Kildare SF

 

Mayo friends to clash in Kildare semi-final in Newbridge

Claremorris's Vinny Walsh and Hollymount/Carramore-connected Alan Costello will put friendship and family ties aside when Sarsfields and Celbridge meet in Sunday's Kildare Senior Football Championship semi-final.

Mayo will have a keen interest in Sunday's Kildare Senior Football Championship semi-final, with two men whose roots are firmly planted in the county preparing to lead opposing teams into battle at St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge.

Both have strong connections to St Coleman’s College in Claremorris, and their shared footballing history and family friendships add an extra dimension to an eagerly anticipated contest.

For the two Mayo men, however, there will be little room for sentiment when the ball is thrown in. With both teams unbeaten in this year's championship, a place in the Kildare senior final is the prize, and each manager will be determined to guide his side one step closer to county honours.

Both clubs reached last year's semi-finals before suffering defeat, making Sunday's encounter an opportunity to go further than they managed last year..

“Both teams got to this stage last year and both lost the semi-final, so one of us is going to get to a final on Sunday, which is a step further than last year,” Walsh said.

“We would have been disappointed about not getting to last year's final, losing by a point to the eventual county champions. We're looking forward to it and hoping to go that step further again this year.”

Their league campaign was less straightforward, with Walsh's side finishing fifth and missing out on a semi-final place on score difference. The Claremorris man has since overseen an impressive response, with Sarsfields building momentum and strengthening their challenge through the championship.

Walsh believes the depth of the panel has been central to their progress. The club's reserve team recently captured its championship title, providing another boost ahead of Sunday's showdown.

“I've been building this team for the last two years. We're after winning the reserve championship there last Friday night, so that gave us a great boost going into this week,” he said.

“We have a really big, strong, competitive panel. Everyone's back, everyone's playing well. We're in a good place and we've got a pretty full team to pick from.”

Celbridge will provide a serious test. Costello's side topped the Division One league table, winning nine of their eleven fixtures, before losing to Moorefield in the league semi-final. They have since regrouped and remain unbeaten in the championship.

Costello is conscious of the tradition and expectations surrounding Sarsfields, but he believes his team can make their mark if they deliver the performance required.

“Sarsfields hold the record for the most Kildare Senior Football Championships won, 25 in total in the roll of honour. There is a huge tradition there and huge expectations for success,” he said.

“Celbridge have only ever won one senior title, and that was back in 2008 when Barney Rock was the manager. So Sarsfields have that bank of championships secured and a culture of winning.”

Sarsfields have been widely installed as favourites, but Costello is not prepared to concede anything before the teams take the field.

“We will be hoping to perform well on the day and give a good account of ourselves and see where the performance takes us,” he said.

The Celbridge manager believes championship semi-finals often defy expectations, with preparation and experience important but not always decisive.

“Semi-finals can take on a life of their own,” he said. “While preparation and organisation, along with accumulated experience, are important, it is very much on the day. Sometimes it's about seeing what's in front of you and reading the game and rolling the dice.”

While the footballing stakes are considerable, the connection between the two managers stretches back decades and brings the story firmly back to Mayo.

Both attended St Coleman’s College in Claremorris, where Costello was a few years ahead of Walsh and was part of the school team that won the 1996 Connacht Colleges senior b title.

Walsh followed behind him at the school, and their paths continued to cross through football and family connections. He became particularly close to Costello's brother Dermot, with the pair playing together over the years and working with juvenile and junior teams.

Their friendship extends well beyond the football field, “Dermot was s a groomsman at my wedding”. The Costello family and Walsh have maintained their close relationship through the years, with football remaining a familiar topic whenever they meet.

Walsh has great respect for his opposite number's management abilities and has watched Costello build a strong reputation through his work with teams in Wicklow and Kildare and Carlow.

“Alan's a real good man-manager. He gets the best out of his players. He gets them all playing together. He's very tactically astute. He has Celbridge moving well,” Walsh thinks

“He knows his stuff and he's definitely getting a tune out of Celbridge.”

