Brogan, Sweeney strike late for Knockmore

TWO injury-time points gave Knockmore their seventh Mayo senior football title before a 6,000 attendance at Crossmolina yesterday.

In an exciting finish to one of the best finals in years, a replay looked certain when county player Rav Dempsey brought Knockmore on level terms four minutes from the end.

Two minutes later Knockmore were reduced to 14 players when outstanding midfielder Kevin Staunton was sent off for a second bookable offence.

The game still remained dead-locked one minute into added time when Knockmore were awarded a free about 30 metres out near the sideline, and the usually reliable Padraig Brogan, the championship's leading scorer, put Knockmore back in front.

Ballina Stephenites had a chance to draw level, but Sean Moffatt's kick was blocked down and cleared to Knockmore substitute Declan Sweeney, who put two points between the teams seconds from the end.

Knockmore started impressively, scoring 1-3 without reply in the opening five minutes. The goal came from a fine move out of defence and involved five players before Shane Sweeney blasted the ball past goalkeeper Barry Murphy.

But the Ballina defence then got to grips with the Knockmore attack and restricted them to just one more point over the remaining 23 minutes of the half. Gradually Ballina began to cut the leeway and by the break trailed by two points.

On the restart Knockmore were guilty of some bad shooting and in the 42nd minute, Ballina had drawn level with a fine Sean Moffatt goal.

Ballina continued to dominate and looked the likely winners when Martin McGrath and Mickey Tighe put them 1-8 to 1-6 clear with 12 minutes of normal time remaining. However, with Kevin Staunton coming more into the game at centrefield, Knockmore displayed great battling qualities to come back to level the game four minutes from the end, and then snatch the title in injury time.