Davitts 1-11 Parke Keelogues Crimlin 2-5

Davitts captured the County Minor D Championship after a hard earned victory over a battling Parke Keelogues Crimlin side in Bekan on Friday night.

PKC got off to a flying start with three points in the first six minues before man of the match Niall Treacy opened the Davitts account in the seventh minute. PKC extended their lead to three points with a 15^th minute score but Davitts hit a purple patch in the last twelve minutes of the first half.

Niall Treacy pointed in the 18^th minute and followed that up with a cracking goal less than a minute later to give his side the lead. Further points from Jack Devane, Fenton Kelly and two from Stephen Nyland left Davitts ahead by 1-6 to 0-4 at halftime.

Niall Treacy extended the lead with two further points in the 34^th and 36 miniutes. A 39^th minute PKC point was cancelled out by Niall Treacy as Davitts looked set to cruise to victory.

PKC refused to lie down however and they struck for a goal in the 49^th minute to narrow the deficit to four points. Zack Keadin and Niall Treacy pointed to put Davitts six points ahead with four minutes of normal time left. PKC scored another goal before the finish but Davitts were able to see the game out and win by three points.

Joe Prendergast had a fine game in goals with Tomas Ronayne, Charlie Phillips and Micheal Hett making up an impressive full back line. Fionnan Gallagher was outstanding at number six, getting great assistance from his wing men Sean Feerick and John Wallace.

Team captain Stephen Nyland (0-2) and Fenton Kelly (0-1) were two strong running midfielders who controlled the middle for most of the game.

Up front, Niall Treacy (1-6) was the star of the show, getting good assistance from Daniel Corless, Jack Devane (0-1), Gary Bourke, Cathal Corless and Zack Keadin (0-1).

Substitutes Brian Og McTigue and Bon Glynn both played their part when introduced.

• By darraghmc
• In Match Reports

Davitts Senior’s ended their League Div 3 campaign with a 2-12 to 1-10 home defeat on Saturday, to a determined Castlebar side, themselves trying hard to avoid relegation. Castlebar had raced into a 1-7 to 1-2 lead at halftime against an understrength Davitts outfit.

Davitts performed better in the second half and had closed the gap to two points going into injury time before a late Mitchels goal ensured their win.

Davitts best players in this match were Dmitry Trench, Kevin Gallagher, Padraig Mangan, William Freeley, Keith Prendergast and Darragh McGale.

Davitts: Cian Naughton, Patrick Keadin, Cathal Higgins, Kevin Gallagher, Dmitry Trench (0-2), Mark Ronayne, Brian Clarke, William Freeley, Stephen Nyland (0-1), Cathal Hennelly (0-1), Josh Ronayne (0-1), Tommy Clarke, Keith Prendergast (0-4), Darragh McGale (1-1), Aidan McTigue. Subs used: Padraig Mangan, Jordan Flanagan, Lawrence Daly.

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The Junior’s were beaten away to Westport on Sunday, a result that makes relegation to Division 5 for next season a likely prospect. The home side had led by 1-7 to 0-4 at the interval but four second half goals in the space of eight minutes completely wrapped the game up for a strong Westport side.

Davitts: David Mitchell, Cathal Moran, Lawrence Daly, Jordan Flanagan, John Macken, Mark Ronayne, Kevin Gallagher, Shane Mitchell, Liam Macken (0-1), Stephen Nyland (0-2), Aidan McTigue (0-3), Gary Bourke, Dean Moran (0-1), Darragh McGale (0-2), Tommy Clarke. Subs used: Niall Kearns, Kelan Cosgrove.

• By darraghmc
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Davitts 4-5 Claremorris 1-7

Davitts captured the South Mayo U-16 A title with a well deserved seven point victory over neighbours Claremorris on Tuesday night in Bekan. The two sides had played each other twice earlier on in the season with both games ending in stalemate but Davitts were more clinical on this occasion and led from pillar to post in front of a fine attendance.

The outstanding Fionnan Gallagher opened the scoring for Davitts in the fourth minute with a fine point into the strong wind. Jack Devane doubled the lead a minute later, after fine work by Bon Glynn and Dylan Gallagher. Claremorris midfielder Thomas McCormack Flanagan opened his side’s account in the seventh minute with a fine point from play. From the resulting kickout Davitts strung together a sweeping move which ended with Bon Glynn firing home his side’s first goal. Thomas McCormack Flanagan with two well struck points and a Mark Maloney free cut the lead to a point in the 18^th minute.

