Balla came to Ballindine on Friday evening and defeated Davitts by 3-9 to 0-15 in the County U-21 B Championship. This was a lively and entertaining game in less than ideal conditions but Balla’s ability to get goals proved to be the difference in the end. Balla deservedly led by 2-4 to 0-5 at halftime and things didn’t look good for the homeside who had lost two star forwards Matthew Trench and Evan Ronayne to injury in that first half. Some poor shooting didn’t help Davitts cause either while Liam Noone, Andrew Peters, Cathal Hennelly (2) and Sean Waldron scored Davitts first half points.

The homeside however came out with all guns blazing in the second half and began to chip away at the lead. Some fine shooting by Cathal Hennelly, Andy Peters and Liam Noone, as Davitts showed admirable spirit all over the field, narrowed the gap to one point with ten minutes remaining. Balla responded with a third goal to really knock the stuffing out of the Davitts lads. Balla finished the game out well as Davitts couldn’t breach their defence for the goal they required in the final minutes.

After a poor first half where all of the players underperformed, Davitts will be encouraged by the second half display with notable contributions from Brian Clarke, Cathal Higgins, Cathal Hennelly, Andrew Peters, Liam Noone and Paul O Gara.

Davitts: Micheal Mangan, Patrick Keadin, Brian Clarke, Padraig Mangan, Cathal Higgins, Cathal Hennelly (0-7), Sean Waldron (0-1), William Freeley, Matthew Trench, Andrew Peters (0-2), Liam Noone (0-4), Evan Ronayne, Gerald Griffin. Subs used: Conor Keane (0-1), Paul O Gara, Gearoid Lyons.

We wish a speedy recovery to the luckless Matthew Trench who sustained a serious leg injury late in the first half.

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Davitts 1-9 Knockmore 0-8

Davitts advanced to the Semi-final of the county Junior B Championship with a hard earned but well deserved victory over Knockmore in a game played in difficult conditions in Kiltimagh on Sunday. Knockmore settled into the game quicker than Davitts and they led by 0-2 to 0-1 after twelve minutes. Liam Noone had opened Davitts account. The overworked Davitts defence were coping well with the Knockmore attack with midfielders William Freeley and Shane Mitchell and the half forward line also helping out defensively. Liam Noone pointed to equalise and in the 15th minute the lively Shane Treacy scored what proved to be the game’s crucial score, goaling emphatically after a fine run. A Gerald Griffin point gave Davitts a four point cushion and Liam Noone and Evan Ronayne pointed before the break to leave Davitts in front by 1-5 to 0-3.

Knockmore started the second half well and completely dominated the third quarter. The Davitts defence were overworked in this period but Patrick Keadin, Brian Clarke and the outstanding John Costello were in superb form. Knockmore scored two points in that period but a point from Davitts sub Darren Connolly lifted the siege. Davitts finished the game strongly and three fine points via Liam Noone, Darren Connolly and JP Kirrane saw them through to a semi-final clash against Breaffy.

Davitts: David Mitchell, Patrick Keadin, Brian Clarke, Lawrence Daly, JP Kirrane (0-1), John Costello, Martin Cosgrove, William Freeley, Shane Mitchell, Shane Treacy (1-0), Liam Noone (0-4), Tommy Clarke, Gerald Griffin (0-1), Seamus Roche, Evan Ronayne (0-1). Subs used: Darren Connolly (0-2), Gearoid Lyons, Michael Ronayne.

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Davitts Minors defeated Naomh Phadraig in the County E Championship in Ballindine on Friday to secure the top spot in their group. Davitts always held the upper hand in this game and a superb Evan Ronayne goal after twenty minutes and points via Conor Keane (3), Evan Ronayne (3), Shane Treacy and Ryan McLoughlin had the home side ahead by 1-8 to 0-4 at halftime.

A fine Niall Kearns goal and points from Evan Ronayne, Conor Keane and Ryan McLoughlin had Davitts comfortably ahead by 2-11 to 0-7 with ten minutes remaining. Naomh Phadraig were battling hard, to their credit, and were rewarded with two well taken goals to narrow the margin to four points but Davitts responded in style with a cracking Conor Keane goal and another from sub Andre Trench in the closing moments.

Best for Davitts were Ciaran Fahy, Thomas Corless, Patrick Keadin, Daniel Huane, Evan Ronayne and Conor Keane.

Davitts: Michael Kelly, Denis Fahy, Ciaran Fahy, Thomas Corless, Patrick Keadin, Kelan Cosgrove, Niall Kearns (1-0), John Kilkenny, Daniel Huane, Shane Treacy (0-1), Evan Ronayne (1-4), Conor Keane (1-4), Ryan McLoughlin (0-2). Subs used: Owen Morris, Andre Trench (1-0).

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Davitts travelled to Westport on Sunday and defeated the locals by 1-12 to 0-11 in Division 1D of the Senior League. Davitts fielded an experimental outfit with a lot of regulars rested before next Sunday’s County Championship Quarter Final against Knockmore.

Davitts started well and early points from the impressive Tommy Brogan, Michael Hynes and Louis Prendergast had them ahead after ten minutes. Westport then hit a purple spell to hit five unanswered points as the Davitts lads appeared to lose concentration. Jimmy Kilkenny and the outstanding Pat Hickey got the visitors level but two more Westport points before the break had them in front by 0-7 to 0-5 at the interval.

