Intermediate team get first league win. Achill 3-2 Mayo Gaels 0-16
For the second week in a row our intermediate team faced a long away trip on Sunday morning. This week’s trip to Achill proved fruitful as they came away with a 3-2 to 0-16 victory to record their first win in the intermediate secondary league. Played to the beautiful back drop of the Atlantic Ocean the Gaels completely dominate the first half. A Niall Brett fifty opened the scoring and this was quickly followed by a fine point from play by the lively Mallie Byrne. Achill responded with their only point of the half from play. With the Gaels dominating the midfield exchanges the forwards made use of the plentiful supply of possession with a fisted Neil McGurrin point, a Danny Burke free and a well taken score by Dermot Browne to leave them four points clear. They had two goal chances during the opening period but failed to convert. They pushed further clear with a Mallie Byrne free and three well worked scores from play through Adrian Heneghan, Danny Burke and the hard working Niall Brett. Achill then scored their first goal with a break away move that saw the Gaels defence caught napping. Adrian Heneghan kicked his second point from play before Achill again scored a soft goal to reduce the Gaels lead to three at half time 2-1 to 0-10.
A Danny Burke free got the Gaels off to the ideal start in the second half and leave them four clear. Over the course of the next ten minutes Achill had their best spell and scored 1-1 to level the game. Their goal came after a high centre that was fisted to the net. With the sides level the game was their there to be won and it was the Gaels that pushed on to register five unanswered points from play. Danny Burke showed great leadership and maturity to kick two fine efforts from play. With five minutes left Joe Gilroy kept his composure to tap over and leave the Gaels three clear. Achill pushed forward in search of an equalising goal but the Gaels defence held firm and they closed out the game with two points from play through Mallie Byrne and raiding corner back Noel Morris. A good win on the road with fine performances from Adrian Heneghan, John Sloyan, Niall Brett, Michael O’Gara and Danny Burke. They are home to Ballinrobe in the O’Mara Cup next Sunday.
Mayo Gaels team: Paul Mannion, Noel Morris (0-1), Anthony Byrne, Noel Quinn, Mark Nally, Adrian Heneghan (0-2), John Sloyan, Niall Brett (0-2, 1 45m), Sean Boyle, Neil McGurrin (0-1), Mallie Byrne (0-3, 2f), Michael O’Gara, Danny Burke (0-5, 2f), Dermot Browne (0-1), Joe Gilroy (0-1). Subs. Shane Vahey for Paul Mannion (inj.), Michael Hurst for Dermot Browne, Aiden Jennings for John Sloyan, Stephen Gibbons for Michael O’Gara.
