Davitts 5-9  Hollymount Carramore 0-10

Davitts captured the South Mayo Junior Championship for only the second time in the club’s history with a great win over Hollymount Carramore in Mayo Abbey on Sunday. Hollymount Carramore deservedly led at halftime but Davitts second half display was outstanding as they blitzed away their rivals.

Davitts opened the scoring with a classy point from Liam Noone. Holly Carra replied with four points before Davitts outstanding full forward Sean Waldron punched to the net after a Liam Noone cross. Three excellent points from Padraig Mangan, Cathal Hennelly and Liam Noone kept Davitts within striking reach of Holly Carra at the break. Davitts went in trailling by a point, 0-8 to 1-4, at halftime.

Davitts were a different side on the restart and completely took control of proceedings. Two early goals from Sean Waldron and Seamus Roche put Davitts in a strong position. They began to play direct purposeful football which was a delight to see and completely dominated their opponents in the second half. Five excellent subs were introduced, showing the squad’s strength in depth, and they all played magnificently. Seamus Roche and Sean Waldron scored two more goals and Richie Kilkenny, superb when introduced, added a fifth to kill off the Holly Carra challenge. Matthew Trench and Tommy Clarke, two other impressive subs, scored lovely points and Davitts knew it was going to be their day when wing back JP Kirrane registered the score of the day, a fantastic point from long range.

All twenty players that played for Davitts did themselves and their club proud on this historic occasion (only the second time in the club’s history to claim this crown). Michael Waldron, Lawrence Daly, Mark Ronayne, Padraig Mangan, Seamus Roche, Sean Waldron, Cathal Hennelly, Matthew Trench and Richie Kilkenny were immense. In the absence of Tommy Mitchell, the cup was presented to Michael Waldron, a captain who led by example throughout the game.

Davitts: David Mitchell, William Freeley, Michael Waldron, Lawrence Daly, JP Kirrane (0-1), Mark Ronayne, John Costello, John Heneghan, Padraig Mangan (0-1), Liam Noone (0-3), Seamus Roche (2-0), Carlos O Gara, Darren Connolly, Sean Waldron (2-0), Cathal Hennelly (0-2). Subs used: Matthew Trench (0-1), Richie Kilkenny (1-0), Michael Ronayne, Tommy Clarke (0-1), Jack Rodgers.

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Davitts qualified for the South Mayo Junior Championship final with a 0-10 to 0-9 victory over a gallant Shrule Glencorrib side in Ballindine on Sunday. Davitts began brightly and had the first four scores of the game in the opening ten minutes through Liam Noone (3) and Sean Waldron. Shrule Glencorrib pulled one back but Davitts captain Tommy Mitchell restored his side’s four point advantage with a classy score. Shrule were getting back into the game in the second quarter and tagged on two more points before the break but a brace from Liam Noone left Davitts ahead by 0-7 to 0-3 at halftime.

Shrule Glencorrib threw everything they had at the homeside in the second half and only for some poor shooting and superb defending by man of the match Michael Waldron, Lawrence Daly and Mark Ronayne they might have pipped Davitts.  Points from Noone, Carlos O Gara and JP Kirrane (after a spectacular Keith Higgins like run) kept Davitts in front but they will know that a repeat of this performance will not be good enough in the final.
Best for Davitts were Michael Waldron, Lawrence Daly, JP Kirrane, Mark Ronayne, John Costello, Liam Noone and Matthew Trench.

Davitts team: David Mitchell, William Freeley, Michael Waldron, Lawrence Daly, JP Kirrane (0-1), Mark Ronayne, John Costello, John Heneghan, Tommy Mitchell (0-1), Liam Noone (0-6), Seamus Roche, Carlos O Gara (0-1), Darren Connolly, Sean Waldron (0-1), Jack Rodgers. Subs used: Matthew Trench, Michael Ronayne, Padraig Mangan, Cathal Hennelly.

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Tourmakeady 0-10  Davitts 1-9

Few present at this Senior League Div 1A game played in Tourmakeady on Sunday would have given Davitts any chance of winning at halftime as they played second fiddle to their hosts for all of the first half, and trailled by 0-8 to 0-1.

