Kilmane 0-24
Kilitmagh 2-15
Kilmane
Eoin Horkan
A magnificent individual display from Kilmane sharpshooter Adam Barrett proved decisive as the home side held off a spirited second-half comeback from Kilitmagh to secure a three-point victory.
Barrett finished with an impressive tally of thirteen points, producing a series of excellent scores throughout an entertaining contest in which the lead changed hands on several occasions.
It was Barrett who opened the scoring, raising the first orange flag of the afternoon, but Kilitmagh responded almost immediately through centre-forward Conor Hession.
Barrett then added another two-pointer to put Kilmane in front by a goal, before Kilitmagh struck back in spectacular fashion on the five-minute mark.
Liam Smyth burst through the Kilmane defence and found the back of the net to bring the sides level.
The home side had an opportunity to restore their advantage when Luke Muniz found himself with a sight of goal, but the chance went begging.
Kilitmagh, with Mayo player Hugh O’Loughlin leading their attack, responded with another two -pointer shortly after the ten-minute mark as the home side began to find their rhythm.
However, Kilmane remained composed despite playing against the wind, while Kilitmagh continued to pose a threat through the lively Hession and Conor Mallee.
Michael Hession then showed excellent composure to slot over from a difficult angle, keeping the south Mayo firmly in control
Kilitmagh had another opportunity to find the net, but the chance eventually resulted in a fisted effort from Paul Kelly.
Kilmane began to gain control as the half progressed, with Barrett adding two more points to his personal tally.
Finn O’Loughlin then extended the home side's advantage with five minutes remaining in the half.
A further two scores, one from Rory Barrett and another from Adam, completed Kilmane's scoring before the interval, although Kilitmagh managed to respond through Mallee.
The teams went into the break with just four points separating them, leaving the visitors with plenty of encouragement for the second half.
Kilmane wasted little time after the restart, with their influential centre-forward adding another score to his tally.
The east Mayo refused to let the game drift away from them as Fionnan Burke struck three times as Liam Lydon's side attempted to close the gap.
Just as the visitors appeared to be building momentum, Hugh O’Loughlin produced one of the scores of the afternoon, firing over a spectacular two-pointer.
Rory Barrett then added to Kilmane's tally before the Barrett brothers took centre stage once more.
Both Rory and Adam found their range as Kilmane moved further ahead, with Adam continuing his outstanding afternoon in front of the posts.
With time running out, however, Kilitmagh launched one final assault.
Burke added another point before substitute Oisin Mulderrig gave the visitors real hope when he managed to direct the ball into the Kilmane net.
The deficit was suddenly shrinking rapidly.
Hession, who had been a constant threat throughout, then added three more points to his impressive personal tally, bringing Kilitmagh firmly back into the contest.
Veteran Brian Gallagher followed with another score, leaving just four points between the teams as the pressure mounted on the home defence.
Kilmane looked to have finally secured the result when Adam Barrett calmly converted a free to provide what appeared to be the insurance score.
Kilitmagh, though, refused to surrender.
With the final whistle approaching, Hession stepped up once more to raise one final orange flag and reduce the margin to just three points.
That was as close as Kilitmagh would get.Kilmane held their nerve through the closing exchanges to claim a hard-earned 0-24 to 2-15 victory.
While the visitors will rue missed opportunities and the slow start to the second half, their late rally demonstrated plenty of character.
Scorers;Kilmane Adam Barrett (0-13 4 2ptfs, 2fs),Hugh O’Loughlin (0-6 3 2pts), Rory Barrett (0-3),Finn O’Loughlin(0-1),Michael Hssion (0-1)
Kiltimagh:
Kilmane;Adam Keady;Darragh Acton,David Hughes,Naoise Burke;Darren Munroe,Kyle Munroe,Luke Muniz;Matt Keady,Hugh O’Loughlin;Finn O’Loughlin,Adam Barrett,Kevin Mullin;Michael Hession,Rory Barrett,Tom Moran.
Subs Used:C Hughes for Moran ,Evan Heraty (for Munroe),Conor Flannery (for Hession) ,M Walshe (for R Barrett).
Kiltimagh:Jamie McNicholas;Mattie Cummins,Jack Morley,Evan Cosgrave;Sean Forkan,Brian Gallagher(0-1),Darragh McGovern;Paul Kelly(0-1),Stephen McDonnell;Liam Smyth(1-0),Conor Hession(0-7 2 2ps),Cillian English;Conor Mallee(0-2);Fionan Burke(0-4),Paddy McDonnell.
Subs Used:Liam Kelly (for S McDonnell),Oisin Mulderrig (1-0) (for P McDonnell),Jack Niland (for Kelly),Jordan Henry (for McGovern),Max Bennett (for Burke).
Referee Sean Tolan
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