Four-in-a-row in sight for Mitchels now

County champions Castlebar Mitchels remain on track for four in a row as they powered past Claremorris in the first of a double header in the Mayo senior football championship quarterfinals at Elverys MacHale Park today.

However, the second game produced the only surprise of the weekend with Garrymore crashing out to Ballaghaderreen (3-11 to 0-18) in a game that was high in quality and intensity unlike the opening which saw Castlebar ending up as 1-20 to 2-9 winners in a game in which they were never troubled.

The county champions will now meet Ballintubber in the semi-final while Ballaghaderreen and Breaffy clash in the other semi-final, both of which are down for the weekend after next.

The Mitchels were never under any real pressure as they coasted to a convincing eight-point win.

In truth the champions had this one wrapped up by the break as they led by 1-12 to 1-0, Conor Diskin scoring the Claremorris goal.

Mitchels hit all of their 12 points from play, including five from Neil Douglas, while Paddy Durcan, Danny Kirby and James Durcan also scored some excellent points as the champions harnessed that strong wind at their backs in the opening half.

Aidan Walsh finished the Castlebar goal to the net in injury-time and, despite a gutsy effort in the second which saw James Shaughnessy score from the penalty spot, Castlebar were never under  real pressure.

In contrast, the pressure was always on Garrymore in the second game, especially after conceding two goals in as many minutes, Darragh Kelly finishing both.

Leading at the break by 2-4 to 0-7 it seemed Ballaghaderreen may not have done enough having played with a very strong wind in that first half but crucially, they were to score a third goal early in the second hall, Cian Hanley the man who finished as he pulled on the ball after it had slipped from his grasp, but it was the score which had Ballaghaderreen now leading by 3-5 to 0-7.

Garrymore refused to bow the heads and battled back gamely to come within two points thanks to some greet scoring from top gun Paul Deely and Mark Tierney and spurred on by some great work around the middle from Gary Golden.

However, you sensed Garrymore were always going to need a goal to win this game and they did come close, both Golden and Tierney firing efforts just inches over the bar in the closing stages, but it was Ballaghaderreen who held firm, Barry Regan, substitute Kubla Callaghan, Ryan Lynch, Cian Hanley and the wise old owl himself, Andy Moran, keeping them together for a fully deserving win.

Castlebar Mitchels: R. Byrne, S. Conlon, G. McDonagh, D. Newcombe (0-1), P. Durcan (0-4), R. O’Malley, D. Vaughan, A. Walsh (1-1), S. Hopkins, J. Durcan (0-3), N. Lydon, B. Moran, C. Stenson (0-3, 1f) N. Douglas (0-6), D. Kirby (0-2).

Subs used: E. O’Reilly for S. Hopkins (50), C. Stenson for B. Moran (54). J. Maughan for O’Malley (57), A O’Boyle for Lydon (59).

Claremorris: A. McCallig, A. Butler, J. Stretton, R. Finn, S. Brennan, P. Barry (0-1), M. Macken, D. O’Reilly (0-1), B. Gallagher, M. Higgins, D. Egan, J. Hutton, S. McGreal, C. Diskin (1-2), J. Shaughnessey (1-5, 2f, pen).

Subs used: D. Taccos for Hutton (52), E. Clarke for P. Barry (57), M. Mullins for Shaughnessey (59).

 

Ballaghaderreen: P. Sharkey, D. Drake, S. Cunniffe, J. Phillips, P. Kelly, S. Akram, O. Jordan, D. Kelly (2-2), R. Lynch (0-3), C. Hanley (1-0), A. Moran (0-1), Keith O’Donnell. C. Doohan, B. Regan (0-4, 1f), L. O’Grady.

Subs used: K. Callaghan (0-1) for Doohan (15), D. McBren for Kelly (59), J. Dillon for Doohan (60), S. McHugh for Regan (63).

Garrymore: B. Lynskey, J. Oates, K. Lydon, J. Cummins, T. Nally, K. Cunningham (0-1), C. Crowe (0-1), B. Cunningham, G. Golden (0-2), P. Deely (0-8, 5f), S. Nally (0-1), M. Connolly, Cathal Slattery (0-1), M. Tierney (0-4, 3f), Ronan Quinn.

Subs used: J. Killeen for Quinn (ht), E. Monaghan for Connolly (50).