Costello is equally complimentary about the Claremorris man, highlighting Walsh's contribution to football in Mayo through his work with St Coleman’s and Mayo underage teams, alongside his achievements in Kildare, including previous success at senior level with Athy.

“Vinny would be good mates with my brother Dermot and we were both in St Coleman’s around the same time,” Costello said.

“He has made a big contribution to St Coleman’s and Mayo underage teams as a coach and has a strong coaching and management pedigree. Vinny would be well respected in Kildare, having achieved success at senior grade with Athy in the past.”

For Costello, management is about helping players reach their potential. His experience working with teams in Dublin, Wicklow, Carlow and Kildare has reinforced his belief in the value of teamwork and player development.

“Team sport has always been my thing and I enjoy working with people and helping them to maximise their potential,” he said.

“Facilitating people to get the best out of themselves is a very rewarding aspect of my role, and I consider it a huge privilege to be involved with Gaelic football teams.”

Sunday's encounter will see those shared values tested as the two Mayo-connected managers attempt to guide their respective clubs into the final. The other semi-final sees Maynooth face Naas on Saturday.

For Walsh and Costello, friendship will resume once the final whistle sounds, but for the hour of championship football, the focus will be entirely on their teams.

“We'll go to battle for an hour, but we'll be mates afterwards,” Walsh said.

Whatever happens at St Conleth’s Park, the result will carry a special significance back in Mayo. Two men shaped by their Claremorris connections, their footballing experiences and years of friendship will be on opposite sides, but both will be hoping to leave Newbridge with a place in the county final secured.

As Costello put it: “Either way, there will be one happy Mayo man leaving St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge, on Sunday afternoon.”

https://www.mayonews.ie/sport/gaa/mayo-friends-to-clash-in-kildare-semi-final-in-newbridge-9289780

Mayo Fc win

 

Best display of the season sends Mayo FC top of their group

FAI NATIONAL LEAGUE

TU Dublin 0

Mayo FC 2

In Blanchadrstown

Their best display of the season powered Mayo FC to a deserved win in Dublin and the men from the west are now top of their National League group.

From the outset, Mayo made good use of the Astroturf surface, moving the ball confidently and creating a number of promising opportunities. Connor McCarthy found the net early on, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Mayo continued to press, with James McGrath stepping up to take a couple of free kicks, both of which were saved by the home goalkeeper

Mayo’s persistence paid off on the stroke of half-time. Their first goal kick of the game travelled all the way through to McCarthy, who kept his composure to slot home and give Mayo a deserved lead going into the break.

The second half brought a stronger response from the home side, who looked to make the most of the wind at their backs. However, Mayo stood firm under pressure, with a series of excellent saves and well-timed blocks ensuring the hosts could not find a way back into the game.

Mayo remained dangerous on the counter-attack and made their opportunity count with 15 minutes remaining. McCarthy turned provider, feeding substitute Ben Edeh, who finished superbly to put the result beyond doubt.

It was a complete team performance from Mayo, combining quality football in possession with resilience and determination when under pressure. After a challenging spell of games, the victory was a significant boost and a reward for the squad’s hard work.

The three points see Mayo FC move to the top of the group, setting them up well for the challenges ahead

https://www.mayonews.ie/sport/other-sport/best-display-of-the-season-sends-mayo-fc-top-of-their-group-9280616 

Mayo East Coast winning weekend

 

Mayo men making their mark in Dublin and Kildare

There is never too much looking for a Mayo connection when the club championships reach their business end.

In  Kildare and  Dublin, there was plenty to keep an eye on over the weekend, with Mayo involvement prominent on both sides of the east coast.

There were quarter-final victories in Kildare for Alan Costello’s Celbridge and James Burke’s Naas, while Vinnie Walsh’s Sarsfields produced one of the performances of the weekend to sweep aside Moorefield.

And then, in Dublin, there was a particularly big moment for John Vahey and Sharoize Akram as Castleknock booked their place in the Dublin Senior Football Championship final.

