Davitts 2-9  Castlebar Mitchels 0-17

Castlebar Mitchels and Davitts met in the second round of the Senior Championship on Sunday in Ballindine with the visitors prevailing by two points. While there was no denying that the better team won, the young Davitts team put up a spirited display, battling hard right up to the final whistle.

Davitts got off to a brilliant start and had the ball in the Castlebar net in the third minute with Niall Treacy converting from the penalty spot after full forward Ronan McNamara, a menacing presence at full forward, was fouled. Niall Treacy and Evan Ronane added points in the 5^th and 6^th minutes before the visitors found their feet. Castlebar rattled off eight unanswered points in the next twenty two minutes but points from Niall Treacy and Evan Ronane left a point separating the sides at the interval.

Castlebar extended their lead to three points with scores in the 34^th and 35^th minutes. Niall Treacy pulled one back for the homeside but Castlebar added four more points in the next fifteen minutes to go six clear and looking set to coast to a comfortable victory. Davitts fought back impressively however with Niall Treacy pointing in the 51^st and 52^nd minutes. Castlebar shot a 54^th minute point but Davitts responded with a goal of the highest quality, Fenton Kelly supplying Ronan McNamara with a long ball and Mac fielded it superbly, turned and hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net from twenty metres, to close the gap to two points. Castlebar rallied with points in the 58^th and 60^th minutes which were cancelled out by two similar scores from the trusty boot of Niall Treacy in injury time. Davitts still had time left but they couldn’t manufacture a goal chance and the Mitchels hung on to win by two points.

Davitts, who need to defeat Charlestown in the final group game to avoid a relegation play-off were best served by Charlie Phillips, Tomas Ronayne, Fenton Kelly, Niall Treacy and Ronan McNamara.

Davitts:Keith Prendergast, Micheal Hett, Charlie Phillips, Kieran Fahy, Dmitry Trench, Tomas Ronayne, Jordan Flanagan, Cathal Higgins, Fenton Kelly, Johnno Clarke, Evan Ronane (0-2), Shane Treacy, Niall Treacy (1-6), Ronan McNamara (1-1), Cathal Corless. Subs used: Aidan Macken, Liam Kearns, Jack Trench, Jack Melvin, Brian Og McTigue.