Goals from Kearney and Fox help to overcome Mountbellew/Moylough

Claregalway 2-10

Mountbellew/Moylough 0-10

Ivan Smyth at Duggan Park

GOALS in the second half from Padraig Kearney and Dan Fox helped Claregalway become North Board junior football champions and advance to a county final against Moycullen.

This game was in the melting pot for long periods, but those expertly taken goals were crucial, while Conor Kelly’s four points from play were also an important factor in Claregalway’s win.

Mountbellew/Moylough missed a penalty immediately after conceding their second goal while, at one stage, their opponents only had 12 players on the pitch after Ryan O’Connell, goalkeeper Michael Newell and substitute Ger Kelly were all black carded in a final quarter punctuated with stoppages, substitutions and black cards.

Claregalway’s first goal was the game’s decisive score as it shifted the momentum firmly in their favour. They had managed to claw back a half time deficit and level the game before benefitting when Mountbellew/ Moylough goalkeeper Michael Foley broke the golden rule by handpassing the ball back across the square, with Kearney reacting quickest to rifle home with the outside of his right boot as he opted to finish first time along the deck.

This gave Claregalway a 1-7 to 0-7 lead as they piled bodies back to protect their lead, while their pacy attack was still dangerous on the counter. A Dan Fox goal after Mountbellew/ Moylough were turned over gave Claregalway a 2-8 to 0-9 advantage. The men in black and amber had one final opportunity when Sean Sweeney being hauled down inside the small rectangle by opposition goalkeeper Michael Newell, who was subsequently black carded.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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