Ballaghaderreen 1-12 Davitts 0-10

Ballaghaderreen defeated Davitts by five points in this Mayo Senior Championship tie played in Ballaghaderreen on Saturday evening. The exchanges were close throughout but a Ballagh goal scored by Cormac Doohan in the 27^th minute was the game’s crucial score. Ballagh had three other clearcut goal chances in the first half but excellent goalkeeping by Adrian McNamara kept them out.

Andy Moran got the opening two points in the 5^th and 6^th minutes as he threatened to run riot in the full forward line. The impressive Ronan McNamara pointed a monster free to open Davitts account and Barry Regan left it 0-3 to 0-1 after ten minutes. Davitts moved centre back Colm Boyle back to mark Andy Moran and the two county men had a great battle with Boyle coming out on top for the remainder of the game.

McNamara and Rory Conway swapped scores before Davitts Michael Conroy got his first score in the 21^st minute and the same player equalised three minutes later with a superb point after a run from deep. Barry Regan restored the homeside’s lead a minute later and then Doohan’s goal put daylight between the sides. McNamara and Fearghal McGrath for Davitts and Regan for Ballagh pointed before halftime to leave Ballaghaderreen ahead by 1-6 to 0-6 at the break.

Darragh Dunne for the homeside and Josh Ronayne for Davitts shot early second half points and the big Davitts crowd got a massive lift in the 6^th minute when Andrew Peters goaled after Ballagh goalie Ollie Flanagan parried a Josh Ronayne effort. Referee Denis Harrington disallowed the goal for a square ball infringement, which infuriated the visitors, and Barry Regan shot two points in rapid succession to put his side five points ahead.

Davitts tried hard but could not breach the Ballagh defence for the goal they needed and points from Thomas Waldron, Keith Prendergast and Ronan McNamara for Davitts were cancelled out by scores from James Kilcullen, Darragh Dunne and Barry Regan.

Ballaghaderreen’s strength and experience saw them through with Keith Rogers, Peter Kelly, Stephen Drake, David Drake, James Kilcullen, Andy Moran, Darragh Dunne and Barry Regan impressing.

Best for a gallant Davitts side were Adrian and Ronan McNamara, Mark Ronayne, Colm Roche, Colm Boyle, Josh Ronayne and Michael Conroy.

Ballaghaderreen: Ollie Flanagan, Aaron Lynch, Keith Rogers, Seamus Cunniffe, Peter Kelly, Stephen Drake, David Drake, James Kilcullen (0-1), Ryan Lynch, Owen Jordan, Andy Moran (0-2), Rory Conway (0-1), Darragh Dunne (0-2), Barry Regan (0-6), Cormac Doohan (1-0). Subs used: Cian Hanley, Gary Conway.

Davitts: Adrian McNamara, Mark Ronayne, Padraig Mangan, Kevin Gallagher, Colm Roche, Colm Boyle, Keith Prendergast (0-1), Ronan McNamara (0-4), Paul Carey, Seamus Roche, Josh Ronayne (0-1), Thomas Waldron (0-1), Fearghal McGrath (0-1), Liam Kearns, Michael Conroy (0-2). Subs used: Andrew Peters, Cathal Higgins, Donal Ronayne, Matthew Trench, Cathal Hennelly, Padraig Mangan.

Referee: Denis Harrington.

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Davitts Junior team made the journey to Crossmolina on Sunday and won their second game in Div 1D with a fine 2-9 to 0-11 victory over the Deel Rovers. Wind assisted Davitts led by 0-6 to 0-4 at halftime with the superb Aidan McTigue helping himself to five of those points and Matthew Trench scoring the other.

Those present that thought that a two points halftime lead might not be enough for Davitts looked like they might be right as the homeside scored three early second half scores to take the lead for the first time in the match. The young Davitts team had other ideas however and another Aidan McTigue point was closely followed by two opportunist goals by Liam Noone to give Davitts a six point lead midway through the half.

Crossmolina chipped away at the lead but Davitts fought bravely and two points from McTigue and Michael Waldron before the finish ensured a well earned four point victory.

Michael Mangan was solid in goals for Davitts, with his brother Padraig and Mark and Donal Ronayne excelling in an uncompromising defence, along with Lawrence Daly, Martin Cosgrove and Gerard McWalter. Shane Mitchell and Michael Waldron, ably assisted by Sean Waldron in the second half, controlled the midfield sector. All six forwards combined well with Aidan McTigue and Liam Noone grabbing the scores but Seamus Roche, Darren Connolly and the hard working Matthew Trench all impressed.