For Vahey in particular, it was a landmark evening.

Vahey and Akram into Dublin final

Castleknock’s 0-26 to 3-12 victory over Thomas Davis at Parnell Park was one of those championship games where the final score only tells part of the story.

Castleknock had appeared in control for long periods of the first half, but Thomas Davis came roaring back after the interval. Two second-half goals left Castleknock in serious trouble before they showed the character required to turn the contest around.

And there was a significant Mayo influence in that response.

Former Breaffy goalkeeper John Vahey had already made his mark, kicking four points, including two excellent two-point frees. Former Ballaghaderreen man Sharoize Akram also got on the scoresheet.

For Castleknock, though, the significance went far beyond the scoreline.

This was their first Dublin Senior Football Championship final appearance since 2016 and only the second in the club’s history. The fact that they had lost eight of their previous nine quarter-finals was not lost on Vahey.

“It's obviously a really good feeling,” he said afterwards.

Thomas Davis had made life uncomfortable. They were energetic, thrived off chaos and, once the goals arrived, Castleknock suddenly found themselves chasing the game.

Vahey was honest about the areas that needed work, particularly conceding three goals, but what impressed him most was the response.

Castleknock had gone into the second half two points ahead before finding themselves four behind during a difficult fifteen minute spell.

This time, they did not fold.

“I've been told that we lost them games before,” Vahey said, reflecting on Castleknock’s recent quarter-final history. “But this was apparently a different Castleknock team this year.”

The Mayo man felt the players “died in their boots” to get the job done, and the contribution from the bench was crucial.

Shane Boland helped settle the game, Ger McDermott Roe came on and kicked important scores, Keith Boyle did likewise, while Darragh Warnock made a telling contribution under the Castleknock kick-out.

“Our subs certainly nearly, I'd say, won us that game today,” Vahey said.

It was, in his view, a victory for the entire panel rather than simply the starting 15.

That was one of the strongest themes of his reaction afterwards. He was delighted not only for the players but for the people of Castleknock who have waited years for a day like this.

The supporters came in numbers, and Vahey spoke about feeling their energy from the field.

“It’s great for the players and the lads who, especially, have been here for so long,” he said. “And it’s great for the supporters and everything.”

There was also a nice personal angle.

For Vahey, this will be his first Dublin county final.

He admitted that if somebody had told him a couple of years ago that he would be preparing for a Dublin Senior Football Championship final, he probably would have laughed.

Now it is reality.

There is little time for sentiment, however. Castleknock will face Cuala in the final after the Dalkey side defeated holders Ballyboden St Enda’s.

Vahey knows it will be a completely different challenge.

“Those are two of the biggest clubs in Dublin,” he said, with Castleknock now preparing for a final against a Cuala side that will bring a different test to Thomas Davis.

There are areas to improve, too. Vahey was particularly critical of his own kick-outs and knows the three goals conceded will need to be examined.

“We'll look back at that and see how I can get better and how maybe we can get better all round as a team,” he added..

But that can wait for another day.

For now, there is simply the satisfaction of getting there.

A Mayo goalkeeper preparing for a Dublin county final.

Not a bad story.

And alongside him will be Akram, another Mayo man who played his part in getting Castleknock over the line.

The Ballaghaderreen native’s point added to the Castleknock tally, meaning there will be two players with Mayo connections involved in the capital’s showpiece.

The final is set for October 18.

Baines comes up short this time

There was disappointment, meanwhile, for former Burrishoole man Ryan Baines.

Ballyboden St Enda’s had been chasing back-to-back Dublin titles and faced Cuala in a repeat of last year’s semi-final.

Last year, Boden came through that contest. This time the result went the other way.

Ballyboden were level at the end of normal time,but Cuala finished strongly, scoring four unanswered points to turn the contest in their favour.

For Baines and Ballyboden, it was a frustrating way for their championship to end.

They had opportunities to make more of the game, but Cuala were stronger when it mattered most.

There will be no Dublin final for Baines this time, but the Mayo connection will still be very much alive in that final through Vahey and Akram.

