Claremorris 0-6  Davitts 0-6

Davitts and Claremorris U-18 teams will have to meet again to decide the winners of the South Mayo A title after they drew on Friday evening in the final in Claremorris. The game was played in terrible conditions and credit to both teams who slogged it out, with never more than a point separating the two well matched sides over the hour, to both earn the right to fight another day, hopefully in better conditions.

Claremorris drew first blood shooting the opening point of the game in the second minute. Davey Hennessy equalised in the fourth minute and Cathal Corless pointed in the 7^th minute to put Davitts ahead. Claremorris levelled it two minutes later and that’s the way it remained to the first water break with both sets of attackers finding it very difficult to make progress against the dogged defending they were encountering.

There were only two points scored in the second quarter of the game, Claremorris regaining the lead in the 22^nd minute and this score being cancelled out by Fenton Kelly in the 29^th minute to leave it 0-3 each at the interval.

The third quarter was an even tougher one for the forwards and there was only one score, a 41^st minute Dylan Gallagher point, secured in that period to see Davitts regain the lead.

After the second water break the play became a little more open and after Claremorris pointed in the 52^nd minute to level the game again, a good Jack Melvin point saw Davitts nose ahead a minute later. Claremorris equalised in the 54^th minute and a 57^th minute Cathal Corless point saw Davitts in front as the game reached a climax but Claremorris fought back again and they ensured that there would be a replay firing over a sixtieth minute point in a very exciting finish to the game.

Both sides had good goal chances, especially in the second half but Davitts Dylan O Brien and Claremorris keeper Aidan McGing were in top form throughout. A draw was probably the fairest result and the two teams will meet again in the replay in Ballindine next week.

Davitts had great performances from all of the defenders with Brian Og McTigue, Micheal Hett and Sean Keadin excellent in the full back line and the outstanding Conor McDermott, Thomas Ronayne and Brian Birmingham forming an impressive half back line. Cathal Corless (0-2) and Fenton Kelly (0-1) had a battle royal at midfield with their Claremorris opponents. This was not an evening for forwards but Mark Birmingham, Davey Hennessy (0-1), Fionn McLoughlin, Dylan Gallagher (0-1), Jack Melvin (0-1), Jack Devane and sub Bon Glynn, a lively second half addition, worked their socks off throughout the game.