Davitts 1-12  Mayo Gaels 1-15

Mayo Gaels qualified for the O Mara Cup final after a good three point victory over Davitts in the semi-final played in Ballindine on Friday evening. After a well-contested and exciting match, the visitors proved too strong over the course of the hour.

Davitts played with the assistance of the stiff wind in the opening half but, after a very impressive start, Mayo Gaels pointed in the first and second minutes to take an early lead. A brilliant two-pointer from Dylan Gallagher in the 6^th minute tied the game. An 8^th minute point by the Gaels was cancelled out in the next minute by Ciaran Treacy. Mayo Gaels regained the lead in the 12^th minute with their fourth point but Davitts hit their best spell in the next fifteen minutes. Dylan Gallagher pointed in the 14^th minute, Jack Melvin shot a two-pointer in the 15^th minute, Shane Treacy fired over a beauty in the 17^th minute and his brother Ciaran got the Davitts goal a minute later, as the home side opened up a six point lead. The lead really should have been bigger but for some wayward shooting. The Gaels fought back and two quick-fire points in the 26^th and 27^th minutes reduced the deficit to four and another classy Shane Treacy point and one for Mayo Gaels on the stroke of half-time left Davitts ahead by 1-8 to 0-7 at the interval.

Mayo Gaels got a firm grip on the midfield battle in the second half and they scored the first point of the second period after a minute. Four minutes later a two-pointer from the visitors closed the gap to a single point. Like Davitts in the first half, the Gaels were guilty of some poor shooting in the second half and a Thomas Ronayne point for Davitts in the 41^st minute extended his side’s lead to two. Mayo Gaels were dominating possession now and they shot points in the 43^rd, 46^th and 50^th minutes to take the lead. A 52^nd minute goal for the visitors put them four ahead. Davitts rallied and Jack Melvin shot his second two-pointer of the game in the next minute. A 58^th minute Gaels point was matched by Dylan Gallagher as Davitts strove hard to try and work a goal-scoring chance but The Gaels had the last say with a 60^th minute point to secure their place in the final.

Best for Davitts were Patrick Keadin, Thomas Ronayne, Cathal Corless, Jack Melvin, Shane Treacy, Ronan Kelly, Dylan Gallagher and Ciaran Treacy.

Davitts: Stephen Nyland, Patrick Keadin, Cathal Higgins, Kieran Fahy, Tom Corless, Thomas Ronayne (0-1), Cathal Corless, Charlie Phillips, Jack Melvin (0-4), Mark Birmingham, Shane Treacy (0-2), Ronan Kelly, Dylan Gallagher (0-4), Andy Peters, Ciaran Treacy (1-1). Subs used: Brian Og McTigue, Darragh McGale, Jordan Flanagan, Danny Corless.