Four-goal Kirby kills off GMIT

FOUR goals from full-forward Danny Kirby propelled Mayo into the FBD League home final as they easily beat the students of GMIT in Ballinrobe yesterday.

Kirby (19), who was making just his second senior start, netted four times between the 23rd and 27th minutes.

In a young looking Mayo team, he was ably supported by debutants Evan Regan and Conor O’Shea, a brother of Seamus and Aidan, who both scored.

The winners led 4-6 to 0-4 at half-time but GMIT battled bravely to the end with top scorer, Jonathan Ryan, Diarmuid Cronin, Eoin Ward and Aidan Walsh all grabbing consolation scores.

Scorers for Mayo: D Kirby 4-1, C Mortimer 0-6 (4fs), P Gardiner, C O’Shea, D Coen, E Regan 0-1 each.

Scorers for GMIT: J Ryan 0-5 (4fs), A Walsh 0-2 (1f), C Sweeney, D Cronin, P Sweeney, E Ward 0-1 each.

MAYO: D Clarke; E O’Reilly, G Cafferkey, M Walsh; P Gardiner, K Higgins, L Keegan; B Moran, P Harte; C O’Shea, D Coen, K McLoughlin; E Regan, D Kirby, C Mortimer.

Subs: J Gibbons for Harte, A Feeney for O’Reilly, E Varley for Regan, S O’Shea for C O’Shea.

GMIT: B Walsh; M Kelly, A Tierney, D Lee; C Sweeney, J Duane, J McLaughlin; A Walsh, S Boyle; D Durkan, J Ryan, N Prenty; D Cronin, P Sweeney, N Farragher.

Subs: E Ward for Cronin, B Sheridan for Kelly, D McIntyre for Farragher, D Clabby for Boyle, D Quinn for P Sweeney.

Referee: TJ Keaveney (Sligo).