Davitts 2-13  Belmullet 0-11

Davitts defeated Belmullet in the County Junior B Championship quarter-final, played in Ballindine on Saturday evening. Two well-worked goals each side of the half-time break proved crucial in what was a very well-contested affair.

Belmullet started well and opened the scoring with a point in the second minute. Michael Conroy and Fearghal McGrath scored for Davitts to take the lead but the visitors levelled the game again in the 10^th minute. The game was being played at a fast pace and points from Michael Conroy in the 11^th minute and Brian Og McTigue in the 13^th gave Davitts a two point advantage. Two Belmullet points in the next two minutes tied the game again but Davitts finished the half impressively. Four points from Cian Naughton, Ronan McNamara, the dynamic Patrick Keadin and Tommy Waldron followed, before Keith Prendergast applied the finish to a slick move involving Fearghal McGrath, Michael Conroy and Brian Og McTigue, to goal for the home-side in the 25^th minute. Two more Fearghal McGrath points before the break left Davitts ahead by 1-10 to 0-4 at the interval.

Belmullet needed a good start to the second half but it was Davitts that virtually sealed the deal in the first minute of the second period. Ronan McNamara broke the throw-in to his midfield partner Cian Naughton, and Stephen Nyland and Darragh McGale linked to set up Davey Hennessy for a well-taken goal. Belmullet tried earnestly to get back into the game and they shot three points before Michael Conroy notched Davitts’ next score, a 41^st minute point. Belmullet pulled two more back in the 43^rd and 45^th minutes but Darragh McGale pointed for the home-side two minutes later as they game began to peter out. Belmullet hit two more points before the finish and Michael Conroy fired over the last point in injury-time to see Davitts safely through to the semi-final of the competition.

Davitts’ defence led by Charlie Phillips and Donie Ronayne were immense with Tristan Diskin, Patrick Keadin (0-1), Fionnan Gallagher, Tommy Waldron (0-1) and Brian Og McTigue (0-1), all on top of their games. Cian Naughton (0-1) and Ronan McNamara (0-1) gave the home-side the edge at midfield. The half forward-line of Stephen Nyland, Keith Prendergast (1-0), Johnno Clarke worked tirelessly, while Darragh McGale (0-1), Michael Conroy (0-4) and Fearghal McGrath (0-3) all enjoyed excellent games. The subs used played their parts too with Davey Hennessy (1-0), Jack Devane, Sean Keadin, John Kilkenny and Colm Roche doing well when introduced in the second half.

Davitts 3-16  Parke KC 3-14

This Minor B Championship clash in Ballindine on Tuesday evening turned out to be an epic match with the home team shading it by two points. Both sides were without a few regulars but they tore into each other from the throw-in to make this a most entertaining game.

Two early points by the in-form Ciaran Treacy got Davitts off the mark but PKC shot four in the first six minutes. Ronan Kelly, another Davitts player to impress, pointed in the 13^th minute but three very well-taken PKC points in the 14^th, 15^th and 16^th minutes put them four ahead. A 17^th minute Ciaran Treacy point was followed by a Ronan Kelly goal to tie the game. Aaron CB and Dylan Burke pointed to put Davitts in front by two by the 21^st minute. Four PKC points and three similar Davitts scores from Ciaran Treacy, Aaron O Dea and Ronan Kelly left Davitts ahead by 1-9 to 0-11 at the half-time break.