Davitts introduced Pat Cummins for the ineffective Ronan Kirrane early in the second half and he and Liam Griffin began to take control around midfield. The half backline of Paddy Glynn, Joe Ryan and Michael Stephens broke forward at every opportunity. The game’s crucial score came in the eighth minute with John A Noone, just back from a groin strain, getting on the end of a sweeping move involving Mick Roche, Michael Waldron and Frank Hyland to beat the Westport keeper with a cheeky lob. Points followed from Tommy Brogan (2), Pat Cummins (2) and Willie Fallon before Westport were awarded a controversial penalty. Goalkeeper Frank Clarke effected a spectacular save to kill off the Westport challenge. Davitts finished the game out well and substitutes Tom Garvey and Jimmy Roche got in on the scoring act before the finish.

This was a good team display but the performances of Michael Waldron, Jimmy Kilkenny, Pat Hickey, Pat Cummins and man of the match Tommy Brogan were particularly noteworthy.

Davitts: Frank Clarke, Mick Roche, Willie Fallon (0-1), Michael Waldron, Paddy Glynn, Joe Ryan, Michael Stephens, Ronan Kirrane, Pat Hickey (0-1), Jimmy Kilkenny (0-1), Tommy Brogan (0-3) Louis Prendergast (0-1), Michael Hynes (0-1), John A Noone (1-0), Gabriel Prendergast. Subs used: Pat Cummins (0-2), Tom Garvey (0-1), Jimmy Roche (0-1), Sean Higgins, Frank Hyland.

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Ballintubber 0-14 Davitts 0-9

Ballintubber hosted Davitts in this Senior League Division 1A encounter and gained the two valuable points after a hard fought encounter. The game possibly had its turning point as early as the tenth minute when Davitts star forward Michael Conroy, who was proving a real menace to the homeside’s defence, suffered a shoulder injury when fouled while bearing down on goal. Davitts were leading by 0-3 to 0-2 at this juncture but his loss limited their attacking threat, and even though his team mates worked valiantly throughout the game, the experienced homeside were able to withstand everything that was thrown at them.

Alan Plunkett for Ballintubber and Liam Kearns for Davitts traded a brace of points each in the first six minutes of the game. A Josh Ronayne point put the visitors in front in the 8th minute before Conroy’s injury. Ballintubber’s Brian Walsh levelled the game and repeated the dose after Cathal Hennelly had put Davitts ahead again in the 15th minute. Damian McGing fired over three fine points with Davitts only reply coming from the trusty boot of Liam Kearns on the stroke of halftime, to leave Ballintubber ahead by 0-7 to 0-5 at the break.

Stephen Finnerty pointed for the homeside in the 3rd minute of the second half. Andrew Peters replied for the visitors two minutes later. Another fine McGing point in the tenth minute put the Tubber ahead by three points but Liam Kearns and Josh Ronayne narrowed the gap with points as Davitts threw everything they had at the County Champions. The homeside proved their mettle by tagging on points via Alan Plunkett (2), Ruadhri O Connor and sub Conor Finnerty to seal the win with Ronan McNamara supplying Davitts only reply before the finish.

Best for Ballintubber were Brian Murphy, Ruadhri O Connor, Michael and Alan Plunkett, Brian Walsh, Stephen Broderick and Damian McGing.

Davitts were best served by Kevin Gallagher, Tommy Nolan, Ronan McNamara, Andrew Peters, Declan Healy and Liam Kearns. Michael Conroy looked like he was going to have a major input into the game until his unfortunate injury.

Ballintubber: Brendan Walsh, Gary Loftus, Cathal Hallinan, Brian Murphy, Joe Geraghty, Ruadhri O Connor (0-1), Michael Plunkett, Danny Geraghty, Michael Hoban, Damian Coleman, Alan Plunkett (0-4), Brian Walsh (0-2), Stephen Finnerty (0-2), Stephen Broderick, Damian McGing (0-4). Subs used: Myles Kelly, Conor Finnerty (0-1).

Davitts: Micheal Mangan, Kevin Gallagher, Tommy Nolan, Brian Clarke, James Cummins, Cathal Higgins, Colm Roche, Ronan McNamara (0-1), Sean Waldron, Declan Healy, Liam Kearns (0-4), Andrew Peters (0-1), Cathal Hennelly (0-1), Josh Ronayne (0-2), Michael Conroy. Subs used: Padraig Mangan, Mark Ronayne, Evan Ronayne, Johnno Clarke.

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Davitts were well beaten by a strong Claremorris U-21 outfit in the Brennan Cup in Ballindine on Tuesday evening. After a well contested first half and with Davitts leading by a point after 28 minutes, the game turned dramatically with the visitors firing home two goals and a point in the closing minutes of the first half. Liam Noone (3) and Evan Ronayne were the Davitts scorers in the opening half as Claremorris led by 2-5 to 0-4 at the break.

Davitts fought hard in the second half and had a few clear cut goal opportunities but great goalkeeping and defending by Claremorris kept their goals intact. Brian Clarke, Cathal Higgins, Patrick Keadin, Cathal Hennelly, Sean Waldron, Evan Ronayne and sub Conor Keane did their utmost for the homeside but two late second half Claremorris goals ended all hopes of a revival.

Claremorris, the current County U-21 A Champions, will be strongly fancied to retain that title this year while Davitts will hardly meet opposition of as high a standard in the B Championship which will commence in two weeks time.

Davitts: Micheal Mangan, Cathal Higgins, Brian Clarke, Patrick Keadin, Padraig Mangan, Cathal Hennelly, William Freeley, Sean Waldron, Liam Noone (0-4), Paul O Gara, Matthew Trench, Andrew Peters, Evan Ronayne (0-1). Subs used: Conor Keane (0-1), Gearoid Lyons, Shane Treacy, Gerald McWalter, Jamie Mullee, Anthony McLoughlin.

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