Davitts 2-9  Knockmore 0-10

Davitts and Knockmore met in the U-17 C Grading League final in Ballindine on Sunday morning. Two opportunistic goals, one in each half, by Aaron O Dea, proved to be the difference between two well matched teams.

Knockmore shot three points in the first ten minutes of the game before Davitts midfielder Dylan Burke settled his side’s nerves with a classy point in the 11^th minute. Ronan Kelly pointed for Davitts in the 13^th minute but Knockmore scored again in the 16^th minute to go two ahead. In the 18^th minute Davitts excellent goal-keeper Dylan O Brien pointed a 45 and then pulled off a top class save less than a minute later. A Knockmore point in the 22^nd minute restored their two point advantage but Davitts finished the half strongly. Two Ronan Kelly points in the 24^th and 26^th minutes levelled it and in the 28^th minute Aaron O Dea netted his first goal, first timing to the net after Dylan Burke had blocked down an attempted clearance. This left the home side ahead by 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time.

Two brilliant points from Tadhg Feerick and Aaron CB in the first three minutes of the second half extended Davitts lead to five. Knockmore got a point in the 36^th minute but were left reeling when Aaron O Dea flicked a long range Ronan Kelly free kick to the net. Knockmore, as always, were not going to go down without a fight, and they shot four unanswered points between the 40^th and 48^th minutes to reduce the deficit to three points. Davitts defended very well though and kept the visitors scoreless after that while adding two more points to their tally scored by Aaron O Dea and team captain Ciaran Treacy.

Dylan O Brien was extremely confident in goals. Tadhg Feerick gave a man of the match performance with Conor McDermott controlling the game from centre half-back. Ben Corless had a super match in the corner while Sean Clarke, Noah O Brien and Brian Hett also defended very well. At midfield, Burke Briere and Dylan Burke both worked tirelessly from start to finish. Two goal hero, Aaron O Dea, Ronan Kelly and Aaron CB formed an effective half forward-line. Full forward Ciaran Treacy put in a hard-working shift and got good support from Fionn McTigue and Dylan Gormley. Subs Cillian Kearns and Odhran O Connaire played their parts when introduced in the second half.

Well done to the management team of Lawrence Daly, Frank Kelly, Padraig Moran and Liam Nyland.

Dylan O Brien (0-1), Ben Corless, Sean Clarke, Brian Hett, Noah O Brien, Conor McDermott, Tadhg Feerick (0-1), Burke Briere, Dylan Burke (0-1), Aaron O Dea (2-1), Ronan Kelly (0-3), Aaron Conneely Basham (0-1), Fionn McTigue, Ciaran Treacy (0-1), Dylan Gormley. Subs used: Cillian Kearns, Odhran O Connaire.

Davitts 0-12  Claremorris 0-12

The big crowd that attended this county U-21 A championship match in Ballindine on Sunday were treated to a full blooded encounter between two very evenly matched sides, with the result in doubt right up to the last second. The game ended on a controversial note with the referee blowing the full time whistle as Davitts forward Dylan Gallagher was winding up a shot for a potential match winning point, much to the annoyance of the home team and supporters. When the dust settled, a draw was possibly a fair result with Davitts well on top in the first and final quarters of the game and Claremorris dominating the thirty minutes in between.

Fenton Kelly opened the scoring with a long range point in the first minute and Niall Treacy added two more before Claremorris got off the mark with a 7^th minute point. Niall Treacy was proving to be a difficult man to contain and he pointed again in the 10^th minute. A Claremorris point in the 14^th minute was cancelled out by a tidy score from the excellent Conor McDermott to put Davitts three ahead but four unanswered points from Claremorris saw them lead by 0-6 to 0-5 at half-time.

Niall Treacy equalised in the 4^th minute of the second half but four more Claremorris scores put them four points ahead and looking the likely winners as the game entered the final quarter. Davitts though showed great resolve and Niall Treacy narrowed the gap with a 45^th minute point. The home-side were getting on top around the middle of the field and points from Niall Treacy, Dylan Gallagher and Fenton Kelly tied the game with nine minutes of normal time remaining. Claremorris took the lead again in the 54^th minute and they added another in the 57^th but a massive Fenton Kelly free kick a minute later ensured a grandstand finish. Davitts had all the momentum now and Dylan Gallagher, after patient build up play, shot a superb equaliser in the 61^st minute. Niall Treacy had a chance to win it but he shot wide. Davitts won the resultant kick-out and brilliant defending from the Claremorris lads denied the home team a clear scoring attempt until Dylan Gallagher’s chance with almost three minutes injury time played, but the final whistle went before he could shoot, to the relief of the Claremorris supporters.

Brian Og McTigue, Sean Keadin, Thomas Ronayne, Sean Feerick, Fenton Kelly, Conor McDermott and Niall Treacy starred for Davitts with Charlie Phillips and Ciaran Treacy making telling contributions when introduced in the second half.

