U-16’s v Knockmore – Match Report
Davitts 0-17
Knockmore 2-9
Davitts U-16 team booked their passage to the County A Championship final after defeating Knockmore by two points in the semi-final played in perfect conditions in Ballindine on Tuesday evening. Davitts will meet either Castlebar, Ballina or Moy Davitts in the County Final.
Knockmore started well and had two points on the board in the first three minutes before Jack Devane opened Davitts account with the first of his nine points on the night. Dylan Gallagher equalised in the fifth minute and the outstanding Cathal Corless put the homeside in front with a classy 6th minute point. A seventh minute Knockmore point was cancelled out by Fenton Kelly and Cathal Corless shot another before Knockmore struck for a goal in the 11th minute. The visitors extended their lead to two points with a twelfth minute score. Jack Devane narrowed the gap but Knockmore replied with a point of their own as the match entered the second quarter.
Davitt outscored Knockmore by 0-5 to 0-2 in that second quarter, Cathal Corless shooting three fine points and Jack Devane two, to leave the homeside ahead by 0-11 to 1-7 at the break.
Jack Devane with three points and another from Fenton Kelly saw Davitts extend their lead to five points by the eighth minute of the second half but Knockmore replied with two in the 41st and 43rd minutes. Jack Devane pointed in the 47th minute but Knockmore fired home their second goal with ten minutes remaining to narrow the gap to a single point. Jack Devane shot another excellent point in the 51st minute, the game’s final score as the entire Davitts team defended as if their lives depended on it, for the remaining thirteen minutes, before the final whistle was blown.
This is a fine Davitts group of players and they are a credit to their mentors and the Club. It is some achievement for a small Club to reach an underage A County Final and they deserve massive credit for doing so. They have some top class players and a great attitude and can look forward to their big day out in McHale Park with confidence.
In this game Tristan Diskin was confident in goals and could do little with the two goals that went past him. Micheal Hett, Brian Og McTigue and Thomas Ronayne were superb throughout the game with John Wallace, Brian Birmingham and Sean Keadin completing an excellent defensive sextet. Fenton Kelly (0-2) and the hard working Fionan Gallagher had a tremendous duel with their Knockmore counterparts all through the game. Up front Cathal Corless (0-5) gave a masterclass at centre forward and Jack Devane (0-9) was a constant thorn for the Knockmore backline. Joe Prendergast, Davy Hennessy, Jack Melvin, Dylan Gallagher (0-1) and sub Bon Glynn displayed a massive workrate that was required from everyone, to thwart a gallant Knockmore team.
