Darren McHale bags two goals as Knockmore cruise into Mayo semi-final

Garrymore were spectacularly wasteful, kicking 16 wides. They also squandered three goal chances.

DOUBLE: Darren McHale, Knockmore, in action against Pat Hession, Garrymore in the Mayo SFC quarter-final. Photo: Ray Ryan

Mayo SFC quarter-final: Garrymore: 0-5 Knockmore: 3-8

The annals of club championships are littered with shattered dreams. For Garrymore, an alluring Saturday night lights home quarter-final fixture quickly became a nightmare as Knockmore ran out comfortable 12 points victors.

As a matchup it had all the components to be a cracker. Knockout football featuring two rural clubs in front of a packed crowd on a sublime surface. Instead, it served as a reminder of just how vital it is to take crucial chances. The final missed shots tally saw Knockmore’s total add up to four, Garrymore’s was 16.

Knockmore lined out without the injured Kevin McLoughlin yet still led 3-4 to 0-2 after a dramatic opening half. A superb score from the sideline by Mark Gibbons saw the home outfit strike first only for the ground to collapse beneath their feet shortly after.

A driving run by Mayo senior Aidan Orme, marked by intercounty team-mate Enda Hession, yielded Darren McHale’s first goal of the contest with six minutes on the clock. McHale struck again fortuitously when his long delivery was missed by goalkeeper Ciaran McGrath. The former Galway footballer and Corofin All-Ireland winner took over as Garrymore’s number one due to injury earlier this year.

A short kickout malfunction allowed Keith Ruttledge to capitalise and deliver goal number three. Rubbing salt into the wound for Garrymore was the fact they squandered three goal chances of their own. A goal-line save by McHale denied Conor Lydon, Gary Golden drove a second attempt wide and a Hession handpass failed to find a man at the back post.

The second half continued in the same fashion. Martin Maloney and his backroom team, which includes Galway All-Ireland winner Kieran Fitzgerald, opted for three changes at the break. Substitute Eoin McGreal made his mark with a fine point, but it was never likely to spark a comeback.

Coalan Hopkins put on a terrific exhibition of shooting with four points from four shots. He kicked two from play, the last created by a surge up the field and outstanding long ball by Mayo goalkeeper Colm Reape.

Ballaghaderreen’s six-point triumph over Ballintubbers sees them join Knockmore in the final four with two more quarter-finals scheduled for Sunday. Elsewhere, Kilmeena lost out on penalties against Mayo Gaels in their relegation clash. They will now face Belmullet in the relegation final.

Scorers for Garrymore: M. Gibbons 0-3, D. Quinn 0-1 free, E. McGreal 0-1.

Scorers for Knockmore: D. McHale 2-0, K. Ruttledge 1-0, C. Hopkins 0-4 (2 frees), A. Orme 0-2, C. Reape 0-1 45, C. Bourke 0-1.

GARRYMORE: C. McGrath; P. Hession, C. Crowe, C. Commins; E. Hession, L. Og Horkan, D. Dolan; G. Golden, C. Slattery; S. Nally, M. Gibbons, C. Lydon; D. Quinn, A. Hughes, T. Nally.

Subs: E. McGreal for Lydon, J. Hession for Hughes, K. Lydon for Golden (all half-time), M. Connolly for Nally (54), J. Oates for Hession (60).

KNOCKMORE: C. Reape; D. McHale, K. King, A. Battle; D. Melvin, C. Flynn, D. Staunton; N. Armstrong, P. Ruttledge; C. Bourke, D. McHale, K. Ruttledge; L. Durcan, A. Orme, C. Hopkins.

Subs: S. Holmes for Battle – Inj (43), P. Naughton for Ruttledge (50), A. Naughton for Staunton, D. McHale for McHale, (60), D. Coleman for Orme (62).

Referee: P. Lydon (Kiltimagh).