Points by Ciaran Treacy and Ronan Kelly in the 32^nd and 34^th minute extended the home side’s lead to three but an excellent PKC goal levelled it again in the 35^th minute. Ciaran Treacy then edged Davitts in front but PKC points in the 37^th and 39^th minutes saw them regain the lead. Dylan Gormley, Davitts’ stand-in goalie in the absence of senior keeper Dylan O Brien, produced three top-class saves in a row in the 42^nd minute to deny the visitors what looked like a certain goal. Sean Clarke, another Davitts player to star, fired over a 43^rd minute equaliser. A PKC point in the next minute was quickly cancelled out by Ronan Kelly. Aaron O Dea took advantage of a PKC defensive error to goal in the 48^th minute and two minutes later Dylan Gormley produced two more brilliant saves. After Aaron CB blasted home a great goal in the 53^rd minute, Davitts captain Ronan Kelly added two points to put his side eight clear with five minutes of normal time remaining. PKC would not lie down and they scored two fine goals in the 59^th and 63^rd minutes to narrow the gap to two. They nearly shot a winning goal in the closing seconds but that man Dylan Gormley denied them again with another point-blank save.

While Dylan Gormley, Sean Clarke, Ronan Kelly and Ciaran Treacy were superb throughout, all the Davitts players played their part in a fantastic match. They will play Aghamore in Claremorris next Tuesday and will top the group if they can avoid defeat.

Davitts: Dylan Gormley, Tadhg Feerick, Ben Corless, Sean Clarke (0-1), Noah O Brien, Burke Briere, Ronan Kelly (1-6), Dylan Burke (0-1), Brian Hett, Aaron O Dea (1-1), Cillian Kearns, Ciaran Treacy (0-6), Aaron Conneely Basham (1-1). Sub used: Pearse Diskin.

Davitts 1-8  Parke Keelogues Crimlin 0-11

Davitts hosted Parke KC in this tense Senior League Div 1A match on Saturday evening with both sides in danger of being dragged into the relegation play-off, Davitts on seven points and Parke KC a point ahead of them in the League table. The very competitive game was played at a furious pace throughout and a monstrous free kick converted by Ronan McNamara in the closing seconds left the teams tied at the final whistle, a fair result after the hour’s play.

Davitts’ Fenton Kelly opened the scoring with a second minute point with Parke KC’s full forward Ronan Carolan equalising a minute later. The influential Dara Neary pointed to put the visitors ahead in the sixth minute but Jack Melvin quickly replied for Davitts with a point. Scores were hard to come by as both sides defended tenaciously. A brilliant save by Davitts young keeper Dylan O’Brien denied Cathal Keaveney in the eighth minute. Fenton Kelly put the homeside ahead in the 13^th minute but two Dara Neary points in the 14^th and 19^th minutes saw PKC regain the lead. A brilliant Jack Melvin goal, finishing off a fine move, in the 22^nd minute put Davitts ahead again. Liam Kearns and Jack Melvin points extended the lead to four but the last two scores of the half went to the visitors with Dara Neary and Ronan Carolan pointing in first half injury-time to leave Davitts ahead by 1-5 to 0-6 at the break.

Amazingly, there was change to the scoreline until the 47^th minute when Dara Neary pointed for PKC. Both sides were guilty of some very poor shooting in the third quarter with the home team being the bigger culprits. Jack Melvin shot a 50^th minute point for Davitts but similar scores from PKC corner back Aaron McHale and Ronan Carolan put the sides level again with six minutes of normal time remaining. A blistering run from Davitts’ Fenton Kelly ended with him punching over the bar in the 56^th minute but two Dara Neary frees in the 59^th and 63^rd minutes saw PKC back in front. In the final play of the game, Davitts were awarded a free, over 45 metres out from the visitor’s goal. Ronan McNamara, not for the first time in his lengthly career, proved the hero, pointing the long range kick to give Davitts a deserved share of the spoils and securing their Div 1 league status.

Dylan O’Brien, Jordan Flanagan, Cathal Higgins, Charlie Phillips, Jack Melvin, Fenton Kelly, Ciaran Treacy and Ronan McNamara were solid performers for Davitts while Parke KC were best served by Ronan Reilly, Colm Lynch, Cathal Keaveney, Dara Neary and Ronan Carolan.

