Ballaghaderreen 2-16    Davitts 0-8

Ballaghaderreen proved too strong for Davitts in this Mayo Senior Championship quarter-final played in a wet and miserable McHale Park on Saturday evening. Ballagh’s greater firepower and experience proved to be the difference but a young Davitts outfit will have learned from a reasonably successful Championship campaign which saw them reach this stage for the first time in over three decades.

Ballagh, adapting to the conditions better, made the ideal start and had built up a 1-2 to 0-0 lead after eight minutes, Cian Hanley with a second minute goal and two Andy Moran points. Davitts had their best goal chance in the sixth minute with the Ballagh keeper denying young Stephen Nyland after good work by Colm Boyle and Darragh McGale.

Cathal Hennelly opened Davitts account in the 14^th minute and Ronan McNamara narrowed the deficit to a goal with another point a minute later. Cathal Hennelly cancelled out an 18^th minute Ballagh point by Ryan Lynch with one of his own two minutes later but the East Mayo men shot the last three points of the half, all scored by Andy Moran, to go in at the break ahead by 1-6 to 0-3.

Stephen Nyland and Cian Hanley exchanged early second half points but Andy Moran delivered the killer blow with a fifth minute goal, after a slick passing move, to effectively kill off the game. Ballagh added points from Luke O Grady and Thomas Carmody before Shane Treacy and Colm Boyle pointed for Davitts in the 41^st and 43^rd minutes.

Both sides were emptying their benches at this stage and Ballagh shot four points without reply from Thomas Carmody, Cian Hanley, Luke O Grady and Sean McHugh before Ronan McNamara, struggling with a leg injury for most of the game, pulled one back for Davitts with ten minutes remaining. Three more Ballagh points followed from substitutes Stephen Drake (2) and Barry Regan before Stephen Nyland finished the scoring with a Davitts point in injury time.

A well conditioned and very experienced Ballagh side will provide stiff opposition for Castlebar Mitchels in the semi-final while Davitts will need to make good use of their gym over the winter months and look forward to making more improvement in the coming season.

Davitts: Cian Naughton, Patrick Keadin, Cathal Higgins, Kieran Fahy, Tommy Waldron, Colm Boyle (0-1), Dmitry Trench, Ronan McNamara (0-2), William Freeley, Brian Clarke, Cathal Hennelly (0-2), Stephen Nyland (0-2), Mark Ronayne, Darragh McGale, Evan Ronane. Subs used: Shane Treacy (0-1), Aidan McTigue, Aidan Macken, Padraig Mangan, Daniel Huane, Michael Conroy.

• By darraghmc
• In Match Reports

Davitts Senior’s hosted a Swinford side in Div 3 of the Senior League on Saturday with the visitors bagging the two league points winning by 3-9 to 1-7. Swinford were by far the better team and deserved their win that eases their relegation worries.

Davitts had the wind assisting them in the first half and the sides went in level at half time, Davitts 1-5 Swinford 2-2. William Freeley scored the Davitts goal with Ronan McNamara (4) and Aidan McTigue the pointscorers. Swinford took the lead with a first minute point in the second half and in truth they never looked like losing afterwards as they played with great vigour until the finish.

Davitts will need a substantial improvement next week when they face Ballaghaderreen in the Senior Championship Quarter-Final. On this occasion only Ciaran Fahy, Tommy Waldron, Ronan McNamara and Cathal Hennelly, when introduced, played anything like they are capable of.

Davitts: Cian Naughton, Kevin Gallagher, Cathal Higgins, Ciaran Fahy, Brian Clarke, Padraig Mangan, William Freeley (1-0), Daniel Huane, Mark Ronayne, Darragh McGale, Jack Ronayne, Tommy Waldron, Aidan McTigue (0-2), Ronan McNamara (0-5). Subs used: Cathal Hennelly, Dmitry Trench, Colm Boyle, Patrick Keadin.

• By darraghmc
• In Match Reports

Davitts Junior team bowed out of the County B Championship in heart-breaking fashion when a last minute goal for Crossmolina saw them snatch a Semi-Final spot with a 1-10 to 1-9 win. The game was played in very difficult climatic conditions but both teams served up a very exciting contest. Crossmolina will now play Claremorris in the Semi-Final.

Davitts led by 1-5 to 0-5 at the break with Liam Noone (2), Dara O Flaharta, Richie Kilkenny and Clive Hennigan the pointscorers. Dara O Flaharta grabbed the goal in the 26^th minute when he collected a Clive Hennigan flick on from Shane Mitchell’s long delivery and gave the Crossmolina keeper no chance with a low drive to the corner.

