Balla 0-15  Davitts 1-12

Davitts travelled to Balla for the first round of the Senior League Div 3B on Sunday and a draw ensued after a very entertaining match.

Davitts, with midfielders Ronan McNamara and John Kilkenny in dominant form, set the early running. Points from Davey Hennessy, Ronan McNamara (2), Michael Hett, Ryan McLoughlin and Fearghal McGrath saw the visitors ahead by 0-6 to 0-1 after ten minutes. Balla pointed in the 12^th and 17^th minutes but a brilliant point by Sean Feerick and a 21^st minute Fearghal McGrath goal, after great work by John Kilkenny, Ryan McLoughlin and Davey Hennessy, put the visitors seven points clear. Balla responded well shooting four points in the next six minutes before Fearghal McGrath pointed on the stroke of half-time to leave Davitts ahead by 1-8 to 0-7 at the break. Balla were unlucky not to score at least one goal in that half but Davitts keeper Tristan Diskin produced two superb saves and full-back Brian Birmingham another one when goals for the home team looked inevitable.

Two early Balla points in the first two minutes of the second half narrowed the deficit but Davitts replied with similar scores from Davey Hennessy and Darragh McGale in the 33^rd and 35^th minutes. Balla hit over three more between the 36^th and 42^nd minutes. Davitts were flagging at this stage but a superb long range free from Ronan Mac in the 46^th minute and a fine Brian Birmingham point two minutes later restored Davitts’ three point lead. Balla finished the game strongly and three points in the last seven minutes of the game earned them a share of the spoils.

Davitts had good displays all over the field with Tristan Diskin, Brian Birmingham, Michael Hett, Fionn McLoughlin, Ronan Mac, Davey Hennessy, Fearghal McGrath and Colm Roche in great form.

Davitts: Tristan Diskin, Patrick Keadin, Brian Birmingham (0-1), Sean Feerick (0-1), Johnno Clarke, Michael Hett (0-1), Jack Trench, Ronan McNamara (0-3), John Kilkenny, Joe Prendergast, Fionn McLoughlin, Ryan McLoughlin, Davey Hennessy (0-2), Fearghal McGrath (1-2), Colm Roche. Subs used: Darragh McGale (0-1), John Costello, Lawrence Daly, Jack Devane, Stephen Nyland.

Charlestown 2-7 Davitts 2-7

Charlestown hosted Davitts in the first round of the Senior League Division 1A on Saturday evening with the spoils being shared after a good battle in testing conditions. A massive downpour lasting for about an hour before the throw-in meant an extremely slippery surface but both sets of players deserve credit for serving up a competitive and entertaining match. Both teams had chances to win, both camps probably thought they should have won but the draw was a fair result.

Charlestown opened the scoring with a second minute point which was cancelled out by Niall Treacy, the best player on the pitch, two minutes later. Davitts, whose ferocious work-rate all over the field was admirable, had two more Niall Treacy points in the 13^th and 14^th minutes. In the 24^th minute a Charlestown effort for a point was dropping harmlessly short but Davitts full-back Cathal Higgins, who had a fine match, slipped and his man gleefully got possession and finished smartly past Joe Prendergast, to give the homeside the lead. They extended the lead to two with a 27^th minute point. Davitts finished the half with a Jack Devane point in the 30^th minute after an excellent move involving several players.

Davitts equalised four minutes into the second through Niall Treacy and took the lead a minute later courtesy of wing back Sean Keadin who combined well with Colm Boyle before punching over. An opportunistic goal by Niall Treacy two minutes later put Davitts four ahead. Charlestown pulled a point back in the 38^th minute but three minutes later Davitts struck for a goal of the highest quality with that man Treacy rifling an unstoppable 20 metre strike to the roof of the net after a brilliant move involving Charlie Phillips, Colm Boyle, Darragh McGale, Shane Treacy and Liam Kearns. A brace of Charlestown points in the next two minutes narrowed the gap to four points but Davitts midfielder Charlie Phillips pointed in the 45^th minute to put his side five ahead. The homeside began to get on top in the final quarter and points in the 48^th and 49^th minutes closed the gap to three. They capitalised on a Davitts error in the 55^th minute to score an equalising goal on the break. Both teams had chances to get a winner in the closing minutes with Charlestown missing three gilt edged point scoring opportunities before referee Ronan Gurren, who handled the game well, blew the final whistle.

This was a great team effort by Davitts with Joe Prendergast, Cathal Higgins, Tommy Waldron and Thomas Ronayne superb in defence. Mark Birmingham and Charlie Phillips did well at midfield while Niall Treacy was the star of a very hard working forward-line.

Davitts: Joe Prendergast, Jordan Flanagan, Cathal Higgins, Kieran Fahy, Tommy Waldron, Thomas Ronayne, Sean Keadin (0-1), Mark Birmingham, Charlie Phillips (0-1), Shane Treacy, Liam Kearns, Jack Devane (0-1), Niall Treacy (2-4), Darragh McGale, Colm Boyle. Subs used: Michael Hett, Fionn McLoughlin, Patrick Keadin.

Gaeil Na Daibheidí 2-6 Tourmakeady 5-14

The U-14 team were defeated by Tourmakeady in the league in Ballindine on Monday night. The visitors scored five excellent goals and were deserving winners but the local side never gave up and battled right up to the final whistle.

