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Mayo Gaels 2:12 Tourmakeady 0.07 : Gaels through to Intermediate Championship Quarter Finals….

November 8, 2018

Mayo Gaels are through to the 2014 Intermediate Quarter finals after comprehensively defeating Tourmakeady in the third round of the Intermediate (Group1) Championship played in front of a large attendance in Abbey Park on Saturday the 19th of July.

Tourmakeady, although already relegated from Group 1, were determined to put up a strong challenge and right from the off the visitors contested strongly in all sectors of the pitch. Tourmakeady took the lead in the fifth minute after converting a 45 – this score was quickly cancelled when Sean Boyle scored a fine point after the Gaels attack turned over a loose Tourmakeady clearance. The Gaels took the lead in the sixth minute (…a lead they held for the remainder of the game…) when Adam Gallagher converted a free after Shane Lyons was fouled in possession.

In general the game in the first quarter lacked coherence – although Mayo Gaels generated several promising attacks, a tendency to rush the final kick resulted in several attempts for points dropping short into the Tourmakeady goal mouth . In addition over elaboration in attack also resulted in the Gaels’ forwards turning over possession on a number of vital occasions.

Mayo Gaels suffered a setback on the 15th minute when a dazed Adam Gallagher was substituted after shipping a heavy challenge from a Tourmakeady defender (…fortunately Adam recovered sufficiently to resume his position at the start of the second half…). In the minutes that followed the Gaels were lucky that goalie Paul Mannion was alert as twice he made exceptional point-blank saves to prevent Tourmakeady from scoring what could have been game changing goals. The Gaels, however finished the second quarter strongly with Daniel Burke scoring three excellent points from play and Mally Byrne also converting a difficult free to leave the half time score: Mayo Gaels 0.06, Tourmakeady 0.04.

The game was effectively decided in the first five minutes of the second half. Mayo Gaels won the throw up and a quick pass from Paul Walsh to Shane Lyons saw the full-forward split the post from 45 meters. A minute later Lyons turned provider when his long rang kick-pass was collected by the in rushing Adam Gallagher who managed to pick his spot to score the first goal of the game. The cheers from the local supporters had barely subsided when Gallagher, capitalising on an error in the Tourmakeady defense, again hit the net from close range. Following the kick out, Lyons – after taking a pass from Mally Byrne – finished a great spell for the Gaels by scoring a well taken point from play.

The Gaels were now in total control and the game as a contest petered out in the final quarter. The defense, well marshaled by Alan Brett, Tony Byrne, Fintan Canavan, Kevin Jordan and championship debutant Tommy Keane, restricted Tourmakeady to three second half points (…two from frees…).With Sean Boyle, Paul Walsh and Niall Brett supplying quality ball from midfield the Gaels attack tacked on several extra scores – the highlight being two impressive strikes from play from Kevin Lynch & Alan Morris.

Mayo Gaels can take great heart from this display – despite a hesitant opening quarter the lads settled quickly and the determination and skill shown throughout the game should stand them well for the remainder of the Championship.

Mayo Gaels also topped the Group 1 championship group – our quarter final opponents (The Neale, Belmullet or Swinford) will be determined when the County Board holds the Senior & Intermediate quarter final draws in McHale Park next Monday evening (July 28th).

The Senior’s next game is against Ballintubber in the fifth round of the League in Ballintubber (Clogher) next Sunday the 27th of July at 12.00.

Mayo Gaels: P. Mannion, T. Keane, A. Brett, T. Byrne, K. Jordan, F. Canavan, K. Lynch (0.01), S. Boyle (0.01), P. Walsh, A. Morris (0.01), A. Gallagher (2.03, 3f), N. Brett, M. Byrne (0.01,1f), S. Lyons (0.02), D. Burke (0.03); Subs : J. Griffin, A. Heneghan, N. McGurrin.