Liam Noone extended Davitts lead to four points in the fifth minute of the second half but Crossmolina hit back with four unanswered scores to level the game going into the final quarter. Tommy Clarke and Ryan McLoughlin pointed for Davitts and Crossmolina fired over one of their own with six minutes left on the clock. Richie Kilkenny scored a neat point in the 27^th minute of the half to put Davitts two ahead again but Crossmolina, showing admirable determination, stuck to their task and were rewarded with a last minute goal.

Davitts, so unlucky to lose, had terrific performances from Dave Mitchell, Frankie Barrett, Tom Corless, Aidan Macken, Shane Mitchell, Tommy Clarke, Dara O Flaharta and Richie Kilkenny.

Davitts: Dave Mitchell, Tom Corless, Frankie Barrett, Cathal Moran, Jordan Flanagan, Aidan Macken, John Macken, Shane Mitchell, Liam Macken, Ryan McLoughlin (0-1), Liam Noone (0-3), Tommy Clarke (0-1), Dara O Flaharta (1-1), Clive Hennigan (0-1), Richie Kilkenny (0-2). Subs used: Colm Roche, Johnno Clarke, Dean Moran.

• By darraghmc
• In Match Reports

Davitts U-16 team’s attempt to win the County A Championship for the first time was stopped at the final hurdle by Ballina in McHale Park on Tuesday evening. A four goal blitz in the final ten minutes killed off a spirited comeback by the Davitts lads who had trailed by 1-7 to 0-2 at the break. The final scoreline of 5-9 to 1-9 was a little harsh on Davitts but there was no questioning Ballina’s superiority on the night. Davitts chances were dealt a severe blow before the game with a hip injury to midfielder Fionnan Gallagher, a recent Ted Webb Cup winner for Mayo North/South. He did line out but his movement was restricted and he operated at full forward in the first half. His physical presence around the middle was missed while star full forward Jack Devane had to play at midfield and while he did play very well, Davitts missed his drive in attack.

Ballina, wind assisted in the first half, got off to a perfect start with a 3^rd minute goal. Jack Devane pointed for Davitts a minute later but Ballina dominated most of the first half. They shot a string of points, with Jack Devane getting Davitts sole reply in the 28^th minute, to build up a 1-7 to 0-2 halftime lead. This lead could have been more but for some heroic defending by Sean Keadin, John Wallace, Tomas Ronayne, Micheal Hett, Brian Og McTigue, Brian Birmingham and keeper Tristan Diskin.

Davitts began the second half well and reeled of points in the 32^nd, 34^th and 36^th minutes, all via the impressive Jack Devane, to narrow the gap. Ballina stemmed the tide with a point in the 42^nd minute but this was cancelled out by Jack Devane with his sixth point of the game two minutes later. A Fenton Kelly point in the 47^th minute had the gap back to four points but disaster struck for Davitts in the 50^th minute as Ballina goaled against the run of play. They hit Davitts for another goal three minutes later and immediately followed that with a point. Fenton Kelly and Jack Devane pointed but Ballina struck again for goal number four in the 59^th minute. Jack Devane scored Davitts only goal as the game went into injury time but Ballina had the last say with a goal in the final moments of injury time.

The wet and windy conditions certainly would not have helped Davitts against a much physically stronger Ballina team. It still is a fantastic achievement for a small club to go toe to toe with Ballina at U-16 level and the Davitts boys can hold their heads high. Joe Prendergast and Jack Devane were excellent in this game. Fenton Kelly and Fionnan Gallagher tried everything they could to turn the game around while Jack Melvin, Cathal Corless, Davey Hennessy, Dylan Gallagher, Bon Glynn and Mark Birmingham all worked tirelessly.

Davitts: Tristan Diskin, Brian Og McTigue, Micheal Hett, Sean Keadin, Brian Birmingham, Tomas Ronayne, John Wallace, Jack Devane (1-7), Fenton Kelly (0-2), Joe Prendergast, Cathal Corless, Jack Melvin, Davey Hennessy, Fionnan Gallagher, Dylan Gallagher. Subs used: Bon Glynn, Mark Birmingham.

