Senior League v Castlebar match report
Davitts 3-9 Castlebar Mitchels 3-12
Davitts and Castlebar met in the Senior League Div 1B in Ballindine on Friday evening with the visitors coming out on top by three points after an entertaining game that produced some fine attacking football. Castlebar’s ball winning ability in the middle third of the pitch was the key to their victory.
The visitors shot two points in the first minute via Neil Douglas as they started off in blistering fashion. A superbly finished goal by Davitts Evan Ronane in the third minute was matched by Castlebar’s very impressive Steve Keane three minutes later. Castlebar’s Neil Douglas and Davitts Dylan Gallagher swapped points in the 7th and 9th minutes. Steve Keane fired over another point in the 11th minute to extend Castlebar’s lead to three points but Dylan Gallagher and Jack Melvin narrowed that gap to the minimum by the 15th minute. Mitchels Paddy Heneghan and Ethan Gibbons pointed in quick sucession but points from Colm Boyle and Jack Melvin cancelled them out. Another Paddy Heneghan point in the 24th minute put Castlebar two ahead and a second Steve Keane goal in the 29th minute extended the lead to five points. Colm Boyle pulled back a point for Davitts before the half time whistle to leave the Mitchels ahead, 2-7 to 1-6 at the break.
Davitts needed a good start to the second half but Castlebar took the game by the scruff of the neck and landed five unanswered points in the first eight minutes through Ciaran Mylette, Ethan Gibbons (2), Paddy Heneghan and Sean Keane. Davitts didn’t lie down though and they replied with a superb point from Niall Treacy in the 39th minute and the same player gave his side hope a minute later with a brilliant finish to the corner of the Castlebar net after an incisive move. A minute later an Ethan Gibbons effort for a point rebounded off the post and Ciaran Mylette was the quickest to react and he gleefully goaled past Tristan Diskin, the Davitts keeper. Amazingly, this was the visitor’s last score of the game as Davitts fought back bravely. Another Evan Ronane goal, an unstoppable finish after an excellent move, gave his side renewed hope in the 44th minute. Jack Melvin pointed for Davitts in the 46th minute. Both sides attacked and missed chances in the final quarter and a Niall Treacy point narrowed the deficit to three points as the game entered injury time. Davitts tried valiantly to get the goal they needed but excellent defending by the Mitchels players kept them out.
Castlebar had excellent performances from Mark Dolan, Donal Newcombe, James Cunningham, Aidan O Boyle, Conor Stenson, Steve Keane, Paddy Heneghan, Mark Cunningham and Ethan Gibbons.
Davitts best players included Jordan Flanagan, Cathal Higgins, Charlie Phillips, Colm Boyle, Niall Treacy and Evan Ronane, while second half subs Mark Birmingham and Sean Feerick didn’t look out of place on their Senior League debuts.
Castlebar: Peter Basquille, Joe Tuohy, Mark Dolan, Donal Newcombe, Michael Fahy, James Cunningham, David Conlon, Aidan O Boyle, Conor Stenson, Steve Keane (2-2), Neil Douglas (0-3), Paddy Heneghan (0-3), David Stenson, Ethan Gibbons (0-3), Mark Cunningham. Subs used: Ciaran Mylette (1-1), Aidan Walsh, Rory Burke.
Davitts: Tristan Diskin, Jordan Flanagan, Cathal Higgins, Micheal Hett, Tom Corless, Charlie Phillips, Thomas Ronayne, Darragh McGale, Jack Melvin (0-3), Dylan Gallagher (0-2), Liam Kearns, Danny Corless, Colm Boyle (0-2), Niall Treacy (1-2), Evan Ronane (2-0). Subs used: Brian Og McTigue, Jack Devane, Sean Feerick, Mark Birmingham, Aidan Macken.
Referee: Paul Lydon (Kiltimagh).
