Davitts minor team began their Summer league campaign with a good 3-13 to 0-12 win away to Islandeady on Friday evening. Davitts always held the upper hand in this tie with Mark Ronayne in outstanding form at midfield. Davitts, minus the services of Andrew Peters and Gearoid Lyons, had other star performers in Donie Ronayne, Brian Clarke, Cathal Higgins, who had a stormer at centre half back, Jason Connolly, Clive Hennigan and Darren Connolly.

Davitts team: David Mitchell, Donie Ronayne, Brian Clarke, Gerard McWalter, Cathal Higgins, Jason Connolly, Mark Ronayne (0-2), Sean Waldron, John Macken, William Freeley, Liam Noone (0-2), Darren Connolly (2-2), Clive Hennigan (1-4). Subs used: John Huane (0-1), Thomas Waldron (0-1), Michael Clarke (0-1), Caolan Devane.

• By darraghmc
• In Match Reports

Davitts U-21 team qualified for the County B semi-final for the second year in a row, defeating Kiltane by 2-10 to 1-8 in a hard fought quarter-final played in Knockmore on Thursday evening. Kiltane started brightly but a well taken Darren Connolly goal in the fifth minute settled the Davitts nerves, playing without Michael Waldron (holidays) and injured captain Keith Prendergast. Points from Liam Kearns (3), Darren Connolly and Josh Ronayne (2) saw Davitts build up a 1-6 to 0-4 lead at half-time,

Kearns leading the attack superbly and the Davitts defence limiting the Kiltane lads to just one point from play with Kevin Gallagher inspiring his colleagues with his usual committed defending and goalkeeper David Mitchell having an excellent game.

Two early second half points from Josh Ronayne (after a fine run by the hard-working Richie Kilkenny) and Fergal McGrath, shrugging off the affects of a virus, gave Davitts some breathing space, but Kiltane had no intention of going down without a struggle and four unanswered points from them left just a goal between the sides with fifteen minutes remaining. The Davitts defence proved their worth in this period with the superb Gallagher, Mark Ronayne, Jason Connolly, Johnno Clarke and Gerard McWalter (G-Mack) defending tigerishly, getting great assistance from midfielders Tommy Mitchell and John Heneghan, and David Mitchell pulling off a number of top class saves. A McGrath point lifted the siege and when Josh Ronayne flicked McGrath’s centre to the Kiltane net with five minutes remaining Davitts were almost there. Kiltane finally breached Mitchell’s goal in injury time but Liam Kearns had the final say with another terrific point from an acute angle. Davitts will have to improve on this display for their semi-final clash with Moy Davitts.

Davitts team: David Mitchell, Kevin Gallagher, Mark Ronayne, Gerard McWalter, Tommy Mitchell, Johnno Clarke, John Heneghan, Josh Ronayne (1-3), Jason Connolly, Liam Kearns (0-4), Richie Kilkenny, Darren Connolly (1-1), Fergal McGrath (0-2).

Subs: David Connolly, Dara Halligan, Tommy Clarke, Cathal Higgins.

• By darraghmc
• In Match Reports

Davitts U-14’s County Championship campaign ended with a very good win over St. Gerards in Ballindine on Thursday evening. Davitts won by 3-12 to 2-10 in an entertaining game. Wing forward Shane Treacy was in top form scoring 2-5, and he got great assistance from Evan Ronayne, Denis Fahy, Andre Trench, Ciaran Waldron, Jack Ronayne, Daniel Huane and the outstanding Caolan Mullee in goals (who saved two penalties).

Davitts team: Caolan Mullee, Denis Fahy, Christopher Ryan, Andre Trench, Ciaran Waldron, Ciaran Fahy, Evan Ronayne (1-2), Francis Griffin, Shane Treacy (2-5), Jamie Mullee (0-1), Jack Ronayne (0-3), Daniel Huane (0-1), Cian Treacy. Subs used: Cathal Moran, Stephen Nyland, Niall Treacy.

The U-16 team suffered a heartbreaking one point defeat, 1-7 to 0-9, away to Claremorris, in the semi-final of the South Mayo A Championship, on Friday evening. Claremorris looked the better team in a poor first half and they led by 0-4 to 0-2, both teams guilty of some terrible shooting. The second half produced much better fare with the result in the balance right up to the final whistle. Best for Davitts in this game were Michael and Padraig Mangan, Dylan Keadin, Donie Ronayne, William Freeley, Tommy Waldron, Michael Clarke, Gerard Griffin and ace marksman Liam Noone.

Davitts team: Michael Mangan, Dylan Keadin, Donie Ronayne, John Huane, Jonathon Fahy, Padraig Mangan, Shane Cummins, William Freeley, Thomas Charles, Cathal Hennelly, Tommy Waldron (0-1), Liam Noone (0-7), Gerard Griffin, Michael Clarke (0-1), Richie O Connor. Subs used: Jack Rodgers, Dylan Higgins.