Costello’s Celbridge show their steel

Over in Kildare, former Wicklow manager Alan Costello’s Celbridge were also celebrating.

They beat Raheens 0-13 to 0-10 to book their place in the last four, but it was far from straightforward.

Celbridge lost a midfielder to a hamstring injury after only 10 minutes and then found themselves down to 14 men after a black card with 10 minutes remaining.

They were only three points ahead at that stage.

Instead of panicking, they found a way through.

“We're delighted to hold on,” Costello said afterwards. “We showed a lot of character and a lot of steel, a lot of determination.”

That was the aspect of the victory that pleased him most.

Celbridge had enjoyed a perfect group stage, but championship football is about dealing with adversity as much as playing well when everything is going your way.

They did that against Raheens.

“It was tight, went down to the wire there, but we're delighted,” Costello added.

The reward is another Kildare semi-final, where Costello’s side will face Sarsfields.

And that gives us a particularly good Mayo angle.

All-Mayo meeting in Kildare after Sarsfields win

Vinnie Walsh’s Sarsfields produced one of the weekend’s most emphatic performances when they put Moorefield to the sword.

The final score was 1-20 to 1-7, with Sarsfields particularly dominant in the first half.

They went into the interval 0-15 to 1-1 ahead and, from Walsh’s perspective, the difference was the intensity with which his team started.

“It was a bit different than the group games,” he said. “We were well up for it and we totally took over the first half.”

Sarsfields pressed high, forced turnovers and punished Moorefield on the scoreboard, with the two-pointers proving particularly valuable.

“We were thirteen points ahead,” Walsh reflected afterwards. “We were never going to lose it in the second half.”

The second half was less impressive.

Walsh admitted the game became “a bit pedestrian”, with Sarsfields content to control the contest rather than maintain the same intensity.

“I wouldn't be too happy with that side of it,” he said.

Still, it is hard to be too critical after beating your local rivals by 13 points and scoring 1-20.

“You can complain when you win 1-20 and win by 13 points against your town rival,” Walsh added.

Now comes the intriguing part.

Sarsfields will face Celbridge in the semi-final, meaning Walsh and Costello — two Mayo men — will be on opposite sides.

The St Colemans derby 

Walsh was already looking forward to the prospect.

“We'll have a bit of fun having a crack at each other,” he said.

There will be plenty of competitive edge beneath that friendliness.

Sarsfields have been in superb form, while Celbridge have shown that they can win even when circumstances turn against them.

For one Mayo man, a county final will be within touching distance. For the other, the journey will end one step earlier.

Burke’s Naas keep rolling

James Burke also has plenty to smile about after Naas booked their place in the Kildare semi-finals.

Naas defeated Johnstownbridge 2-17 to 1-15, although the final margin perhaps does not reflect how much control they had for long periods.

Burke had identified Daniel Flynn and his brother as key threats, particularly around the middle of the field.

The opening stages were slow as both teams settled, but Naas soon found their rhythm and established a four- or five-point advantage.

An early goal gave them the platform, and they went into half-time five points ahead.

They then started the second half strongly, stretching the advantage to eight or nine before Johnstownbridge came back into the game.

“They went for broke a little bit,” Burke explained afterwards.

A couple of two-pointers brought the deficit back, but Naas had enough in reserve to see it out.

“It was a good workout for sure,” said Burke, who knows there is still work to do.

He was particularly pleased with centre-back Kyle Daly and the half-back line, where Rob Murray and Paddy McDermott also impressed.

“Very strong platform for us, that half-back line,” he said.

Naas now have two weeks to sharpen things up before the semi-final, with Burke conscious that reaching this stage is one thing and going all the way is another.

https://www.mayonews.ie/sport/gaa/mayo-men-making-their-mark-in-dublin-and-kildare-championships-9269306

Ballinrobe vs Moy Davitts

 Ballinrobe 0-14

Moy Davitts 0-8

An inspired performance from Luke Jennings finishing with four points and a penalty save was the main difference as Ballinrobe made there was into the intermediate final against Moy Davitts under lights in Garrymore.

