Davitts 1-13  Ballaghaderreen 0-15

Davitts and Ballaghaderreen met in the County Minor League Div 3 final in Ballyhaunis on Tuesday evening and, after a terrific match, Davitts came out on top by the narrowest of margins. There was never more than two points separating the two very evenly matched sides but a late penalty, deep into stoppage time, converted by the ice cool Fionn McLoughlin, swung the game in Davitts favour.

The excellent Davitts captain Dylan Gallagher opened the scoring in the first minute with the first of his eleven points. Ballagh equalised a minute later and two more from Dylan Gallagher in the 8^th and 9^th minutes put Davitts two ahead. Ballagh pulled a point back in the 13^th minute and this was cancelled out by Gallagher two minutes later. Two points in the 18^th and 25^th minutes from Ballagh levelled the game before the Davitts captain notched his fifth point in the 28^th minute and Ballagh replied on the stroke of half time to leave the sides level at the break, 0-5 each.

Ballaghaderreen pointed twice in the opening three minutes of the second half to go two ahead again but Dylan Gallagher shot two fine points in the 35^th and 38^th minutes and it was all square again. Ballagh went two ahead again when they fired over points in the 39^th and 41^st minutes. Dylan Gallagher narrowed the gap to one point with another excellent score in the 43^rd minute. A Ballagh point two minutes later was cancelled out by Davitts sub Aaron C B, who had a major impact when introduced. Ballagh responded with a 48^th minute point with Aaron C B pointing again in the 50^th minute. Dylan squared the match up again in the 52^nd minute and a draw was looking like the likely outcome. A 53^rd minute Ballagh point was matched by Dylan Gallagher almost immediately and he scored a 57^th minute point to see his side regain the lead. Ballagh scored points in the 58^th, 59^th and 60^th minutes to go two up as the match entered stoppage time and they looked poised for victory but the Davitts lads kept their composure. A marvellous move through the packed defence involving Conor McDermott, Aaron C B, Dylan Gallagher and Ciaran Treacy ended in Treacy being fouled in the square. In a welter of excitement, Fionn McLoughlin coolly slotted home the penalty with referee Enda Nolan blowing for full time thirty seconds later.

Dylan O Brien was a calm and assured goalkeeper with Sean Keadin and Conor McDermott proving to be two very enterprising corner backs. Noah O Brien, Aaron Trench and Ethan Boyle formed an impressive half back line with Tadhg Feerick playing very well when he was introduced. Mark Birmingham and Burke Briere had a mighty battle at midfield against a very strong Ballagh pairing. Brian Corless, Ronan Kelly and Fionn McLoughlin (1-0), got through an enormous amount of work with Ciaran Treacy a very influencial figure throughout the game. Dylan Gallagher (0-11) was an inspirational captain leading from the front, while Aaron C B (0-2) gave the attack an extra dimension when he entered the game in the second half.

Other members of the panel include Fionn McTigue, Sean Meehan, Dylan Gormally, Ben Corless, Sean Clarke, Darragh Garvey, Conor Feerick and Cillian Kearns.

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

Commiserations to a fine Ballaghaderreen side.