Mitchels weather Westport second-half storm to be crowned worthy Mayo minor champions

A repeat of the Division 1 league final pairing saw Castlebar Mitchels atone for that defeat at the hands of Westport by winning the minor championship title on a 3-11 to 2-9 scoreline at a windy Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, yesterday evening, writes John Melvin.

The result was a lot more conclusive than the final scoreline would suggest as Rian Durkin fired a bullet of a goal for Westport from a 14-yard free deep into four minutes of injury in a game which finished under the floodlights.

Castlebar Mitchels were full value for their interval lead of 1-7 to 0-5, but that was wiped out following a dramatic start to the second half which saw Westport awarded a penalty. Rian Durkin’s successful spot kick made it a two-point game.

By the fifth minute of the second half Westport had pulled on level terms, Durkin really on fire with a superb point and Tom Lambert levelling the game from a free to make it 1-7 apiece.

However, battling Westport could never get their noses in front and Shane Cunningham steadied the ship for Mitchels to put them into the lead again, and they were never headed for the remainder of the game.

Westport continued to knock on the door but the bnig turning point came when Mitchels nailed their second goal, Joe Forry forcing the save from the Westport 'keeper, Malachy Forde, but Ryan Gibbons there to finish to the net.

There was a third goal still in it for Mitchels as the superb Cian Walsh unleashed a stinging shot from 20 yards on 57 minutes which was saved by the Westport 'keeper but Fionan O’Reilly was on hand to tap the rebound to the net to make it 3-11 to 1-9, Westport rewarded for perseverance with that second goal deep in injury time.

The story of the first half was the electric pace and dancing feet of Cian Walsh, who fired over two early points and had made it three points by the eight minute.

Westport had a great goal opportunity themselves but were thwarted by a great save by Oranne Burke, who denied Evan Durkan.

However, Burke was adjudged to have over carried the ball as he tried to clear his lines, and that error was punished by Tom Lambert who landed Westport’s opening score from a free.

Two frees from Gavin Forry had extended Castlebar’s lead before Westport began to apply the pressure and back-to-back points from Rian Durkin and Jack O’Malley, with a superb effort, made it a two-point game (0-5 to 0-3).

But that first Mitchels goal came almost immediately after that third Westport point, and what a cracker it was to the roof of the net by Gary Filan after a superb pass from Shane Cunningham.

The goal set Mitchels back on track, an injury time free from Gibbons and a point from play and from a free from Rian Durkin leaving it 1-7 to 0-5 at the break.

The question was whether Mitchels had done enough damage with that strong wind behind them in the first half.

They weathered that early storm from Westport, who hit 1-2 without reply to level the match, but Mitchels kept their heads to emerge as deserving winners.

Castlebar Mitchels: Oranne Burke; Brian McDonnell, Conal Durcan, Neill McMenamon; Davey McManaman, Fionan O’Reilly (1-0), Joe Reilly; Shane Cunningham (0-1), Seán O’Reilly; Cian Walsh (0-3), Joshua Concannon, Gavin Forry (0-3, 2f); Matthew Flannelly, Ryan Gibbons (1-4, 1f), Gary Filan (1-0).

Subs used: Fionn McHale, Joe Forry, Oisin Mulroy, Rhys Saville.

Westport: Malachy Forde; Conor Ketterick, Kyle O’Malley, Michael Geraghty; Thomas McGeough, Cian Sheridan, Cillian McKeown; Michael McDonnell, Jack O’Malley (0-2); Darragh Corrigan, Tom Lambert (0-2f), Joe Holmes; Killian Conway, Evan Durkan (0-1f), Rian Durkan (2-4, 1-0p).

Subs used: Peter McNally, Jack Dawson, Eoghan Johnson.

Referee: J. Glavey (Aghamore).

*Full report in next week’s print edition