Ballinrobe booked their place in the final after overcoming Moy Davitts in a keenly contested encounter in Garrymore on Saturday night, with goalkeeper Luke Jennings proving decisive at both ends of the field in a 0-14 to 0-8 victory.

It was the south Mayo side who made the brighter start, with Kevin Quinn raising the first white flag of the day. Minutes later Cian O’Connell was put through but Chris McGlynn produced a great save to keep his side in the game. Within a minute O’Connell had opened his account from play followed by another effort from Cian May.

They carved out a second goal chance as O’Connell played a ball across but the palmed effort from his teammate came back off the post as the goal led a charmed life.

Moy Davitts responded through Cian McHale, who reduced the deficit with an excellent two-pointer. However, Ewan Duffy restored the advantage for the side in the lead by the quarter-hour mark.

The score of the game followed when Evan O’Brien struck for Ballinrobe  producing two dummies before firing over with the outside of his foot. O’Connell added two more as he was a constant threat in the corner. The opposition did respond when Anthony Jordan stemmed the tide slightly.

Moy Davitts were handed a golden opportunity to narrow the gap when they were awarded a penalty late in the half when Ronan Clarke broke through before being taken down by Caoimhin Donnelly who was given a black card. Brian Heneghan stepped forward to take responsibility, but  Luke Jennings stood tall, producing an excellent save to keep Ballinrobe within touching distance at the interval.

The Ballinrobe shotstopper was again central to proceedings after the restart, landing two superb long-range frees to stretch the lead out as it looked like they were in control.

The momentum then swung as  Ronan Clarke responded for Moy Davitts, then it was the turn of substitute Ryan Kenny  while McHale added two  more points  one  from play and one from a free — to bring the deficit back to four with thirteen  minutes remaining.

Just as Moy Davitts appeared to be gaining momentum, their task became considerably harder when McHale was shown a black card for a foul on the sideline,

This didn't stop Davitts as they brought on talisman Brian Reape but at the same time substitute Darragh Ruane was given a straight red card as he missed time a tackle.

Ballinrobe took advantage in the closing stages, with O’Connell converting a late free before Diarmuid Duffy added a point from play to seal their passage to the final in the final minutes Conor Reid was showing his marching orders with two yellow cards.

Scorers:Ballinrobe Cian O’Connell 0-4 (1f),Luke Jennings 0-4 (2fs)Ewan Duffy 0-2f,Kevin Quinn 0-1,Diarmuid Duffy 0-1,Cian May 0-1,Evan O’Brien 0-1.

Moy Davitts:Cian McHale 0-4 (1f 1 2pp),Ronan Clarke 0-2f,Anthony Jordan 0-1,Ryan Kenny 0-1

Ballinrobe:Luke Jennings,Caoimhin Donnelly,Aaron McDonnell,Aaron Crowley;Diarmuid Duffy,,Barry Langan,Liam Burke;James Murphy,Cian May;Ryan Corcoran,Evan O’Brien,Cian O’Connell,Ewan Duffy,Joe Burke,Kevin Quinn.

Subs Used:Rossa Burke,Conor Jennings,Sequoyah Duffy,Sean Flannery,Peter Butler,

Moy Davitts:Chris McGlynn;Ajay McGrath,Fionan Cruise,Cathal Clarke;Jamie Clarke,Colm McHale,Conor Ryder;Conor Reid,Oisin McCugh;Stephen Clarke,Cian McHale,Padraig Ruane;Brian Heneghan,Anthony Jordan,Ronan Clarke.

Subs Used:Sean Reid,Darragh Ruane,Ryan Kenny,Jack Dunleavy,Brian Reape.

Referee Frank Flynn

Referee Liam Deveney 

Joe Mason Piece SF

 

Mayo county champion helps new Wicklow team reach junior final

A Mayo junior county champion helps his new Wicklow team reach the Junior A Championship final.