Fionnan Gallagher put Davitts two up in the 23^rd minute and two minutes later Davitts crafted another fine goal with Dylan Gallagher finishing in style after great work by Jack Devane and Fionnan Gallagher. Evan O Brien and Lewis Lally combined for a Claremorris point converted by Lally in the 27^th minute and Jack Devane, with a well struck 40 metre free kick, closed the first half scoring in the 30^th minute to leave Davitts ahead by 2-4 to 0-5 at halftime.

Claremorris started the second half brightly with Conor Dennedy pointing in the 33^rd minute. Cathal Corless cancelled this score out three minutes later with a fantastic point after a searing run. The same player set up dynamic corner back Sean Keadin for Davitts third goal in the thirty eighth minute and he finished emphatically past the Claremorris keeper. Claremorris were enjoying a lot of possession but poor shooting, fine Davitts defending and some great saves by Tristan Diskin made it difficult for them to close the gap.

Mark Maloney pointed a free for Claremorris in the 45^th minute after the lively Niall Hurley, a second half substitute, was fouled. Davitts wrapped the game up in the 47^th minute, another patient build up resulting in a fourth goal, scored by Cathal Corless after terrific play by Fenton Kelly and Dylan Gallagher. Davitts were happy to contain Claremorris who tried earnestly up to the final whistle. The only score in the last twelve minutes of the game was an injury time goal for Claremorris by Niall Hurley after fine work by Thomas McCormack Flanagan and Oran McNulty.

This was a fine team display by Davitts with Michael Hett, Sean Keadin, Tomas Ronayne, Fionnan Gallagher, Cathal Corless, Jack Devane and Bon Glynn in exceptional form.

Best for Claremorris were Darragh Joyce, Oran McNulty, Joe Gilmore, Thomas McCormack Flanagan, Mark Maloney and Niall Hurley.

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

Claremorris: Aidan McGing, James Wooley, Darragh Joyce, Padraig McHugh, Oran McNulty, Joe Gilmore, Harry Smyth, Evan O Brien, Thomas McCormack Flanagan (0-3), Mark Maloney (0-2), Michael J Duffy, Lewis Lally (0-1), Liam McCormack, Conor Dennedy (0-1), Johnny Cummins. Subs used: Paul Gilmore, Niall Hurley (1-0), Dara Hurley.

Referee: Kevin Connelly.

• By darraghmc
• In Match Reports

Davitts entertained Ballina in Div 4 of the Senior League on Sunday with a late injury time goal grabbing a share of the spoils for Ballina. The result leaves Davitts in the relegation zone a point below Ballina in the league table.

After Ballina opened the scoring in the 9^th minute, Davitts fired over three points via Ryan McLoughlin (2) and Aidan McTigue in the next four minutes. A sixteenth minute Ballina point was cancelled out by Stephen Nyland four minutes later and this was closely followed by a classy Darragh McGale goal and another Ryan McLoughlin point. Aidan McTigue extended Davitts lead to seven points with three minutes remaining in the first half. Ballina hit the last two scores of the half (after a Davitts point was incorrectly signalled wide) to leave the home side ahead by 1-6 to 0-4 at the break. Davitts had lost three of their forwards to injury at this stage with Ryan McLoughlin, Aidan Macken and Dara O Flaherty having to retire.

Tommy Clarke opened the second half scoring with a fine point and Ballina tagged on two points before an Aidan McTigue point restored Davitts five point lead. Ballina goaled in the 40^th minute and shot two points to tie the match as it entered the final quarter.

Davitts dug deep at this stage and points from Kevin Gallagher and Aidan McTigue (2) put them three points ahead with the game heading into injury time. Disaster struck in the second minute of added time with Ballina grabbing a goal to level the match, a score that looked suspiciously like a square ball to most in the attendance, but the referee saw it differently.

Davitts, very unlucky not to win, had great performers in Kevin Gallagher, Ciaran Fahy, Tom Corless, Shane Mitchell, Ryan McLoughlin, Aidan McTigue, Tommy Clarke, Colm Roche and Darragh McGale.

Davitts: Dean Moran, Cathal Moran, Tom Corless, Gary Bourke, Jordan Flanagan, Ciaran Fahy, Kevin Gallagher (0-1), Shane Mitchell, Stephen Nyland (0-1), Ryan McLoughlin (0-3), Aidan McTigue (0-6), Tommy Clarke (0-1), Aidan Macken, Darragh McGale (1-0), Colm Roche. Subs used: Dara O Flaherty, Kelan Cosgrove, Niall Kearns, Lawrence Daly.

• By darraghmc
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.

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