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.