Ballinacor produced a powerful second-half display in Roundwood on Saturday evening to overcome Kilmacanogue by ten points and book their place in the Wicklow Junior A final.

Having already lost to the same opponents in the league earlier in the campaign, Ballinacor knew they would have to improve significantly if they were to progress.

“We knew going into it there it would be a hard game,” explained Ballinacor player Joe Mason, who won a Mayo junior football title with Cill Chomáin in 2024: “We’d previously lost to Kilmacanogue earlier in the year in the league, so we knew that it wouldn’t necessarily be easy going into it.”

Getting their defensive match-ups right was also a priority, with Kilmacanogue possessing plenty of scoring threats.

“We knew they had a couple of good shooting forwards, a couple of midfielders that could shoot as well, so we had to get our match-ups right.”

The opening half was closely contested, with Ballinacor creating opportunities but failing to make the most of them. Several efforts dropped short or drifted wide, while James Murphy kept the scoreboard moving with a number of frees to ensure Ballinacor remained in contention at the break.

“We didn’t start too bad,” Mason said. “We could have had a goal earlier in the game, but we missed a few chances which kind of killed us. Missed a good bit, dropped a few short, kept a few wides and stuff, and then thankfully James Murphy kind of kept the scoreboard ticking there with a few frees.”

Whatever was said in the Ballinacor dressing room at half-time had the desired effect.

They emerged for the second half with renewed purpose and quickly began to establish control. The scores were spread around, with a number of players contributing as Ballinacor began to pull clear.

“Then in the second half, we kind of came out flying,” Mason reflected. “We really started well in the second half and proceeded really to kick on there.”

The strength of the Ballinacor bench was also evident, with the substitutes making a significant impact when introduced.

“A good few people got on the scoresheet and stuff like that, so it was good to get the scores spread around. The subs that came in really did well. So it was a massive boost to have lads coming in and flying and stuff like that.”

Kilmacanogue managed to find the net twice in the closing stages, but by then Ballinacor had built a commanding advantage. The late goals still frustrated Mason, particularly the concession of a penalty.

“We conceded a couple of late goals, but the game was kind of over at that stage,” he said. “The lads were fairly annoyed conceding the goals still. The one was a sloppy penalty and we thought we were better than that, better than conceding them goals.”

Ultimately, however, Ballinacor had done more than enough to secure a ten-point victory and a place in the Junior A final.

“It was good to get a game into us and a tough physical game as well,” said Mason.

Attention now turns to the decider, with two big weeks ahead and excitement already building throughout the Ballinacor community.

“We should be well up for the final now. It will be a busy two weeks looking forward to the final and stuff. The buzz around the place is kind of starting already, there are flags and stuff like this around the community.”

And after overcoming a Kilmacanogue side that had already beaten them once this year, Ballinacor can look forward to the final with plenty of confidence and anticipation.

“Yeah, buzzing for the next two weeks, really,” Mason added.

https://www.mayonews.ie/sport/gaa/mayo-county-champion-helps-new-wicklow-team-reach-junior-final-9248090

A Mayo junior county champion helps his new Wicklow team reach the Junior A Championship final.

Ballinacor produced a powerful second-half display in Roundwood on Saturday ev

Shrule vs Northern Gaels (WP)

Shrule Glencorrib 5-14

Northern Gaels 1-15

Eoin Horkan 

Shrule 

A hat-trick from Stephen Heneghan helped propel Shrule into the Junior A county semi-final as they overcame Northern Gaels in a high-scoring quarter-final on Sunday afternoon.

The Shrule inside line proved particularly effective throughout, while their ability to make the most of the strong breeze in the opening half laid the foundations for a comprehensive victory.

Shrule settled quickest and were on the scoreboard within minutes of the throw-in when Luke Lydon broke through to open their account.

Evan Cawley then produced an outstanding two-point effort before Shrule had stretched their early advantage to four points.

Northern Gaels responded in style when a long ball into the full-forward line eventually found Ruairí McDonnell, who finished to the corner of the net to give the visitors a foothold in the contest.