• By darraghmc
• In Match Reports

Davitts and Kiltimagh played a thrilling county U-16 Div 2 League final in Claremorris on Thursday evening, with the Kiltimagh girls edging it, 4-5 to 3-5, in what was a tremendous advertisement for the girls game. Davitts made all the early running, with star forward Ruth Kearns goaling superbly after a minute. Emma Nyland and Laura Corless were winning a lot of ball at midfield and points from Roisin Kearns, Lisa Sheridan, Chloe Dixon and Ruth Kearns and a brilliant goal by Aisling O Connor, after good work by Chloe Stephens, had the Davitts girls ahead, 2-4 to 1-2 at halftime.

Kiltimagh, physically much stronger, began to take control of the game in the second half and the Davitts defence were under severe pressure throughout. Excellent defending by goalie Marie Corless, Aoife McWalter, Laura Waldron, Aisling O Connor, Michelle Waldron and Aoife Ronayne kept Kiltimagh restricted to just two points in the 3rd quarter, but the girls in blue struck two goals in quick succession to take the lead with 13 minutes remaining. Davitts fought back and were awarded a penalty when the excellent Ruth Kearns was crudely grounded after a brilliant run. Laura Corless drove the spot kick narrowly over the crossbar to leave two points in it and within a minute Kearns had goaled again. Kiltimagh didn’t panic however, and a late goal and point sealed victory for them.

Fair play to the Davitts girls for their brave display that saw them come so close to adding an U-16 league title to the U-14 title won two weeks ago. A special word of praise to the management team of Patricia Waldron, Linda Mooney, Veronica Keadin and Michelle Waldron.

Davitts team: Marie Corless, Aoife McWalter, Laura Waldron, Aisling O Connor (1-0), Michelle Waldron, Aoife Ronayne, Emma Nyland, Laura Corless (0-1), Roisin Kearns (0-1), Ruth Kearns (2-1), Chloe Stephens, Lisa Sheridan (0-1), Chloe Dixon (0-1). Subs used: Catherine Prendergast, Cara Sheridan, Siobhan O Gara.

• By darraghmc
• In Match Reports

Davitts U-16 team defeated St. Gerards, 2-16 to 1-11, in the South Mayo championship, in Hollymount on Tuesday evening. Davitts were always in control in this game and easily qualified for a semi-final clash with close neighbours Claremorris next week. In a good team display the performances of William Freeley, outstanding in defence, and substitute Dylan Keadin, were particularly noteworthy.

Davitts team: Michael Mangan, John Huane, William Freeley, Dylan Higgins, Jonathon Fahy, Shane Cummins, Jack Rogers, Donie Ronayne (1-0), Padraig Mangan, Liam Noone (0-3), Tommy Waldron (0-4), Matthew Trench (0-1), Gerard Griffin (0-2), Michael Clarke (1-4), Cathal Hennelly (0-2). Subs used: Dylan Keadin, Thomas Charles, Richie Connor.

At the same time as the U-16 team played in Hollymount, Davitts U-21’s had a great win over Bohola – Moy Davitts in Ballindine, in the County B Championship. (One has to wonder why U-16 and U-21 matches are fixed for the same evening). Davitts, who had led by 2-10 to 1-3 at half time after playing superbly in the first half, went on to win by 2-15 to 2-9, surviving a fine second half comeback by the visitors.

Davitts midfield pairing of John Heneghan and Keith Prendergast were in top form in that first half as the Davitts forwardline ran riot with the outstanding Fergal McGrath and Josh Ronayne terrorising the overworked Moy Davitts defence and getting great support from Liam Kearns, Darren Connolly and Richie Kilkenny. McGrath and Ronayne scored the goals after some exceptional teamwork.

Moy Davitts took the game to their hosts in the second half and it was the Davitts defence that had to work overtime during this period. Kevin Gallagher, Michael Waldron, Mark Ronayne, Johnno Clarke (pictured) and Tommy Mitchell defended superbly in front of the reliable David Mitchell in goals. Second half substitutes Jason Connolly and Clive Hennigan both played their part in a fine display.

Davitts team: David Mitchell, Kevin Gallagher, Michael Waldron, Johnno Clarke (0-1), Tommy Mitchell, Mark Ronayne, John Heneghan, Keith Prendergast, Josh Ronayne (1-4), Liam Kearns (0-6), Richie Kilkenny (0-1), Darren Connolly (0-1), Fergal McGrath (1-2). Subs used: Jason Connolly, Clive Hennigan.

Photos of the U-21 game will be posted in the coming days…

• By darraghmc
• In Match Reports