• By darraghmc
• In Match Reports

Davitts 3-14 Kiltane 2-8

Davitts Senior team advanced to the County Quarter Finals with an emphatic nine point defeat of Kiltane in McHale Park on Saturday evening. Davitts controlled the game from the start and, but for a ten minute lapse in concentration in the final quarter, could easily have won by much more.

Davitts built up a 0-9 to 0-3 lead at the break with scores coming from man of the match Cathal Hennelly (5), Evan Ronane, Josh Ronayne, Darragh McGale and Ronan McNamara. The defence were very impressive in that half, none more so than Kieran Fahy, Tommy Waldron and Dmitry Trench while the attack were moving smoothly and working very hard. Kiltane had one great goal chance in that first half but Davitts young keeper Cian Naughton pulled off a superb save in the tenth minute.

Josh Ronayne and Darragh McGale assisted each other for Davitts opening two points of the second half sandwiching a second minute Kiltane point. Evan Ronane completely killed off the game as a contest in the 39^th minute with a blistering goal after being put through by a slick Josh Ronayne pass. Kiltane pulled a point back one minute later and Dmitry Trench and Cathal Hennelly traded points with Kiltane in the next five minutes. In the 48^th minute Ronan McNamara, now prowling around the Kiltane square, fielded a long Stephen Nyland only to be hauled to the ground for a penalty which was coolly despatched by Stephen Nyland to put Davitts 2-13 to 0-7 ahead.

Kiltane fought valiantly and were rewarded with two goals and a point in the last ten minutes with Davitts replying with a Shane Treacy point and Cathal Hennelly fittingly rounding off a great individual display with the game’s final score, a goal in the closing seconds.

This was a very good performance from Davitts who advance to the Quarter-Finals. The defence was rock solid for most of the game while some of the scoretaking and passing movements were very impressive. The performances of the young players like Cian Naughton, Patrick Keadin, Kieran Fahy, Dmitry Trench, Tommy Waldron, Cathal Hennelly (1-6), William Freeley, Stephen Nyland (1-0), Evan Ronane (1-1) and Shane Treacy (0-1) were very encouraging with the older brigade of Cathal Higgins, Colm Boyle, Ronan McNamara (0-1), Josh Ronayne (0-3), Mark Ronayne and Darragh McGale (0-2) providing the leadership. There were also telling contributions from Aidan McTigue, Michael Conroy, Daniel Huane and Brian Clarke from the bench in a great display of teamwork.

Davitts will now play Ballaghaderreen in the Quarter-Final in McHale Park on September 21^st.

• By darraghmc
• In Match Reports

Davitts defeated neighbours Garrymore in the first round of the Brennan Cup played in difficult wet conditions in front of a large attendance in Ballindine on Tuesday evening. Both teams played some great football considering the climatic conditions but it was the homeside that triumphed by 1-16 to 0-12.

Garrymore opened the scoring but points from Jack Ronayne (2), Evan Ronane and Ryan McLouglin saw Davitts three ahead after the first quarter. Garry pulled two points back in the 18^th and 19^th minutes but Davitts replied strongly with five unanswered points from Evan Ronane (2), Danny Huane, Jack Ronayne and Cian Naughton. A Garrymore point in the 26^th minute was cancelled out by Davitts captain Evan Ronane leaving his side ahead by 0-10 to 0-5 at halftime.

Garrymore began the second half well with three points in the first five minutes but Davitts replied with three of their own in the next five minutes through Evan Ronane (2) and Stephen Nyland. Garrymore narrowed the gap with a point in the fortieth minute but two fine long range efforts from Stephen Nyland extended Davitts lead to seven points as the game entered the final quarter.

Garrymore began to press hard and some brilliant saves by Dean Moran the Davitts keeper kept them at bay. They did score four points in a row before Evan Ronane finished off the game as a contest with a superb goal created by Niall Treacy’s clever play. Stephen Nyland added another point before the finish as darkness quickly descended on Davitt Park.

Outstanding for Davitts were Dean Moran, Kieran Fahy, Dmitry Trench, Liam Macken, Danny Huane, Jack Ronayne, Stephen Nyland, Evan Ronane and Niall Treacy.

Davitts: Dean Moran, Tom Corless, Kieran Fahy, Jordan Flanagan, Dmitry Trench, Liam Macken, Danny Huane (0-1), Cian Naughton (0-1), Aidan Macken, Ryan McLoughlin (0-1), Jack Ronayne (0-3), Stephen Nyland (0-4), Evan Ronane (1-6). Sub used: Niall Treacy.

• By darraghmc
• In Match Reports