Davitts: Dylan O’Brien, Jordan Flanagan, Cathal Higgins, Kieran Fahy, Sean Keadin, Donie Ronayne, Charlie Phillips, Jack Melvin (1-3), Fenton Kelly (0-3), Brian Óg McTigue, Liam Kearns (0-1), Tommy Waldron, Darragh McGale, Ronan McNamara (0-1), Ciaran Treacy. Subs used: Shane Treacy, Stephen Nyland, Conor McDermott.

Parke Keelogues Crimlin: Conor McDonnell, Cian McHale, Paul Moran, Aaron McHale (0-1), Mark Walsh, Ronan Reilly, Colm Lynch, Kevin Neary, Aaron Boland, Cian Donoghue, Cathal Keaveney, Dara Neary (0-7), Sean Corcoran, Ronan Carolan (0-3), Jack McLoughlin. Subs used: Simran Singh.

Referee: Paul Lydon (Kiltimagh).

Davitts 1-7  Ballina 2-7

Ballina proved to be just too strong for Davitts in this Senior League Div 3B tie played in Ballindine on Friday evening. It was a very competitive game throughout played in pretty miserable conditions.

Davitts’ Jack Devane opened the scoring in the first minute with a well-taken point. Ballina found the range three minutes later, firing over the equaliser and then goaling in the fifth minute. Michael Conroy, a constant menace, pointed for the homeside but Ballina added three more to their tally by the thirteenth minute to lead by five. A 15^th minute Fearghal McGrath point for Davitts was cancelled out four minutes later by Ballina. Michael Conroy gave Davitts chances a major boost in the 21^st minute when he fired home a classy goal and the same player added a 25^th minute point. Ballina shot over an injury-time point which left them ahead by 1-6 to 1-4 at half-time.

Both sets of defenders performed well in the second half with the worsening slippery conditions making life tougher for the forwards on both sides. Michael Conroy narrowed the gap to the minimum with a 32^nd minute point but a 38^th minute Ballina point and a goal scored from the resulting kickout, the only two scores the visitors managed in the second period, were to prove vital. The homeside tried earnestly for the remainder of the game but they could only manage a brace of points before the final whistle, from Fearghal McGrath and Michael Conroy, as Ballina defended impressively.

Davitts had good displays from a feisty Patrick Keadin, debutante Conor McDermott, Johnno Clarke, Stephen Nyland, Cian Naughton, Michael Conroy and Ryan McLoughlin..

Davitts: Tristan Diskin, Patrick Keadin, Fionnan Gallagher, Conor McDermott, Johnno Clarke, Michael Hett, Colm Roche, Stephen Nyland, Cian Naughton, Ronan Kelly, Keith Prendergast, Jack Devane (0-1), Davey Hennessy, Fearghal McGrath (0-2), Michael Conroy (1-4). Subs used: Ryan McLoughlin, Fionn McTigue, Ger McWalter, Darragh Garvey.

Ballaghaderreen 5-10  Davitts 9-8

Davitts got their County Minor B Championship campaign off to a flying start in Ballaghaderreen on Tuesday evening, defeating the local side in a high scoring thriller.

Early goals from team captain Ronan Kelly and Ciaran Treacy in the second and third minutes and two well-taken Ronan Kelly points had Davitts eight points ahead after twelve minutes. The Ballagh lads hit the first of two purple scoring spells as they grabbed 2-3 without reply in the next eight minutes. Two quickfire points from Fionn McTigue and Sean Clarke restored Davitts’ lead but the home team goaled again in the 23^rd minute. Davitts finished the half with points from Conor McDermott and Ronan Kelly to leave the sides level at the break.

Ciaran Treacy hit his second goal in the 32^nd minute before Ballaghaderreen posted an unanswered 2-3 between the 35^th and 39^th minutes to go six points clear. A third Ciaran Treacy goal in the 41^st minute narrowed the deficit but Ballagh pointed two minutes later to go four up. Dylan Gormley, a second half substitute, then took the game by the scruff of the neck, scoring an incredible 3-1 in the space of six minutes to put Davitts firmly in control. Ronan Kelly added a point and Ciaran Treacy nabbed his fourth goal to extend the lead to ten points with eight minutes remaining. Ballagh kept plugging away and they scored three points but Ronan Kelly completed the game’s scoring with yet another goal in the final minute of a riveting game.