The visitors goaled in the first minute and had built up a 3-6 to 1-3 at half-time. The Gaeil Na Daibheidí first half tally came courtesy of Niall Duggan who scored 1-2 and corner forward Tadhg Kirrane who got a neat point.

Tourmakeady kept the foot to the pedal in the second half. The home side, as in the first half, shot a goal and three points in the second period, with Niall Duggan, Cormac Devane and Malachy

Cathal Commins had a fantastic game in the back-line with good support from John Brogan, Tom Roche, Seamus Byrne and Sean Burke. Stephen Cluxton would have had a job saving any of the goals and over the hour the two keepers used, Leo Corcoran and Kaden Heneghan, both pulled off some good saves. Malachy Devane and Sean Prendergast worked extremely hard at midfield. Niall Duggan was the most threatening forward and he got good support from Cormac Devane, Ruarí O Dea, Tadhg Kirrane and Jack Mullaney. Jack Duggan, Conor Walsh, Carraig Kilkenny, Evan Prendergast and Nathan Turner all battled hard when they were introduced.

Davitts 2-3  St. Jarlath’s 0-9

Davitts and St. Jarlath’s (Ballyhaunis/Eastern Gaels) met in the Minor League Div 2 in windy Ballindine on Tuesday evening and, after an entertaining match, the teams were tied when referee Vinnie Joyce blew the final whistle.

This was a real game of two halves with the wind a major factor and Davitts took advantage of it in the first half. St. Jarlath’s opened the scoring with a point in the first minute which proved to be their only score of the half. Davitts got a boost in the seventh minute when Ronan Kelly finished to the visitors net after a superb piece of work by Aaron CB. Ronan Kelly pointed a minute later. The same player was unlucky to see a brilliant goal attempt smash off the underside of the crossbar a couple of minutes later. After a barren twelve minute scoring spell, Ronan Kelly pointed and in the 29^th minute he scored his second goal, a neat finish after being set up by Odhran O Conaire to leave the home side ahead by 2-2 to 0-1 at the interval.

St. Jarlath’s scored a point in the opening minute of the second half. In the 36^th minute Noah O Brien pointed and this was to be Davitts’ only score of the second half. The visitors began to chip away at the lead and they shot seven excellent points to level the game with eight minutes remaining. Davitts were under severe pressure but they defended brilliantly and held on for a share of the spoils.

Dylan Gormley had a solid game in goals with Ben Corless, Sean Clarke and Tadhg Feerick forming a very effective full-back line. The workrate of the half-back line of Noah O Brien (0-1), Conor McDermott and Odhran O Conaire and the half-forwards, Brian Hett, Aaron O Dea, Cillian Kearns and sub Luke Rattigan was most impressive. Dylan Burke and Burke Briere were effective midfielders. Ronan Kelly (2-2) was the scorer in chief with Aaron CB and Fionn McTigue causing a lot of trouble for the Jarlath’s defence.

Gaeil Na Daibheidí 4-14  Erris St. Pats 7-6

Gaeil Na Daibheidí (GND) and Erris St. Pats played a thrilling u-14 Div 4 League match in Ballindine on Monday evening, with the visitors edging the game by a point. The visitors had the edge in the first half and led by 3-5 to 0-6 at half-time. Blake Bradley (2), Niall Duggan (2) and Malachy Devane (2) were the first half point-scorers for the home side.

Erris opened the second half scoring in the 32^nd minute but a Ruarí O Dea point and three cracking goals from Blake Bradley, Niall Duggan and Cormac Devane saw the Davitts/Mayo Gaels combination take the lead by the 36^th minute. Erris were rattled but responded well and a 39^th minute goal saw them regain the lead. Niall Duggan pointed for GND but another Erris goal in the 43^rd minute put them four ahead. The home side refused to lie down and points from Cormac Devane, Malachy Devane and two from Niall Duggan levelled the game again with ten minutes remaining.

A 53^rd minute point from Niall Duggan restored the lead for GND but a sixth Erris goal in the next minute saw them ahead again. The visitors bagged another goal in the 55^th minute to lead by five. Malachy Devane pointed and his brother Cormac goaled in the 56^th and 57^th minutes to leave the minimum between the teams with three minutes remaining. The homeside threw all they had at Erris and corner forward Tadhg Kirrane was extremely unlucky when his goal attempt at the death hit the butt of the post and rebounded to safety. The final whistle sounded shortly afterwards.

Well done to both teams for a very entertaining game. Gaeil Na Daibheidí can count themselves very unlucky not to have got anything out of the game and the whole team fought valiantly throughout. Cathal Commins, Seamus Byrne, Tom Roche, Sean Burke, Sean Prendergast, the two Devane brothers, Blake Bradley and Niall Duggan were very impressive.

Gaeil Na Daibheidí: Leo Corcoran, Cathal Commins, Seamus Byrne, Nathan Turner, Tom Roche, Jack Brogan, Sean Burke, Sean Prendergast, Malachy Devane (0-4), Cormac Devane (2-1), Blake Bradley (1-2), Niall Duggan (1-6), Tadhg Kirrane, Jack Mullaney, Ruarí O Dea (0-1). Subs used: Jack Duggan, Joe Trench, Kaden Heneghan.