Castlebar and Ballina battle for minor supremacy

MAYO MINOR A FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

THIS year's minor A football championship final is one for traditionalists.

Taking place on Sunday (September 20) in Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar, as a prelude to the senior final between Breaffy and Knockmore and throwing in at 12 noon p.m., the decider pits Mayo's two most successful clubs, Ballina Stephenites and Castlebar Mitchels, against each other.

Both enter the fray with great credentials. Names such as Paddy Heneghan, Paul Walsh, Frank Irwin and Dylan Thornton will be familiar to anyone who paid heed to the Mayo minor team's progress last year.

They were big figures in a team that reached the national semi-final before losing to eventual All-Ireland winners Cork.

Both teams were impressive in their divisional games and enjoyed facile wins in their respective finals, but last Friday's county semi-finals brought them down to earth somewhat.

Mitchels were given a huge fright by Claremorris before emerging with a one-point win, while the Stephenites had it slightly easier against Moy Davitts but a 3-13 to 0-13 victory somewhat clouds the close nature of the game for a long time.

Eoghan Hughes has been a very impressive performer for Mitchels so far this year but in Rory Morrin, Ballina have a forward who knows where the net is.

Both full-forwards could have a major say in how this one pans out.

Assuming nerves are kept at bay, this has the makings of a fabulous final and should be a great appetiser for the main course later in the afternoon.