Shelmalier's late rally rewarded

When these two sides met two weeks ago, a late point sent the game to a replay

When these two sides met two weeks ago, a late point sent the game to a replay. It looked like going to extra-time at Portarlington yesterday when the sides were level two minutes into injury time. However, a late rally by Shelmalier yielded a goal and a point to give them their second title of the '90s. The referee ran the gauntlet of some disgruntled Hollymount supporters as he left the pitch.

Two goals from Marguerite Lynsky and a goal from Marcella Heffernan and points from Christina Heffernan saw the Mayo side lead by 10 points after 15 minutes. A great Shelmalier rally in the second-quarter yielded two goals, one from Kate Kelly and a second which took a deflection off the Mayo full back. At half-time Hollymount led 3-3 to 2-2.

Shelmalier never gave up and points by Aideen Gordon and Michelle Murphy narrowed the gap to just one point at the end of normal time. Margaret O'Doherty sent over the equaliser one minute into injury time and an Aideen Gordon point a minute later gave Shelmalier the lead for the first time. Hollymount tried hard to get back into contention but were stunned a minute later when Leona Tector scored Shelmalier's third goal.

SHELMALIER: A Murphy; S Carr, M Kelly, C Doyle; A Cullen, L Corrigan (capt), L Tector (1-0); M Hearne (1-0), S Carr; K Kelly (1-0), A Gordon (0-6), M Murphy (0-1); I Fagan, M O'Doherty (0-1), M O'Leary. Sub: M Stafford for E Fagan.

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HOLLYMOUNT: C Conroy; P Donnellan, H Lohan, N Jordan; M Garvey, Y Byrne, O Casby; C Heffernan (0-3), M Heffernan (1-0), M Corcoran; S Costello, M Lynsky (2-1), A M Conroy, S Bailey, R Heaney. Subs: M Tierney for S Costello injured, L Heneghan for R Heaney.

Referee: M Henry (Cavan).