Mayo U-21 'B' Semi Final (Holy Saturday 11-04-98)

Lively Lahardane make it over Ballintubber

Lahardane.............2-12
Ballintubber..........1-11

Conditions made life difficult for both teams in this Under 21 'B' Semi Final at McHale Park on Saturday but it was Lahardane who adapted best to clinch a place in the final against Charlestown on Easter Monday.

In cold and miserable conditions, Lahardane and Ballintubber served up an hour of football to warm up ones heart. The West Mayo side opened the scoring with a point but a Cormac Rowland point quickly followed. Then Damien Kelly found his fellow midfielder Shane Blake unmarked and he found the back of the net. Later a point from Blake and a goal from a Cormac Rowland penalty after Declan Leonard had been fouled gave Lahardane an unlikely 2-2 to 0-3 lead with a quarter of an hour gone. For the remainder of the first half, Ballintubber owned the ball with the aid of a stiff breeze and driven sleet the Lahardane goal was peppered with shots. Colm Stanton seemed to be involved in everything during a spell which yielded 1-5 without reply. Liam Canavan made several top class saves and other shots came off the crossbar and uprights which on another day would've gave Ballintubber more than a two point advantage at half time. Lahardane captain John Rowland scored the first of three points just before the interval.

Ballintubber were first out of the blocks again with an early score, but this stung the Lahardane backs into action particularly the half back line of Mervyn Marley, Anthony McDermott and John McDonnell. With the increased supply Vinnie Cawley and Cormac Rowland got two points apiece. Two of the next three points went the way of Ballintubber and tied the scores at 1-11 to 2-8. In a pulsating finish, points by Cormac Rowland (2), Vinnie Cawley and John Rowland gave the Nephinsiders breathing space. It was heartbreaking for Ballintubber falling to Lahardane two years running having played very well on both days.

Lahardane: Liam Canavan, Adrian Marley, Declan Sheridan, Mervyn Marley, Anthony McDermott, John McDonnell, Damien Kelly, Shane Blake (1-1); Vinnie Cawley (0-3); John Rowland (0-3); Brian Rowland, Declan Leonard, Cormac Rowland (1-5).