Davitts: Michael Mangan, Gerard McWalter, Padraig Mangan, Lawrence Daly, Mark Ronayne, Donal Ronayne, Martin Cosgrove, Michael Waldron (0-1), Shane Mitchell, Seamus Roche, Matthew Trench (0-1), Liam Noone (2-0), Darren Connolly, Sean Walsron, Aidan McTigue (0-7). Subs used: Jack Rodgers, JP Kirrane, John Huane.

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Crossmolina 0-10 Davitts 0-7.

Crossmolina defeated Davitts in the second round of the Senior League Div 1A played in difficult conditions in Crossmolina on Saturday evening. Davitts, wind assisted in the first half, failed to gain advantage by playing a strangely defensive type of game, and the sides went in level at 0-3 apiece at halftime.

Seamus Roche opened the scoring in the first minute for Davitts before points from the mercurial Ciaran McDonald and Kevin Mulhern gave the hosts the lead. Josh Ronayne equalised in the tenth minute and Colm Roche put Davitts ahead six minutes later with a fine score. McDonald had the last say in a very poor first half when he pointed in the 25^th minute.

The second half began with Brian Benson for Crossmolina and Davitts Michael Conroy trading points in the 4^th and 5^th minutes. Peadar Gardiner’s seventh minute point was cancelled out by another Conroy score two minutes later. Crossmolina assumed full control of the game from then on and only some superb defending from Davitts Colm Boyle, Kevin Gallagher and Colm Roche kept the scoreline respectable for the visitors.

Points from Benson (2), Fionn Duffy and McDonald (2) for Crossmolina with Davitts replying through Conroy and Matthew Trench completed the scoring in a poor match.

Crossmolina had good performances from Chris Moyles, Jonathon O Boyle, John Garrett, Peadar Gardiner, Brian Benson and Ciaran McDonald.

For Davitts only Colm Boyle, Kevin Gallagher, Colm Roche, Michael Conroy and sub Matthew Trench made any impact.

Crossmolina: Shane Keane, Chris Moyles, Tom Cafferkey, Jonathon O Boyle, John Garrett, Stephen O Malley, Peadar Gardiner (0-1), Paul Duffy, James Cafferkey, Kevin Mulhern (0-1), Declan Keating, Michael Gallagher, Brian Benson (0-3), Ciaran McDonald (0-4), Fionn Duffy (0-1). Subs used: Keith Hopkins, Mark Leonard.

Davitts: Adrian McNamara, Mark Ronayne, Padraig Mangan, Kevin Gallagher, Colm Roche (0-1), Keith Prendergast, Colm Boyle, Ronan McNamara, Josh Ronayne (0-1), Seamus Roche (0-1), Fearghal McGrath, Thomas Waldron, Liam Kearns, Paul Carey, Michael Conroy (0-3). Subs used: Cathal Higgins, Andrew Peters, Donal Ronayne, Aidan McTigue, Matthew Trench (0-1), James Cummins.

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Davitts 1-13 Hollymount Carramore 0-11

Davitts Juniors, like the Seniors the evening before, began their Div 1D campaign with a win over Hollymount Carramore on Sunday in Ballindine. Davitts had built up a 1-7 to 0-3 lead by halftime with the returning Aidan McTigue on fire at corner forward, scoring five of those points. Michael Waldron and Darren Connolly were the other point scorers while Sean Waldron rifled home the game’s only goal.

Davitts continued to impress in the second half with the team displaying a great work ethic. McTigue added four more points with Connolly and Sean Waldron contributing the other two. Hollymount Carramore staged a late revival and kicked the last five points of the game but it was too little too late for their gallant side.

The game aqlso marked the return of Martin Cosgrove after a two year absence through injury and he aquitted himself well.

Outstanding for Davitts were David Mitchell, Donal and Mark Ronayne, Lawrence Daly, Michael Waldron, Matthew Trench, Darren Connolly, Sean Waldron and the superb Aidan McTigue.

Davitts: David Mitchell, Ger McWalter, Donal Ronayne, Lawrence Daly, Martin Cosgrove, Mark Ronayne, Michael Mangan, Shane Mitchell, Michael Waldron (0-1), Jack Rodgers, Matthew Trench, John Huane, Darren Connolly (0-2), Sean Waldron (1-1), Aidan McTigue (0-9). Subs used: David McDonagh, Liam Noone, Shane Treacy.

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Davitts 1-10 Garrymore 1-9

Davitts and Garrymore fought out a tense and exciting local derby in the opening round of the Senior League Div 1A in Ballindine on Saturday evening with Davitts just about shading the issue by a point.

