Jubilation for Ardagh, Davitts and Castlebar Mitchels on Mayo's big day
Mayo GAA hosts big crowd in Castlebar as three county finals are decided
THERE were scenes oF wild elation and raw devastation in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park on Sunday as the county junior, intermediate and senior finals were played out.
Ardagh wrote their names in gold when they captured the junior crown with a convincing win over Eastern Gaels. The North Mayo men were appearing in their first final and they made the most of the opportunity when blitzing the Gaels with a superb second-half display. Mayo attacked James Carr was a proud man when he led his team up the steps to claim the Pete McDonnell Cup amid scenes of wild delight.
Eastern Gaels were appearing in their second final in 12 months and are still waiting to get their hands on the trophy after failing to fire after the break when aided by the wind, despite being one clear at the interval.
DAVITTS DELIVER
Mark Concannon’s Davitts squad went home with the Sweeney Cup after impressing against Ballinrobe. The border boys were much the better team in the first half when facing into the wind as Ballinrobe found it hard to locate their rhythm.
Niall Treacy, Jack Melvin and the men in black and red were excellent in attack and with Charlie Phillips outstanding at the heart of the defence they were never going to be caught.
Ewan Duffy tried to inspire Ballinrobe and they never faded away, but there was no catching Davitts who introduced former All-Star and Mayo selector Colm Boyle off the bench early in the second period.
MIGHTY MITCHELS
KEVIN Filan guided his Castlebar Mitchels side to their 32nd county crown with a dominant display against Garrymore in the senior decider. The men in yellow and red were in charge from the start with inter-county midfielder Bob Tuohy to the fore.
They never allowed Garrymore build a head of steam and held them scoreless for long periods of the first half despite the men in white and red having wind advantage.
Paddy Durcan, Sean Morahan, Donnacha McHugh, Joe Forry, Cian Walsh and their colleagues were five clear at the interval. Liam Óg Horkan, Trevor Nally, Jamie Oates and Eoin McGreal tried to inspire a comeback and the gap was back to three at the start of the final quarter, but Mitchels never blinked.
John MacMonagle led them brilliantly from centre-half-back, Rory Byrne was outstanding between the posts and they pulled away again. Forry landed a stunning two-pointer from under the stand and Cian Walsh rolled home a late penalty to claim the title for the men from the county town.