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Ballindine, Co. Mayo

May 12, 2024

Senior League 1A v Belmullet match report

Davitts 1-11  Belmullet 0-12

Belmullet made the long journey to Ballindine on Saturday evening but it was the homeside that prevailed in this absorbing senior league Div 1A clash. The result hung in the balance right up to the final whistle but Davitts were able to withstand all that the visitors could throw at them in the tense five minutes of injury time allotted by referee Benny Holmes, who unfortunately was a central figure throughout the game.

Two early Niall Treacy points in the first three minutes got Davitts off to a flying start. Seamus Howard, a most impressive midfielder, fired over an excellent point for Belmullet in the fifth minute. The same two players swapped points in the next ten minutes but scores were hard to come by despite the ideal conditions, thanks to the hard-working and committed defending by both sides. Dáithí Cosgrove levelled the game in the twentieth minute but Davitts’ centre-forward Liam Kearns, having the game of his life, opened his account in the 26th minute with a fantastic long range point. The same player added another fine point in the 30th minute but two well-taken scores from Evan Ivers and Anthony Barrett levelled the game, 0-5 apiece, at the break.

The second half started well for Davitts and in the second minute that man Kearns finished a terrific move involving Charlie Philips, Darragh McGale and Colm Boyle to the visitor’s net to put his side ahead. Liam Kearns extended the lead to four in the 34th minute with another brilliant point. Belmullet were rattled but they responded well and points from Seamus Howard, Ryan McIntyre and Darragh Murray in the next six minutes narrowed the deficit to the minimum. A Niall Treacy point in the 42nd minute was closely followed by another Kearns point, an outside of the boot line-ball, a score that delighted the home crowd and restored Davitts’ three point lead. Belmullet wing-back James Lavelle pulled one back in the 46th minute and points from Brian Keane and Dáithí Cosgrove in the 51st and 54th minutes levelled the game.

A neat Colm Boyle point put Davitts ahead again in the 55th minute but a similar score from Dáithí Cosgrove restored parity a minute later. Liam Kearns lit up the ground with another superb point in the 57th minute and Colm Boyle put Davitts two ahead in the 59th minute. Belmullet tried in vain to get a goal to rescue the tie but the Davitts team defended in most impressive fashion to deny the visitors in the closing six minutes of an enthralling match.

Davitts had brilliant performances from Cathal Higgins, Mark Birmingham, Sean Keadin, Charlie Phillips, man of the match Liam Kearns, Niall Treacy, Darragh McGale and Colm Boyle.

Best for a gallant Belmullet team were James O Donnell, James Lavelle, Oisin O Donnell, Evan Ivers, Seamus Howard, Fionnan Ryan, Dáithí Cosgrove and Anthony Barrett.

Davitts: Tristan Diskin, Jordan Flanagan, Cathal Higgins, Kieran Fahy, Mark Birmingham, Thomas Ronayne, Sean Keadin, Cian Naughton, Charlie Phillips, Shane Treacy, Liam Kearns (1-5), Stephen Nyland, Niall Treacy (0-4), Darragh McGale, Colm Boyle (0-2). Subs used: Fionn McLoughlin, Michael Hett, Ronan McNamara.

Belmullet: Aaron Carey, Daniel Barrett, Conan Connor, James O Donnell, James Lavelle (0-1), Leo Howard, Oisin O Donnell, Evan Ivers (0-1), Seamus Howard (0-3), Darragh Murray (0-1), Fionnan Ryan, Ryan McIntyre (0-1), Dáithí Cosgrove (0-3), Brian Keane (0-1), Anthony Barrett (0-1). Subs used: Shea O Donoghue, Shane Nallen.

Referee: Benny Holmes

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