Garrymore 1-11  Davitts 1-11

This South Mayo Junior Championship semi-final kept the large attendance in Garrymore engrossed right up to the final whistle and, after a titanic struggle, both sides would have been happy with the draw.

Davitts got off to a good start with a fine point by Aidan Macken in the first minute. The next score didn’t come until the tenth minute, a scrambled Garrymore goal, with the Davitts goalkeeper David Mitchell getting injured in the process. Mitchell had to be replaced by John Kilkenny who proved to be a capable replacement for the rest of the game. Garrymore extended their lead with a 14^th minute point but two excellent points from Darragh McGale and Johnno Clarke in the next three minutes narrowed the deficit to the minimum before Davitts captain Danny Corless goaled, finishing off a superb move involving Brian Clarke, Liam Kearns and Ryan McLoughlin, to put his side ahead.

A Garrymore point in the 22^nd minute was matched by Brian Clarke two minutes later. Garrymore pointed in the 25^th and 32^nd minutes with Johnno Clarke and Cathal Corless doing likewise for Davitts, to leave the visitors ahead by 1-6 to 1-4 at half time. Davitts had missed a penalty late in that first half after Ryan McLoughlin’s kick was saved by the Garrymore keeper.

Garrymore opened the second half scoring, pointing after three minutes with Cathal Corless replying for Davitts in the 35^th minute. Garrymore then assumed full control of the game and they reeled off six unanswered points between the 38^th and 50^th minutes to take a four point lead into the final ten minutes of the game. Davitts managed to regain their composure though and two points from Cathal Corless and one from Johnno Clarke left just one point between the teams as the finishing post loomed. Micheal Hett, Davitts enterprising corner back, proved to be his side’s hero with a fine point in the last minute, intercepting a ball 20 metres from the Garrymore goals and punching over the bar to tie the game.

Davitts had great performances from Micheal Hett, Charlie Phillips, Liam Macken, Aidan Macken, Johnno Clarke, Brian Clarke, Darragh McGale, Danny Corless and Cathal Corless.

Davitts: David Mitchell, Micheal Hett (0-1), Charlie Phillips, Jordan Flanagan, Liam Macken, Donie Ronayne, Brian Og McTigue, Shane Mitchell, Aidan Macken (0-1), Johnno Clarke (0-3), Liam Kearns, Brian Clarke (0-1), Ryan McLoughlin, Darragh McGale (0-1), Danny Corless (1-0). Subs used: John Kilkenny, Cathal Corless (0-4), Tom Corless, Richie Kilkenny, Sean Feerick.

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