Islandeady return to intermediate grade as champions

Despite walking on very thin ice for the last five minutes, Islandeady returned to intermediate football after a two-year absence following a richly deserved 2-11 to 1-7 win over a gallant Cill Chomain in today's TF Royal Hotel Hotel JFC A final at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, writes John Melvin.

The losers laid siege to the Islandeady goal for the last five minutes of a very entertaining game but goalkeeper Bryan O’Flaherty brought off a strong of amazing saves to ensure there was just a small blot on his copybook, and that came after just nine minutes when Justin Healy found the net.

That goal fired Cill Chomain into the lead, Derek Moran having scored their opening point after Islandeady had three quick-fire scores inside the opening five minutes, Pat Carolan (mark), Darragh Joyce (free) and Caillin Joyce all on target.

It was to be the only time the north Mayo were ahead in this game as Islandeady levelled matters with a superb long-range free from their goalkeeper before the ball fell nicely into his path after two Cill Chomain defenders got their wires crossed under a high ball, Joyce putting his side 1-4 to 1-1 ahead with a superb finish.

Islandeady kicked on to lead by four points but before half-time Cill Chomain had their best spell of the game, points from Joe Mason and Luke Tighe leaving just three between them at the break, 1-6 to 1-3.

However, 90 minutes into the second half the critical lslandeady score came from when Seamie Lally fired his side into a 2-6 to 1-3 lead. Darragh Joyce scoring from play and from a free, followed by points from Brendan Gibbons and team captain Peter Collins ushered the lead out to seven points with 12 minutes remaining.

Whatever chance you felt Cill Chomain had of getting back into the game was aways going to be tough, and it was nigh on impossible when they lost their battling centre back Joe Mason to a black card.

But Cill Chomain showed their fighting spirit by pounding the Islandeady goalmouth for the last five minutes, a string of saves from O’Flaherty ensuring the cup was coming to Islandeady and they will be playing intermediate football next season.

Islandeady: B. Flaherty (0-2, ‘45f); T. Gibbons, P. Gordon, L. Coyne; D. O’Malley, N. McCormack, L. Barrett; P. Collins (0-1), S. Lally (1-0); P. Carolan (0-1m), B. Gibbons (0-3), D. Gibbons; C. Joyce (0-1), D. Joyce (0-3, 2f), L. Joyce (1-0).

Subs used: P. Corcoran, C. Gallagher.

Cill Chomain: K. Gallagher; S. Moran, B. Moran, L. McGrath; E. McGrath J. Mason (0-1), L. Mason; L. Tighe (0-1), D. Murphy (0-1f,); J. Corduff, J. Healy (1-1), D. Murphy (0-1); M. Tighe, D. Moran (0-1), M. Geraghty (0-1).

Subs used: A Conroy (0-1), D. Walker, A. Malone, S. Flannery.

Referee: J. Finn.