Davitts: Dylan O Brien, Brian Birmingham, Brian Og McTigue, Sean Keadin, Fionnan Gallagher, Thomas Ronayne, Sean Feerick, Fenton Kelly (0-3), Mark Birmingham, Conor McDermott (0-1), Jack Trench, Joe Prendergast, Dylan Gallagher (0-2), Jack Melvin, Niall Treacy (0-6). Subs used: Burke Briere, Zack Keadin, Charlie Phillips, Ciaran Treacy.

Davitts 2-13  Kilmeena 0-6

Davitts played host to Kilmeena on Sunday morning in the U-17 Grading League and, after a slow start, had a convincing win. After Ronan Kelly opened the scoring with a 3^rd minute point, Kilmeena replied with two scores in the 4^th and 12^th minutes to take the lead. A Dylan O Brien 45 found its way to the Kilmeena in the 16^th minute with Ciaran Treacy pointing for the home-side a minute later. A 25^th minute Kilmeena point was followed by two Ronan Kelly points and another one from Ciaran Treacy, on the stroke of half-time, to leave Davitts ahead by 1-5 to 0-3 at the break.

Ronan Kelly, Tadhg Feerick and Aaron O Dea got the first three points of the second half. Kilmeena pulled one back in the 37^th minute but a brilliant goal in the 40^th minute effectively killed off the game. It came after a great passing move involving Ronan Kelly, Tadhg Feerick and Dylan Gormley and ended with an emphatic finish from Ciaran Treacy. Two Aaron O Dea points in the 42^nd and 44^th minutes extended Davitts lead to twelve points. The visitors pointed in the 47^th and 54^th minutes but Aaron O Dea and Ronan Kelly (2) did likewise as Davitts eased their way to victory.

Dylan O Brien, Sean Clarke, Conor McDermott, Tadhg Feerick, Burke Briere, Aaron O Dea, Ronan Kelly and Ciaran Treacy were impressive for Davitts.

Davitts: Dylan O Brien (1-0), Ben Corless, Sean Clarke, Brian Hett, Noah O Brien, Conor McDermott, Tadhg Feerick (0-1), Burke Briere, Dylan Burke, Aaron O Dea (0-4), Ronan Kelly (0-6), Aaron Conneely Basham, Fionn McTigue, Ciaran Treacy (1-2), Dylan Gormley. Subs used: Cillian Kearns, Odhran O Connaire.

Davitts 1-10  Claremorris 1-6

Davitts got the better of near neighbours Claremorris in the South Mayo Junior Championship after a close game played in Ballindine on Saturday evening. A Davitts goal scored by Dylan Gallagher in the 59^th minute finally put an end to the stubborn challenge of the Claremorris lads.

The first half was very cagey and after Dylan Gallagher gave Davitts the lead in the opening minute, Claremorris replied with a second minute point and a goal after eight minutes. The remainder of the half saw both sets of defenders coming out on top and there were only two more scores in that period, points from Mark Ronayne and Sean Feerick (both half-backs) for the home team. Davitts were unlucky not to score a goal in the 26^th minute when Stephen Nyland flicked a long Liam Kearns delivery off the post.

Claremorris extended their lead with a 39^th minute point but two similar Dylan Gallagher scores in the 41^st and 43^rd minutes levelled it. Claremorris took the lead again in the 45^th minute but two points from Dylan Gallagher and a great Aidan Macken scored point in the 51^st minute saw Davitts go two up. A Claremorris point in the 52^nd minute was cancelled out by Mark Birmingham three minutes later. The crucial score came in the 59^th minute with Davitts sub Joe Prendergast and Brian Birmingham linking up well to set up a goal chance for Dylan Gallagher and he duly obliged, giving the Claremorris keeper no chance. Claremorris pointed again in the 63^rd minute and again in the 66^th minute, sandwiching a fine Fionnan Gallagher point, as the home side took the spoils.

Brian Birmingham, Mark Ronayne, Sean Feerick, Mark Birmingham, Brian Og McTigue and Dylan Gallagher played well for Davitts but the second half introductions of Cian Naughton, Fionnan Gallagher and Joe Prendergast proved to be a masterstroke from Davitts astute management team of Billy Kearns, Tommy Ronayne and Padraig Mangan.

Davitts: Dave Mitchell, Brian Birmingham, Jordan Flanagan, Sean Keadin, Aaron Trench, Mark Ronayne (0-1), Sean Feerick (0-1), Aidan Macken (0-1), Mark Birmingham (0-1), Stephen Nyland, Liam Kearns, Brian Og McTigue, Dylan Gallagher (1-5), Colm Roche, Zack Keadin. Subs used: Cian Naughton, Fionnan Gallagher (0-1), Joe Prendergast, Lawrence Daly.