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.