Garrymore, facing into a stiff wind, opened in whirlwind fashion, racing into a 1-2 to 0-0 lead after just 4 minutes with a goal finished by Myles Fallon and points from Martin Maloney and the impressive Shane Nally. Davitts began to compose themselves, in front of a fine crowd, and points from man of the match Michael Conroy, Ronan McNamara, Josh Ronayne (2) with a response from Caolann Crowe for the visitors left Garrymore ahead by 1-3 to 0-4 midway through the half.

The hugely impressive Conroy and Fearghal McGrath narrowed the gap with two good points and a superb goal from Conroy, after great work from Seamus Roche and Ronan McNamara, put Davitts ahead for the first time in the game in the 21^st minute.

Jimmy Killeen pointed a minute later but Josh Ronayne and Michael Conroy exteneded the homeside’s lead before Enda Varley opened his account a minute into injury time to leave Davitts ahead by 1-8 to 1-5 at the break..

Garrymore, the wind at their backs, tried hard to peg the lead back but it was Davitts, adopting a very defensive policy, who opened the second half scoring, after seven minutes through Michael Conroy, converting a free after he was crudely taken down by Alan Reilly, probably a lucky man to stay on the field for this indiscretion. Garrymore began to get a grip around the midfield sector through Shane Nally and Caolann Crowe and Mark Tierney and Enda Varley narrowed the deficit before Seamus Roche scored a spectacular point from an impossible angle to restore a three point lead for the homeside with sixteen minutes remaining.

In the last quarter Garrymore only managed two points, via Enda Varley and David Dolan, with Davitts defending superbly to hold out for a one point win.

Best for Davitts were Mark Ronayne, Padraig Mangan, Colm Boyle, Josh Ronayne, Seamus Roche, Paul Carey and the excellent Michael Conroy.

Garrymore had outstanding performances from Jarlath Varley, a bang in form Shane Nally, Caolann Crowe, Enda Varley, Mark Tierney and sub David Dolan.

Davitts: Adrian McNamara, Mark Ronayne, Padraig Mangan, Kevin Gallagher, Colm Roche, Keith Prendergast, Colm Boyle, Ronan McNamara (0-1), Josh Ronayne (0-3), Seamus Roche (0-1), Paul Carey, Thomas Waldron, Fearghal McGrath (0-1), Liam Kearns, Michael Conroy (1-4). Subs used: Michael Waldron, Matthew Trench, Donal Ronayne.

Garrymore: Morven Connolly, Jarlath Varley, Kieran Cunningham, Alan Commins, Dara Henry, Alan Reilly, Martin Maloney (0-1), Shane Nally (0-1), Caolann Crowe (0-1), Jimmy Killeen (0-1), Enda Varley (0-3), Myles Fallon (1-0), Michael Connolly, Anthony Cunningham, Mark Tiernry (0-1). Subs used: Brian Walsh, David Dolan (0-1).

Referee: Ronan Gurren.

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Swinford had home advantage in the Minor League Div 3 Semi-Final on Friday evening and defeated Davitts by 4-12 to 1-9. While Swinford were the better team on this occasion, the scoreline flatters them somewhat. The key moment in this game was the black carding of Davitts midfielder Jack Rodgers early in the second half with a point separating the sides.

Swinford, playing against the wind, started brightly and went three points up after five minutes. Davitts responded well with Cathal Hennelly, Evan Ronayne (2) and Richie O Connor pointing before Evan Ronayne’s long range point effort deceived the Swinford goalie and ended up in the net. Swinford, thanks to some very sharp forward play, scored 1-2 themselves to take the lead. Three superb points converted by Gerald Griffin, Cathal Hennelly and Evan Ronayne had Davitts ahead by 1-7 to 1-6 at the break after a well contested first half.

Two early second half points by the homeside were followed by Jack Rodgers dismissal. Within three minutes, Swinford had extended their lead to eight points with another point and two quickfire goals. With weather conditions worsening Davitts fought hard and Cathal Hennelly, now operating at midfield, scored a fine point to lift the siege. Swinford were in the driving seat now and in the last ten minutes they tagged on two more goals as they advanced to the final to meet Ballina. All Davitts could muster in response was a Shane Treacy point.

Davitts best players were Patrick Keadin, Michael Mangan, Padraig Mangan, Gerald Griffin, Evan Ronayne, Shane Treacy and Cathal Hennelly.

Davitts: Caolann Mullee, Dylan Keadin, Dylan Higgins, Patrick Keadin, Michael Mangan, John Kilkenny, Padraig Mangan, Jack Rodgers, Richie O Connor (0-1), Gerald Griffin (0-1), Evan Ronayne (1-3), Cathal Hennelly (0-3), Shane Treacy (0-1). Subs used: Jamie Mullee, Denis Fahy and Seanie Bourke.

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