2010 Senior Championship

Ballymote 1-15
Shamrock Gaels 0-06

Ballymote advanced to the quarter-finals of the Senior Championship after a comprehensive victory over Shamrock Gaels in the final group 1 match at Markievicz Park last Sunday evening. The Gaels needed to win by five points to avoid the relegation battle and while it looked like this was achievable in the first quarter, Ballymote began to assert their dominance mid-way through the first half and took control of the game as the Gaels challenge collapsed in a game that never got up to championship pace.

Ballymote were off the mark on twenty seconds with a point from full forward Mark Irwin; however it was the Gaels that started to dominate and looked the more threatening in a scrappy opening period. Frank Quinn opened the Gaels scoring with a great point from a free from an acute angle. The Gaels gifted a sideline ball to Dermot McTiernan who set up Peter Lyons for Ballymote's second score on six minutes. The Gaels then started to apply some good pressure and had Ballymote pinned into their own half for long periods, however they failed to capitalise dropping three balls into the grateful arms of Ballymote net minder Michael Flannery. The Gaels had a goal chance on eleven minutes when a high ball caused confusion in the Ballymote square and the ball broke kindly for Joe Quinn - however his shot was cleared off the line by Conor McGowan when a goal seemed certain. Conor Mullen levelled the game midway through the half after a good move.

Ballymote signalled their intent on sixteen minutes when Mark Tuohy in the Gaels goals pulled off a great save to deny Gerry Brennan and this was quickly followed by a point from Mark Irwin after some good work from half back Michael Doddy. The Gaels had a wide from a 45 on twenty minutes but Peter Lyons made no mistake from a 45 a minute later - he followed this up with another point on twenty two minutes as Ballymote started to grow in confidence with their forwards in particular looking dangerous. The impressive Peter Lyons pointed from long range on twenty two minutes while at the other end the Gaels struggled to make any impact in attack as they recorded another wide on twenty eight minutes. Full forward Mark Irwin pointed for Ballymote again from long range while Joe Quinn pointed for the Gaels on the stroke of half time. Ballymote had the last day of the half with another long range point from Michael Munds to leave the half time score 0-8 to 0-3 in favour of Ballymote.

Ballymote were off the mark within fifteen seconds of the re-start when man of the match Mark Irwin pointed after turning his marker to tap the ball over the bar. The signs looked bad for the Gaels when on three minutes Dermot McTiernan ran the whole way from mid-field without any challenge only to be denied by a great save from Mark Tuohy. Peter Lyons, who ran Irwin close for man of the match, fisted a point on four minutes to extend Ballymote lead to seven points and it was game over for the Gaels as the deficit they now needed to overcome was twelve points. Gerry Brennan pointed on eight minutes while at the other end substitute Paddy O'Grady got one back for the Gaels after good work from Vinny Boyd. Both sides exchanged points from frees in the following minutes - Peter Lyons for Ballymote and Joe Quinn for the Gaels. Fergal Sexton pointed for Ballymote mid-way through the second half after the ball was well won by Mark Irwin while Liam O'Connell scored from long range for the Gaels.
Ballymote had another goal chance on nineteen minutes; however they over elaborated and the Gaels were able to clear. Peter Lyons added another free a minute later and Ballymote finally got their goal on twenty two minutes when Mark Irwin picked the ball up in front of his marker Keith McMorrow, turning him and slotted the ball past Gaels keeper Mark Tuohy. Ballymote were now cruising and with the Gaels desperately waiting for the final whistle the last ten minutes were scrappy and free ridden with referee Michael Duffy busy handing out yellow cards. The Gaels misery was complete when Colin Harte was red- carded for a second bookable offence on the stroke of full time while Peter Lyons rounded off a fine display with a point from a free in injury time to leave the final score 1-15 to 0-6.

The teams were: Shamrock Gaels: Mark Tuohy, Colin Harte, James Lyons, Keith McMorrow, Paul Higgins, Niall Henry, Liam O'Connell (0-1), Jarlath Lyons, Frank Quinn (0-1), Johnny Burke, Paul Brennan, Damien Lyons, Joe Quinn (0-2), Conor Mullen (0-1), Derrick Davey Subs: Vinny Boyd for D Lyons, Paddy O'Grady (0-1) for J. Lyons, Philip Murphy for J Burke, Enda Tuohy for Paul Brennan.

Ballymote: Michael Flannery, Daniel Clark, Conor McGowan, Derek Tighe, Michael Doddy, Paul Mullin, Kenny Feely, Fergal Sexton (0-1), Dermot McTiernan, Michael Sweeney, Michael Munds (0-1), Peter Lyons (0-8), Nigel Clancy, Mark Irwin (1-4), Gerry Brennan (0-1). Subs: Gary Conlon for D McTiernan, Aidan Caffrey for P Mullin, Robbie Flannery for G Brennan

Referee: Michael Duffy.