Ballymote and Enniscrone draw
BALLYMOTE 2-6 ENNISCRONE/KILGLASS 1-9
BALLYMOTE and Enniscrone/Kilglass will have to meet again to decide the destination of the Fureys Coaches Division Three title after a frantic finish at Tourlestrane last Sunday.
Despite being well below par for much of the hour, Enniscrone/ Kilglass staged a remarkable comeback in the closing stages to come from seven points down with ten minutes to play to rescue a draw, with Ballymote clinging on at the conclusion. In truth, it would have been a harsh had Ballymote been beaten at a wet Tourlestrane, as they were far superior for much of the contest against an Enniscrone/Kilglass side that struggled to get to the pace of the game.
However, to their credit, the west Sligo men dug deep with Donal Mullaney’s 56th minute goal helping them recover the situation, and get another crack at securing a promotion back to Division Two.
Being 2-4 to 0-5 ahead at the break with Mark Irwin netting two neat goals, Ballymote dominated the exchanges and were clinical in the forward division, with Peter Lyons very solid from the dead ball.
In contrast, Enniscrone/Kilglass laboured for the first 50 minutes of the tie and could only manage five first half points as Ballymote’s work-rate prevented any further scores. Irwin’s first goal came midway through the first half after Enniscrone/Kilglass established a 0-3 to 0-1 lead, but the three-pointer from the full-forward was a catalyst for Ballymote. Lyons from frees – and a decent score from play from the lively Stephen Ross – left the gap at two points heading into the break, before Irwin struck again after Conor Meehan provided the assist. Ballymote added to their lead with two Lyons’ frees and led 2-7 to 0-6 for much of the second half, with Enniscrone/Kilglass struggling to gain any foothold and looking almost certain of heading for de- feat. However, they continued to battle and when Donal Mullaney’s close-range goal four minutes from time brought the score back to 2-6 to 1-7, they gained the initiative with two late points – the leveller an excellent effort from Shane Hargadon – to restore parity at 2-6 to 1-9. Ballymote were at this stage clinging on, and deep into injury-time Enniscrone/Kilglass’ Tom Mahon had an opportunity to clinch the title but it sailed wide of the upright, meaning the sides must meet again.
Enniscrone/Kilglass: M O’Hara; MJ Crean, C Mullaney, E Bourke; O McCaffrey, K Carden, K Cawley; D Mullaney (1-0), N Hannon; T Mahon (0-1), JP Carden, M Gordon (0-2, 1f); S Hargadon (0-3), M Moyles (0-1), B Coleman (0-2). Subs used: B Byron, K Carden. Ballymote: G Feehily; K Tighe, D Clarke, K Meehan; C McCann, R Flannery, A Caffrey; M Rafferty, M Doddy; A Cunnane, P Lyons (0-5, 5fs), S Ross (0-1); M Underwood, M Irwin (2-0), C Meehan. Subs used: J Hever, G Brennan. Referee: J Gilmartin.