a set-back though on 59 minutes, when Ryan McNamara picked up a black card and was sin-binned.
Then, one minute later, the Kilmaine comeback was ignited when they were awarded a penalty after Kevin Mullin was brought down inside the area. Adam Barrett cooly guided home the spot-kick and this reduced the deficit to just three points, 2-14 to 1-14.
But Islandeady had an instantaneous response, and a deadly counteroffensive move by the green and white ended with Joyce plundering a vital goal.
Kilmaine poured forward once again and a late two-pointer from Adam Barrett set-up a grandstand finish, nevertheless Islandeady were the victors at the end of this Group 4 clash.