Davitts 0-12   Castlebar 2-8

Castlebar Mitchels U-19 team came to Ballindine for the opening round of the County A Championship on Tuesday evening and, after a great game of football, they snatched victory scoring a goal and three points in the last five minutes of a pulsating game.

Davitts played with the wind in the first period and after a few wides, shot the first two points of the game in the 5^th minute through Fenton Kelly and Dylan Gallagher. Castlebar replied with a sixth minute goal and Davitts Conor McDermott equalised a minute later. The visitors pointed again in the 9^th minute but well taken points by Cathal Corless and Fenton Kelly in the 13^th and 14^th minutes put Davitts ahead again. The Davitts defence were superb but in attack were very wasteful in this period shooting several wides and the more economical visitors pointed in the 18^th and 23^rd minutes to regain the lead. Indeed Castlebar could easily have scored a few goals but for some excellent goalkeeping by Lorcan Diskin. Davitts finished the half strongly however and points from Fenton Kelly and two from Cathal Corless left the homeside ahead by 0-8 to 1-3 at halftime.

A well fired up Davitts started the second half in great style and they extended their lead with points in the opening two minutes by Dylan Gallagher and Cathal Corless. Davitts were controlling the play well, with Fenton Kelly, Burke Briere, Conor McDermott, Thomas Ronayne, Dylan Gallagher and Cathal Corless very influencial, and the Castlebar attack weren’t seeing much ball. They did however shoot the next two points in the 42^nd and 45^th minutes to reduce the deficit to two points but two similar scores from the boot of Dylan Gallagher in the 47^th and 53^rd minutes restored Davitts four point lead.

Davitts were denied goals due to some great goalkeeping by the Mitchels keeper with the lively Fionn McLoughlin (twice) and Jack Melvin being thwarted. Castlebar began to throw everything they had at the homeside but were finding it extremely hard to breakdown a resolute defence. Two Mitchels points in the 60^th and 61^st minutes reduced the deficit to two points.  They narrowed the gap to the minimum in the 64^th minute and from the resulting kickout disaster struck for the homeside. Castlebar won a turnover in the middle of the field and, after two quick passes and an unstoppable shot, they found the Davitts net for their second goal and a last gasp win.

This was a heart breaking defeat for Davitts who had played so well for most of the game. Poor shooting, especially with the aid of the wind in the first half, and a loss of concentration in second half injury time cost them dearly. They will now face Westport and Claremorris in the remaining two group games.

Davitts: Tristan Diskin, Brian Og McTigue, Micheal Hett, Brian Birmingham, Mark Birmingham, Thomas Ronayne, Sean Keadin, Burke Briere, Fenton Kelly (0-3), Conor McDermott (0-1), Cathal Corless (0-4), Jack Melvin, Fionn McLoughlin, Dylan Gallagher (0-4), Jack Devane. Subs used: Ethan Boyle, Aaron Trench.