Ballintubber 1-9  Davitts 0-11

Ballintubber were put to the sword by a young Davitts team in the opening round of the Senior League Div 1B but they used their experience to grind out a hard earned victory in Clogher on Saturday evening.

After Ciaran Gavin gave the homeside an early lead with a first minute point Davitts came storming into the game and unanswered points from Dylan Gallagher (3), Niall Treacy (2), Evan Ronane and Fenton Kelly had them 0-7 to 0-1 ahead with five minutes remaining in the first half. Ballintubber were clearly rattled and some wayward shooting was not helping their cause, but they got themselves back into the contest with a strong last five minutes of the opening half. Two well taken points by the very impressive Stephen O Malley and Alan Plunkett in the 27^th and 28^th minutes were followed by the only goal of the game, a 29^th minute penalty, confidently converted by Stephen O Malley, after Jason Gibbons was fouled in the square, to cut Davitts lead to the minimum at the break, 0-7 to 1-3.

Ballintubber started the second half like they finished the first and points from Hugh Geraghty, Ciaran Gavin (2) and Stephen O Malley had them three points ahead by the 37^th minute. Davitts, displaying great spirit, fought back impressively though and and points from Dylan Gallagher and Niall Treacy in the 41^st and 44^th minutes left a point between the sides as the game entered the final quarter. A 48^th minute Stephen O Malley point for Tubber was cancelled out by a similar effort from Niall Treacy three minutes later and the same player shot an equalising point in the 55^th minute. Ciaran Gavin fired over the winning point for the homeside in the 57^th minute and his side were able to see out the game and claim the two hard earned league points.

Joe Geraghty, Finian Burke, Hugh Geraghty, Jason Gibbons, Ciaran Gavin, Stephen O Malley and Alan Plunkett were impressive for Ballintubber.

Davitts had fine performances from Charlie Phillips, Cathal Higgins, Micheal Hett, Darragh McGale, Dylan Gallagher, Niall Treacy and Colm Boyle.

Ballintubber: Brendan Walsh, Jack Walsh, Joe Geraghty, Finian Burke, Milo Kelly, Gary Loftus, Hugh Geraghty (0-1), Jason Gibbons, David McHale, John Kerrigan, Stephen Burke, Gavin Roche, Ciaran Gavin (0-4), Stephen O Malley (1-3), Alan Plunkett (0-1).

Davitts: Tristan Diskin, Charlie Phillips, Thomas Ronayne, Jordan Flanagan, Fionnan Gallagher, Cathal Higgins, Micheal Hett, Fenton Kelly (0-1), Darragh McGale, Dylan Gallagher (0-4), Liam Kearns, Evan Ronane (0-1), Jack Devane, Niall Treacy (0-5), Colm Boyle.

Subs used: Brian Og McTigue, Danny Corless, Ryan McLoughlin, Stephen Nyland.

Referee: John Glavey (Aghamore)

Davitts 8-3  Islandeady 9-10

This U-14 League Div 5B tie between Davitts and Islandeady played in Ballindine on Monday evening turned out to be a real shoot out, with the visitors coming out on top despite the concession of three goals in the opening three minutes of the game. Adam Rattigan, Aaron O Dea and Blake Bradley scored the early Davitts goals but the physically stronger visitors began chipping away and they had taken the lead by halftime, 3-7 to 5-0. Blake Bradley and Cormac Devane scored the fourth and fifth Davitts goals.

A fourth Islandeady goal at the start of the second half was matched by Aaron O Dea who fired home his second goal in the 33^rd minute. The visitors pointed in the 39^th minute and Aaron O Dea scored Davitts first point of the game in the 41^st minute before Tadhg Kirrane was alert to smash in a seventh goal for the homeside as his team regained the lead. This was as good as it got for Davitts however as the visitors hit a purple patch in the next twelve minutes, shooting 4-2 without reply, to take a firm grip on the game. The Davitts lads battled away to the final whistle and they got the last three scores of the game via an Adam Rattigan goal and points from Blake Bradley and Aaron O Dea.