Ciaran Treacy, Ronan Kelly and Dylan Gormley scored a whopping 9-5 between them but the team’s overall workrate was impressive with centre-back Conor McDermott in top form.

Davitts: Dylan O Brien, Ben Corless, Tadhg Feerick, Noah O Brien, Conor McDermott (0-1), Odhran O Conaire, Burke Briere, Dylan Burke, Sean Clarke (0-1), Ronan Kelly (2-4), Fionn McTigue (0-1), Aaron Conneely Basham, Ciaran Treacy (4-0). Subs used: Dylan Gormley (3-1), Cillian Kearns.

Ballinrobe 1-12  Davitts 2-6

Ballinrobe captured the South Mayo Minor B title after a hard fought final win over Davitts in Ballinrobe on Tuesday evening. Most present expected this game to go down to the wire and the two committed groups of players didn’t dissappoint, the result in doubt right up to the final whistle. A greasy ball and a very tricky swirling wind made the conditions difficult but this was a very entertaining game

Ciaran Treacy gave Davitts an early lead with a first minute point and moments later a smart save by the Robe keeper denied Ronan Kelly a goal. Two points from the homeside in the 3^rd and 4^th minutes saw them nose ahead but Davitts captain, the outstanding Conor McDermott, equalised with a fine left-footed kick in the 5^th minute. The home team took the lead a minute later but a converted 45 by Dylan O Brien tied the game again in the 8^th minute. A Ballinrobe in the 11^th minute was cancelled out by Fionn McTigue two minutes later. Ballinrobe took the lead again in the 18^th minute and two superb saves by Davitts keeper Dylan O Brien in the 23^rd minute sandwiched a brilliant Conor McDermott goal to put his side ahead by two points. Robe pulled a point back two minutes later but Ciaran Treacy pointed in the 26^th minute to restore his side’s two point lead. In the 30^th minute, Davitts struck for a second goal, finished by Noah O Brien after great approach play by Burke Briere and Ronan Kelly. The home side’s reply was impressive, grabbing a crucial goal of their own almost immediately, to leave Davitts ahead by 2-5 to 1-6 at the break.

Ballinrobe fairly dominated the third quarter but great Davitts defending, particularly from Tadhg Feerick, Fionn McTigue and Conor McDermott, and some excellent goal-keeping by Dylan O Brien, limited them to three points in that period, in the 32^nd, 38^th and 44^th minutes. The Ballinrobe keeper was also earning his corn at the other end of the field. A great Tadhg Feerick point levelled the game again in the 55^th minute. Ballinrobe edged ahead within a minute. Davitts missed a couple of chances to equalise but in the 58^th minute Ciaran Treacy got on the end of a Davitts move and, rather than taking the point, he went for the jugular but his goal effort unluckily smashed off the butt of the post with the Robe keeper stranded. A black card for Davitts’ Sean Clarke with minutes remaining wasn’t ideal. The home side went upfield and shot a super point in the 59^th minute and added another on the stroke of full-time to clinch the title.

Dylan O Brien, Conor McDermott, Fionn McTigue, Tadhg Feerick, Sean Clarke and Ciaran Treacy were best for Davitts.

Dylan O Brien (0-1), Tadhg Feerick (0-1), Ben Corless, Noah O Brien (1-0), Conor McDermott (1-1), Fionn McTigue (0-1), Burke Briere, Dylan Burke, Sean Clarke, Ronan Kelly, Aaron Conneely Basham, Ciaran Treacy (0-2), Dylan Gormley. Subs used: Odhran O Conaire, Eimhin Kenny.