Scintillating display by Castlebar Mitchels to lift Mayo Under-17 A title

AFTER capturing the Under 19 A title during the summer, Castlebar Mitchels added to their underage honours by securing the Under 17 A title in Bekan on Saturday night.

It was a brilliant team performance from Castlebar, who overcame a supremely talented Claremorris side.

Coincidentally, Mitchels had also beaten Claremorris in the Under 19 final – a sure sign of the work being done at underage level in the two towns.

It was a star-studded affair, with five members of the Mayo team that reachted this year's All-Ireland final involved – John McMonagle of Mitchels and the Claremorris quartet of Paul Gilmore, Rio Mortimer and the Hurley twins, Niall and Dara,

However, it was Mitchels' full-forward line duo of Calum Filan and Ryan Gibbons who stole the show, the pair of them shooting all of their side's total of 3-9.

Captain Filan certainly caught the eye of all involved, scoring a brilliant 2-6 after enjoying a seismic battle with Rio Mortimer throughout.

As is often the case in the Centre of Excellence, the conditions played a factor. Castlebar won the toss and opted to play with a significant wind, and they made brilliant use of it.

After mere minutes, Filan had turned Mortimer for pace before dispatching past ‘keeper Evan Campbell for a goal, and Gibbons kicked two brilliant points.

Mitchels were continuing on the momentum gathered from last weekend's semi-final victory over Westport, while it was not an ideal start to the game for a Claremorris side whose semi-final victory over Moy Davitts was secured back in September.

Minor All-Star Paul Gilmore settled Claremorris with a good long-range point before Filan extended Mitchels’ lead with a free and a mark.

It was a tit-for-tat second quarter, with both Niall Hurley (two) and Darragh Beirne on target for Claremorris before Filan responded with two points of his own to leave Mitchels four points up at the interval.

There was a quiet confidence amongst Claremorris at half-time, and there was a sense that the wind which they would have at their backs was worth more than the four-point deficit they were facing.

However, as the wind began to fade at the beginning of the second half, you could feel Claremorris fading with it.

Expecting a Claremorris onslaught to begin the half, it was actually Mitchels who extended their lead to six points, Filan adding a free before Gibbons kicked the point of the day with an effort from the most acute of angles.

Dara Hurley responded with an inspirational score, carrying the ball from his own half before striking over from outside the 45-metre line, and it felt like the score that would drive Claremorris on.

However, the Mitchels defence, led by McMonagle, looked impenetrable at times and Claremorris were finding it hard to create concrete scoring chances.

Conversely, Mitchels were flying. Opting to hit Claremorris on the counter-attack for most of the game, Castlebar were finding plenty of space in front and behind their opponents' defence.

This paid dividends when after a trademark counter, a loose ball rolled to Filan on the edge of the 13-metre line and he pulled on the ball soccer-style, firing it into the top corner of the net. It was a brilliant finish, and the gap was now eight.

Claremorris reduced the deficit with quick points from Darragh Beirne and Niall Hurley, the latter forcing Mark Moore into a brilliant save. A goal at that stage could have set up a grandstand finish.

With Claremorris desperately needing a goal, it was Mitchels who landed the knockout blow. After a free-flowing transition from defence to attack, Gibbons raced clear of the Claremorris rearguard and showed a cool head to roll the ball past Campbell, leaving his side 10 points clear with only minutes remaining.

The full-time whistle soon sounded, and it signalled a thoroughly deserved victory for Castlebar in what was a scintillating performance.

It was a disappointing end to a brilliant campaign for Claremorris, but with the talent that they possess there is no doubt that they will be back.

Castlebar Mitchels: M. Moore; B. McDonnell, J. McMonagle, K. Chambers; S. O’Reilly, S. Coyle, F. O’Reilly; P. Flannelly, B. Gaughan; C. Enright, D. Rice, S. Cunningham; R. Gibbons (1-3), C. Filan (2-6, 4f, 1m), C. Walsh.

Subs used: G. Forry, A. Morahan, C. Durcan, O. Mulroy.

Claremorris: E. Campbell; C. O’Brien, R. Mortimer, D. Slattery; R. Dennedy, H. Smyth, J. Sullivan; P. Gilmore (0-1), C. Cassidy; S. O’Connell, D. Beirne (0-2), N. Hurley (0-4); M. Noonan, Dara Hurley (0-1), David Hurley.

Subs used: M. Foody, E. Dillon, E. Brogan.

Referee: R. Gurren.

Man of the match: Calum Filan (Castlebar Mitchels)...a tally of 2-6 in a county final speaks for itself – and it was even more impressive considering he was being man marked by Under 17 All-Star winner Rio Mortimer.