Mayo Under-16 ‘B’ Final (Tuesday 27-August-96)

Lahardane edge out Kilmaine in thriller

Lahardane................................1-14
Kilmaine..................................1-12

This county under-16 ‘B’ final was one of the finest advertisements for Gaelic football witnessed this year with skill and excitement in overflowing proportions.

At the end of the sixty minutes played at Breaffy last Tuesday evening, Lahardane were the county champions, two points victors over Kilmaine.

Kilmaine outshone their North Mayo counterparts in the first half and led by 0-7 to 0-5 at half time. The leading scorer at this stage also finished the game’s top marksman - Kilmaine’s centre forward Andrew Casey hit five points before the break.

Brian Maloney and Brian Loughlin were also on target for the leaders, while Lahardane’s point scorers were Cormac Rowland (2) and Declan ‘Shaky’ Garrett and Kenneth Burke.

Although Lahardane’s Seamus Coleman scored the first point of the second half, Kilmaine then scored three points without reply by Casey, Maloney and Declan Heneghan.

Kilmaine were beginning to pull away and a Lahardane supporter commented that his team needed a score urgently.

They did this, and the first goal of the game brought them back into contention.

Cormac Rowland’s free deceived goalkeeper Alan Burke, hit the inside of the post and then went across the goalmouth where Michael Harte was unable to stop it entering the net.

Brian Rowland tagged on a point and the sides were level for only the second time of the game.

Two Andrew Casey points edged Kilmaine in front again, but Lahardane, who had beaten the same opposition in the league semi-final, responded with their best spell of the game.

Alan Burke brought off a good save from his namesake Kenneth, but the second Lahardane resurgence of the second half was just beginning.

Cormac Rowland brought his tally to 1-3 with a point from a free, and when Paul Jordan was brought down in the square the trailing side had a chance to take the lead from the penalty spot.

However, Brian Rowland put the ball (intentionally) over the bar and left the sides level for the third time.

Brian’s namesake Cormac then put Lahardane ahead and their jubilant supporters were entitled to celebrate - apart from the very beginning they had not led at any other stage.

Brian Rowland hit two rapid fire points after some excellent teamwork and Lahardane, who had been trailing by a point four minutes earlier, were now three points ahead.

Kilmaine looked dead and buried but were not finished yet.

With four minutes on the clock remaining, a quick free by Brian Maloney released Andrew Casey and the ‘man of the match’ crashed the ball past Daire Nolan, sparking a mini pitch invasion by Kilmaine fans.

Not to be outdone, Lahardane supporters did likewise when Kenneth Burke’s kick signalled a raising of the white flag to put them back in front.

The final point of the game was a Cormac Rowland effort and sixty minutes of excitement and hope was finally realised as mentors, parents and fans responded to James Rocke’s final whistle by flooding the pitch.

For Lahardane, midfielders Kenneth Burke and Brian Rowland and forwards ‘Shaky’ Garrett, Cormac Rowland and Seamus Coleman were excellent.

Lahardane: Daire Nolan, Sean Harte, Aidan McDonnell, John McAndrew, Ciaran Coughlan, Mervyn Marley (Capt.); Raymond McDermott, Kenneth Burke (0-1); Brian Rowland (0-4); Declan Garrett (0-1); Paul Jordan (0-1); Michael Lynn, Cormac Rowland (1-5); Seamus Coleman (0-2); Kenneth Syron. Subs.: Paul Walsh, Patrick Walsh, Damien Leonard, Sean McGreevy.

Referee: James Rocke (Castlebar).