Seniors v Claremorris – Match Report
Davitts 0-11 Claremorris 0-8
Davitts gave themselves a chance of survival in Division 1A of the Senior League with a three point derby win over Claremorris in Ballindine on Saturday. The conditions were very difficult with a strong wind and driving rain making life difficult for all the players. The youthful Claremorris team found Davitts hunger and aggression hard to cope with and in Colm Boyle, Davitts had the game’s key figure, with the Mayo star giving a superb inspirational display from his centre half back position.
Davitts played with the wind in the first half and the impressive Evan Ronane opened the scoring in the 3rd minute. James Shaughnessy equalised four minutes later with what was his side’s only score of the first half. Evan Ronane clipped over two tidy points in the 10th and 12th minutes with Liam Kearns extending Davitts lead to three in the 14th minute. This point was followed by a scoreless fifteen minute period, with both sets of defenders on top. Josh Ronayne shot a brace of points in the last four minutes of the half to leave Davitts ahead by 0-6 to 0-1 at the break.
Claremorris started the second half very well and two points from James Shaughnessy and another from James McCormack cut the lead back to two points after four minutes of the second period. Liam Kearns pointed in the 6th and 9th minutes for Davitts with James Shaughnessy and Mikey Higgins replying for the visitors to leave two points between the sides with fifteen minutes left. When James Shaughnessy pointed in the 16th minute to cut the gap to a single point, Claremorris looked the likely winners, but Davitts produced their best football in the final quarter with the magnificent Colm Boyle, Patrick Keadin, Padraig Mangan, Cathal Higgins, Tommy Waldron, Josh Ronayne, Andrew Peters, Evan Ronane and Ronan McNamara driving their team on to a deserved win.
Liam Kearns pointed in the 20th minute and six minutes later Evan Ronane scored the game’s best point, a beauty from the right touchline, to extend Davitts lead to three. James McCormack for Claremorris and Davitts Josh Ronayne swapped points in the closing minutes as Davitts secured the two valuable league points.
Best for Claremorris were Aidan Butler, Nicky Pilbrow, James McCormack, Mikey Higgins and James Shaughnessy.
Davitts: Adrian McNamara, Patrick Keadin, Cathal Higgins, Padraig Mangan, Tommy Taldron, Colm Boyle, Johnno Clarke, Josh Ronayne (0-3), Declan Healy, Keith Prendergast, Liam Kearns (0-4), Andrew Peters, Paul Carey, Ronan McNamara, Evan Ronane (0-4). Subs used: Michael Conroy, Colm Roche, Shane Treacy.
Claremorris: Alvin McCallig, Stephen Brennan, Aidan Butler, James Stretton, Nicky Pilbrow, Paddy Barry, Ronan Finn, James McCormack (0-2), Mikey Higgins (0-1), Matthew Macken, Dacin Taccus, Stephen McGreal, James Shaughnessy (0-5), Sean Diskin. Sub used: Shane Prendergast.
Referee: Ronan Gurren (Aghamore).