Cawley soon restored the Shrule advantage with another well-struck effort, making excellent use of the breeze.

Lydon added another before Heneghan got on the scoresheet as the Shrule forwards continued to trouble the Northern Gaels defence.

James Forde kept the visitors in touch with a long-range free, but the home side  were beginning to find gaps and Heneghan duly punished them when he finished off a flowing team move to raise the first green flag of the afternoon.

Cawley continued to be accurate from placed balls, while Forde was doing his best to keep Northern Gaels within striking distance with another well-taken free from out wide.

The closing stages of the first half saw Shrule pull clear.

Heneghan struck for his second goal before Lydon followed with another major, leaving the home side firmly in control.

Northern Gaels did manage to stem the tide with a point from Marc Munnelly but Cawley had the final say before the interval with another placed ball.

Shrule went into the break holding a ten-point advantage.

Northern Gaels needed a strong start to the second half, but it was Shrule who struck the crucial blow.

Corner-back Joe Hughes surged forward and, finding himself in plenty of space, unleashed a powerful effort from around twenty  yards which flew into the back of the net.

The visitors responded positively and began to put pressure on the Shrule defence.  It was Tommy Clarke opened their second-half account before Munnelly added two more two  pointers  in quick succession.

Shrule introduced fresh legs from the bench and Nathan McGhee made an immediate impact, raising another white flag.

Clarke then produced another fine score from distance, this time from play, as Northern Gaels continued to search for a way back into the contest.

But any hopes of a dramatic comeback were extinguished by Heneghan.

The Shrule corner forward produced the outstanding individual moment of the afternoon, embarking on a mazy run through a number of challenges before calmly slotting the ball beyond the goalkeeper to complete his hat-trick.

From there, Shrule saw the game out in convincing fashion.

Lydon, Heneghan and Cawley all added further points before Northern Gaels midfielder Owen Loughney had the final say on the scoreboard.

It was ultimately a comfortable afternoon for Shrule, who finished with an impressive five fourteen. 

The result sees Shrule progress to the Junior A county semi-final in two weeks' time, with their potent inside line once again proving a major asset.

Heneghan's three-goal contribution, supported by the scoring exploits of Lydon and Cawley, provided the platform for Shrule to advance and keep their county championship ambitions firmly on track.

Scorers Shrule/Glencorrib: Stephen Heneghan 3-2 (1f), Evan Cawley(0-8) (1 2ptf 1 2pt 4fs), Luke Lydon (1-3),Nathan McGhee 0-1

Northern Gaels James Forde 0-3 (1 2 ptf 1 f), Marc Munnelly 0-5 ( 2 2 ptfs,1f),Ruairí McDonnell 1-1 (1f),Tommy Clarke 0-4 (2 2 ptfs),Owen Loughney 0-2 (1 2pt).

Shrule/Glencorrib:John Murray;Joe Hughes,Joe Flood,TJ Canavan;Johnny Naughton,Luke Lydon,James O’Dowd;Shane Mellett,Conor Bohan;Liam Higgins,Paddy Reilly,Garvan Hyland;Evan Cawley,Colin Gibbons,Stephen Heneghan.

Subs Used: Nathan McGhee (for Hyland),Noel Sheridan (for Higgins),John Sheridan (for Canavan),Eoghan Hennelly (for Reilly),Cormac Garvey (for Bohan).

Northern Gaels:Daire Devins;Fergal McHale,Conor McHale,Shane Loughney;Mark McDonnell,Daniel Coleman,Kieran Loughney;Owen Loughney,Craig McCormack;James Forde,Tommy Clarke,Ronan Murphy;Ruairí McDonnell,Cathal Boland,Marc Munnelly.

Subs Used:Liam Ruddy (for Coleman).

Referee:John Finn

Shrule vs Northern Gaels (CT)

 Shrule Glencorrib 5-14

Northern Gaels.1-15

Eoin Horkan 

Shrule 

A superb hat-trick from Stephen Heneghan, split either side of half-time, proved the major difference  as Shrule booked their place in the Junior A county semi-final following an entertaining quarter-final victory on Sunday afternoon.

