Davitts 1-14  Kiltane 1-9

Davitts retained their Senior Championship status with a hard fought but well deserved victory over Kiltane in the relegation play off match in Breaffy on Saturday. These games are nerve wrecking for all concerned but Davitts, thanks to a fine all round team display, came out on top while Kiltane will get another chance of survival when they play the losers of the Balla v Aghamore play off game.

Shane Treacy, revelling in his wing back role, opened the scoring with a first minute point. Ultan Corrigan equalised it a minute later. Johnno Clarke for Davitts and Kiltane’s Martin Gallagher swapped points in the 6^th minute before Mikey Sweeney fired over to put Kiltane ahead in the seventh minute. Davitts captain Josh Ronayne shot a levelling point in the 8^th minute and his brother Jack put Davitts back in front in the 12^th minute before Kiltane’s wing back Liam Donoghue pointed just before the water break to leave the sides level, 0-4 each, after the first quarter.

Josh Ronayne shot two good points for Davitts with Mikey Sweeney and Liam Donoghue replying for Kiltane as the sides went in level at half time.

Jack Ronayne opened the second half scoring with a 31^st minute point and and Ronan McNamara extended Davitts lead to two points in the 35^th minute with a long range free kick but a 37^th minute goal from Kiltane’s Martin Gallagher saw his side regain the lead. Niall Treacy equalised immediately and Kiltane were reduced to fourteen players with the dismissal of Adam Carabine for a second bookable offence in the 39^th minute. Josh Ronayne and Ultan Corrigan exchanged points before an Evan Ronane point put Davitts ahead again just before the second water break.

The next score proved to be the crucial one in the 51^st minute when a terrific long kick pass from Colm Boyle found Niall Treacy and while his goal effort was saved superbly by John McAndrew the rebound fell to Jack Ronayne who was fouled as he was about to shoot. Jack took the resulting penalty with as cool a kick as one could care to imagine. Niall Treacy and Fenton Kelly extended Davitts lead to five points as the game entered its closing stages. Mikey Sweeney hit two points for Kiltane and Josh Ronayne pointed with the last kick of the game to see his team survive.

Every Davitts player played their part in this victory with Kieran Fahy, Thomas Ronayne, Colm Boyle, Dmitry Trench, Josh Ronayne, Jack Ronayne, Fenton Kelly and Niall Treacy outstanding throughout.

Well done to the management team of Paul Carey, Shane Mitchell, JP Kirrane, Tom Murphy and Boyler for their Trojan work all year and also to goalkeeping coach Michael Kearns, physio Olive Treacy and statsman/videographer Noel Reapy.

Davitts: Keith Prendergast, Kieran Fahy, Cathal Higgins, Thomas Ronayne, Shane Treacy (0-1), Colm Boyle, Dmitry Trench, Ronan McNamara (0-1), Johnno Clarke (0-1), Josh Ronayne (0-5), Jack Ronayne (1-2), Fenton Kelly (0-1), Niall Treacy (0-2), Darragh McGale, Evan Ronane (0-1). Subs used: Cathal Hennelly, Patrick Keadin, Tommy Waldron, Brian Clarke.