Best for Davitts in this game were Jack Brogan, Tom Roche, Odhran O Connaire, Aaron O Dea, the very impressive Mairtin Elizari, the Devane brothers, Blake Bradley and Adam Rattigan.

Davitts: Carrig Kilkenny, Cathal Cummins, Eibhin Kenny, Jack Brogan, Tom Roche, Odhran O Connaire, Pierce Diskin, Mairtin Elizari, Aaron O Dea (2-2), Cormac Devane (1-0), Malachy Devane, Blake Bradley (2-1), Tadhg Kirrane (1-0), Adam Rattigan (2-0), Niall McDermott, Jack Duggan.

Huge congratulations to Lucy McDermott, winner of the Recitation section, in the Connacht Scor finals held in Ballinasloe yesterday. Lucy is pictured receiving her medal from Vincent Neary, Chairman of the Connacht Scor. Lucy will take part in the All-Ireland finals in Killarney on May 6th.

Kilmaine 2-7  Davitts 1-11

Davitts travelled to Kilmaine on Saturday evening and took on the locals in the O Mara Cup and after a closely contested match, took the spoils by the narrowest of margins, to qualify for the semi-final.

Davitts made the early running with Charlie Phillips (relishing his new role at midfield), Shane Treacy, Thomas Ronayne, Liam Kearns and Niall Treacy very impressive along with the entire backline. Shane Treacy opened the scoring with a fourth minute point. Kilmaine got off the mark with points in the 7^th and 8^th minutes. Shane Treacy fired over an equaliser in the 9^th minute and a 10^th minute Kilmaine point was cancelled out by Niall Treacy’s first point of the game two minutes later. Further points from Shane Treacy, Liam Kearns and two from Niall Treacy left Davitts ahead by 0-7 to 0-3 at halftime after a very strong second quarter.

This four point lead was wiped out in the first four minutes of the second period when the home side got a 32^nd minute goal and a point ninety seconds later. Shane Treacy restored Davitts lead in the 36^th minute and his brother Niall extended the lead to two points in the 40^th minute but the homeside responded with two points in the next four minutes. When Kilmaine fired home their second goal in the 52^nd minute they looked like the more likely winners but Davitts replied with a terrific goal of their own with excellent combination play between Charlie Phillips and Colm Boyle (a second half substitute) leading to a well taken goal by Shane Treacy. A Kilmaine point in the 56^th minute was matched by a similar Niall Treacy effort with the clock running down and in a tense finish, Liam Kearns shot over the winning point just before referee Martin Kennedy blew the final whistle. This was a good first half display, we lost our way midway through the second half but finished the game well so the management will be reasonably pleased. It was also a good senior debut from Sean Keadin and great to see Stephen Nyland make his re-appearance.

Davitts: Tristan Diskin, Sean Keadin, Micheal Hett, Jordan Flanagan, Fionnan Gallagher, Thomas Ronayne, Tom Corless, Charlie Phillips, Cathal Higgins, Shane Treacy (1-4), Liam Kearns (0-2), Ryan McLoughlin, Dylan Gallagher, Niall Treacy (0-5), Jack Devane. Subs used: Colm Boyle, Stephen Nyland, Liam Macken.

Hollymount Carramore 1-7  Davitts 3-9

Davitts minor team travelled to Carramore on Tuesday evening and recorded their second win in Div 2 of the League. The game was played in miserable conditions and Davitts made full use of the wind assistance in the first half, building up a 3-6 to 1-3 lead by half time.

Fionn McLoughlin opened the scoring in the fourth minute crashing home a fine goal. Dylan Gallagher, Davitts excellent midfielder, repeated the trick a minute later and Davitts were well on their way. Dylan Gallagher and Ronan Kelly added points before Hollycarra opened their account with an 11^th minute point. Dylan Gallagher fired home his second goal in the 13^th minute and he pointed again before the locals got their second point in the 17^th minute followed by a fine goal in the 23^rd minute. Davitts had three more points before the break via Ronan Kelly, Conor McDermott and Dylan Gallagher with the homeside scoring one to leave Davitts in a commanding position at half time.

