Ballaghaderreen 6-8  Davitts 2-8

A devastating four goal blitz, in a six minute spell in the final quarter of this Senior Championship relegation play-off match ensured Ballaghaderreen’s senior status for next season. Davitts will now face The Neale in the relegation final in Hollymount on Sunday week, with the losers dropping down to the Intermediate grade.

Fenton Kelly opened the scoring with a Davitts point after 20 seconds following a searing run. Gavin Conway replied with a pointed 45 metre kick before Shane Treacy put Davitts ahead again in the 5^th minute with a neat point. A Cian Hanley goal for Ballagh in the 7^th minute and points from Kuba Callaghan and Luke Connor put Ballagh four ahead after the first quarter of the match. Ronan McNamara fired over a huge long range free in the 16^th minute with Andy Moran pointing for Ballagh three minutes later. Ballagh were cutting through the Davitts defence regularly and only for some heroic last ditch defending by Charlie Phillips and Cathal Higgins and some fine goalkeeping by Keith Prendergast, the East Mayo men could have had a few more goals. Cian Hanley and Kuba Callaghan pointed and a Dylan Feeney goal in the 28^th minute left Ballagh eight points ahead and Davitts with a mountain to climb. Niall Treacy and Ronan Mac slotted over the final scores of the half with Ballagh ahead by 2-6 to 0-5 at the interval.

Davitts came out firing in the second half and a Niall Treacy point opened the scoring in the 33^rd minute. Three minutes later, the same player hammered in a Davitts goal after excellent work by Darragh McGale, Jack Melvin and Ronan McNamara, to narrow the deficit to three points. Andy Moran steadied the Ballagh ship with points in the 38^th and 40^th minutes. A Ronan Mac point left four points between the sides but the ruthless Ballaghaderreen lads fired home four goals between the 47^th and 53^rd minutes, three from Andy Moran and the fourth from midfielder Darragh Kelly, as the Davitts challenge collapsed. Davitts did add a Fenton Kelly point and a late Niall Treacy goal before the final whistle by referee Paul Lydon, who handled the game well.

Davitts best players in a game best forgotton were Charlie Phillips, Cathal Higgins, Fenton Kelly, Shane Treacy, Niall Treacy and Ronan McNamara.

Davitts: Keith Prendergast, Charlie Phillips, Kieran Fahy, Cathal Higgins, Dmitry Trench, Tomas Ronayne, Jack Trench, Fenton Kelly (0-2), Johnno Clarke, Cathal Corless, Niall Treacy (2-2), Mark Ronayne, Shane Treacy (0-1), Ronan McNamara (0-3), Darragh McGale. Subs used: Micheal Hett, Jack Melvin, Liam Kearns, Aidan Macken, Tom Corless.