Tourmakeady started furiously and raced into a six point lead after fifteen minutes with points from Michael O Neill, Darren Kelly, Kevin Dolan, Joe Heneghan, Martin Staunton and Tom Naughton. Davitts midfielder Paul Carey got his sides only first half score after eighteen minutes, when he pointed after a good run. Tom Naughton and Brendan Prendergast scored two more points before the interval to give Tourmakeady a healthy seven point lead at the break.

Josh Ronayne pointed immediately after the restart but Tourmakeady replied with two fine scores from Michael Ronayne and Kevin Dolan to lead by 0-10 to 0-2 with twenty minutes remaining. It was only then that Davitts began to show their true worth. Points from the lively Thomas Waldron, Josh Ronayne and Ronan McNamara narrowed the gap before Andrew Peters goaled expertly after superb work from midfielder Keith Prendergast. The same player pointed moments later to leave just a point between the teams with ten minutes remaining. Young Thomas Waldron posted the equalising point and he and Josh Ronayne added two more to give Davitts the victory that ensures Div 1A football for them next season, while Tourmakeady are relegated to Div 1B.

After a very sluggish opening half, Davitts played some brilliant football when they got going. They had outstanding performers in Colm Roche, Cathal Higgins, Padraig Mangan, Alan Roche, Paul Carey, Keith Prendergast, Liam Kearns, Thomas Waldron and Andrew Peters.

Hardest triers for a gallant Tourmakeady team were Martin Staunton, Danny Lydon, Brian Heneghan, Michael Ronayne, Brendan Prendergast, Tom Naughton, Joe Heneghan and Kevin Dolan.

Tourmakeady: James Grant, Sean Burke, David Prendergast, Martin Staunton (0-1), Danny Lydon, Brian Heneghan, Michael Ronayne (0-1), Michael O Neill (0-1), Brendan Prendergast (0-1), Brian Naughton, Tom Naughton (0-2), Darren Kelly (0-1), Aaron Conroy, Joe Heneghan (0-1), Kevin Dolan (0-2). Subs used: Shane Staunton, Michael Kelly, Stephen O Neill.

Davitts: Adrian McNamara, Colm Roche, Cathal Higgins, Kevin Gallagher, Donal Ronayne, Alan Roche, Padraig Mangan, Keith Prendergast, Paul Carey (0-1), Seamus Roche, Josh Ronayne (0-3), Andrew Peters (1-1), Thomas Waldron (0-3), Cathal Hennelly, Liam Kearns. Subs used: Ronan McNamara (0-1), Carlos O Gara.

Referee: Ronan Gurren.

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Davitts and Breaffy clashed in the County Div 2 League Final in Bekan on Friday night with Breaffy, the recently crowned Mayo Minor A Champions, narrowly defeating the Davitts lads by 2-10 to 1-10, after a cracking game of football.

Davitts opened brightly and raced into a three point lead after five minutes with superb scores from Cathal Hennelly, Evan Ronayne and Thomas Waldron. Breaffy hit back with a goal and a point but Liam Noone levelled. Two more Breaffy points were cancelled out by terrific scores from Matthew Trench and Thomas Waldron to leave the sides level at the break, Davitts 0-6, Breaffy 1-3.

Breaffy hit a purple patch at the start of the second half and added on five quick points with Davitts only reply coming from Liam Noone. A converted Liam Noone penalty however left just a point in it after Gerald Griffin was pulled back in the square and it was all to play for going into the final quarter. Breaffy extended their lead and Padraig Mangan pulled one back for Davitts.

Another Breaffy goal proved to be the matchwinner with ten minutes remaining. Waldron, Evan Ronayne and Hennelly pointed before the end but Breaffy closed the game out well, as good champions do.

Davitts, while disappointed with losing, will take great encouragement from this display. Some of the football they played was outstanding but they will be the first to admit they were beaten by the better team on the night.

It would be unfair to single out any players for special mention as all of them gave their all. The future looks bright.

Davitts: Michael Mangan, Dylan Keadin, William Freely, John Huane, Jack Rodgers, Donal Ronayne, Cathal Hennelly (0-2), Padraig Mangan (0-1), Thomas Waldron (0-2), Liam Noone (1-2), Matthew Trench (0-1), Evan Ronayne (0-2), Richie O Connor, Michael Clarke, Gerald Griffin.

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