Hollymount Carramore upped their game considerably in the second half. They shot the first two points of the half in the 3^rd and 4^th minutes. Hollycarra were enjoying a lot of possession but were finding the scores hard to come by. Davitts were much more economical in attack and they added three unanswered points through Dylan Gallagher, Ciaran Treacy and Aaron CB before Hollycarra shot two more before the final whistle. Davitts finished the game with thirteen players as Conor McDermott and Dylan Gallagher were black carded (Hollycarra also received a black card) but the team defended well to see the game out.

All six Davitts defenders were in great form in front of Sean Clarke in goals. Davitts were on top for long periods at midfield through Burke Briere and Dylan Gallagher. The Davitts attack linked up superbly, their movement and teamwork being particularly impressive.

Davitts: Sean Clarke, Sean Meehan, Sean Keadin, Ben Corless, Noah O Brien, Aaron Trench, Ethan Boyle, Burke Briere, Dylan Gallagher (2-4), Brian Corless, Ronan Kelly (0-2), Fionn McTigue, Conor McDermott (0-1), Fionn McLoughlin (1-0), Ciaran Treacy (0-1). Subs used: Aaron Conneely Basham (0-1), Cillian Kearns, Conor Feerick.

Davitts 2-9   Mayo Gaels 1-8

Davitts seniors got the new season off to a winning start with a four point victory over Mayo Gaels in the O Mara Cup. The game was played in Ballindine on Saturday evening and a tricky wind made it difficult to play in but credit to both sides for producing an entertaining and competitive match.

Davitts full forward Niall Treacy, a constant menace, opened the scoring with a fifth minute point. Two minutes later the home side strung together a brilliant move involving several players ending in debutante Dylan Gallagher smashing home an excellent goal. Mayo Gaels, like Davitts were missing a number of regulars, opened their account in the eighth minute but poor shooting was not helping their cause. Niall Treacy pointed again for Davitts in the 15^th minute but similar scores from the visitors in the 16^th, 19^th and 20^th minutes narrowed the gap to a single point. In the 26^th minute Shane Treacy was unlucky to see his goal effort smash off the crossbar but points by Ryan McLoughlin in the 27^th minute and Niall Treacy on the stroke of half time sandwiched a Mayo Gaels point to leave the home side ahead by 1-4 to 0-5 at the break.

Davitts took a firm grip on the match in the third quarter. A superb Liam Kearns goal after a sweeping move initiated by Cathal Higgins and involving Ryan McLoughlin, Kearns, Dylan Gallagher and Niall Treacy, extended Davitts lead to five points in the 34^th minute. Some lovely points from Niall Treacy (2) and Jack Devane (2) saw that lead stretch to nine points by the 45^th minute. Mayo Gaels fought back well though and points in the 46^th and 49^th minutes were followed by a 50^th minute goal to leave four points separating the sides with ten minutes remaining. A combination of poor shooting by the visitors and excellent defending by Davitts ensured that the four point gap remained at the final whistle with Niall Treacy shooting his sixth point in the 60^th minute and the Gaels getting the final point two minutes later.

This was an encouraging display from Davitts with Cathal Higgins, Charlie Phillips, Fionnan Gallagher, Darragh McGale, Dylan Gallagher, Liam Kearns, Jack Devane and Niall Treacy in top form. This was a good start too for the management team of Damien Egan, Derek Byrne and John Duggan.

Davitts: Tristan Diskin, Micheal Hett, Charlie Phillips, Thomas Ronayne, Fionnan Gallagher, Cathal Higgins, Mark Ronayne, Darragh McGale, Tom Corless, Dylan Gallagher (1-0), Liam Kearns (1-0), Shane Treacy, Jack Devane (0-2), Niall Treacy (0-6), Brian Og McTigue. Subs used: Ryan McLoughlin (0-1), Brian Birmingham, Sean Feerick, Lawrence Daly.