Home advantage, coupled with a strong breeze, played a significant role as Shrule made the most of their conditions from the outset. They were ahead within minutes of the throw-in when Luke Lydon broke through the Northern Gaels defence before calmly sending the ball over the bar.

Shrule quickly doubled their advantage and then extended it to four points by the seventh minute, with Evan Cawley producing an outstanding two-pointer into the breeze.

Their opponents  responded immediately. A well-delivered ball into the inside line eventually found Ruairí McDonnell, who made no mistake from close range as he fired into the corner of the net to leave just the minimum between the sides.

Cawley restored Shrule's advantage shortly afterwards, once again judging the wind perfectly to send over his second score of the afternoon.

The home side's inside forwards were proving particularly troublesome, with Lydon adding another point before Heneghan got in on the scoring act. Northern Gaels managed to steady themselves, James Forde showing his accuracy from distance with a long-range free.

Shrule then struck for the game's second goal. A flowing team move opened up the Gaels defence and Heneghan was on hand to apply the finishing touch, giving the corner forward his first goal of the afternoon.

Cawley continued to punish Northern Gaels from placed balls, while Forde was doing his best to keep the visitors in touch, finding the target from another difficult angle.

The closing stages of the half belonged to Shrule. Heneghan added a second goal to his personal tally before Lydon found the net soon afterwards.

A free from Marc Munnelly helped stem the Shrule tide, but Cawley had the final say before the interval, converting another placed ball to leave the home side ten points clear at the break.

With the wind now at their backs, Shrule appeared to have put the contest beyond Northern Gaels' reach almost immediately after the restart.

Corner-back Joe Hughes ventured forward and, finding himself in an advanced position, unleashed a powerful effort from around twenty one yards which flew into the back of the net.

The  Gaels, however, refused to surrender the contest. Clarke opened their second-half account with an early point before Munnelly followed with two scores in quick succession as the visitors began to chip away at the deficit.

Shrule responded by making changes from the bench and Nathan McGhee made an immediate impact, raising a white flag to settle the home nerves.

Clarke then added another impressive score from distance, this time from play, briefly giving Northern Gaels hope of setting up a grandstand finish.

Those hopes were extinguished soon afterwards.

Heneghan produced the moment of the match, embarking on a mazy run through the Northern Gaels defence before slipping the ball beyond the goalkeeper to complete a memorable hat-trick and put Shrule firmly in control once again.

The home side added three further points through Lydon, Heneghan and Cawley before Northern Gaels midfielder Owen Loughney had the final word on the scoreboard.

It was ultimately too little, too late for the north Mayo outfit as Shrule comfortably saw out the remainder to secure their place in the county semi-final in two weeks' time.

While there were plenty of positives for Shrule throughout the afternoon, their inside line will undoubtedly be a major threat to any opposition they encounter in the next stages of the Junior A championship.

Shrule/Glencorrib:John Murray;Joe Hughes(1-0),Joe Flood,TJ Canavan;Johnny Naughton,Luke Lydon(1-3),James O’Dowd;Shane Mellett,Conor Bohan;Liam Higgins,Paddy Reilly,Garvan Hyland;Evan Cawley(0-8 1 2ptf 4fs 1 2pt),Colin Gibbons,Stephen Heneghan(3-2 1f).

Subs Used: N McGhee (0-1),N Sheridan,J Sheridan,E Hennelly,C Garvey

Northern Gaels:Daire Devins;Fergal McHale,Conor McHale,Shan Loughney;Mark McDonnell,Daniel Coleman,Kieran Loughney;Owen Loughney(0-2),Craig McCormack ;James Forde(0-3 1 2ptf),Tommy Clarke(0-4 2 2 ptfs)Ronan Murphy;Ruairí McDonnell(1-1),Cathal Boland,Marc Munnelly(0-5 2 2ptfs 1f).

Subs Used: L Ruddy.

Referee:John Finn