Castlebar Mitchels 0-16
Mohill 0-11
Colm Gannon reports at MacHale Park
FROM LOOKING AT the final score it would appear that it was a run of the mill victory for the favourites Castlebar Mitchels.
But when Mohill’s Keith Beirne slotted over his fifth point of the day with 15 minutes to go, a shock result looked to be a strong possibility.
Mitchels however, woke from their slumber and powerfully kicked for home, reeling off seven unanswered points in the final stages to put the result beyond doubt.
The Mayo champions go on to next weekend’s Connacht semi-final where they will face Sligo champions Tourlestrane for a place in the final against either St Brigid’s from Roscommon or Corofin from Galway, who are also in action next weekend.
They know that a much improved performance will be needed against the Yeats county men if they are to book a spot in the provincial decider.
Mohill came to Castlebar with a game plan of putting 13 men behind the ball and looked to use the pace of Keith Beirne and Ronan Kennedy on the break to upset the Mitchels rearguard.
It all started well for Castlebar with Ray O’Malley and Barry Moran kicking points inside the opening four minutes, but seven minutes later Mohill were leading by a single point after Keith Beirne kicked three on the spin, one from play and two from placed balls.
Cian Costello tied the game up shortly afterwards and a David Stenson free edged Castlebar back in front by the 18 minute mark. But two quick fire points from Ronan Kennedy and Keith Keegan put the Leitrim men back in front again with seven minutes left int the half.
Mitchels could have hit the back of the net when Danny Kirby got in behind the Mohill defence, but Padraig Tighe saved his effort well.
Mitchels tied it up through a Stenson free and the same man edged his side in front just before 30-minute mark and a long-range score from Eoghan Reilly put his side two to the good on a scoreline of 0-7 to 0-5 at the short whistle.
Mohill hung tough and the game was level at 0-9 apiece as it entered the final quarter when Ger McDonagh slipped over a neat score on the run to edge his side in front and ease the nerves of the home crowd.
Neill Douglas who had been very quiet all afternoon up to that point then came to life and kicked three of Castlebar’s next four points with Cian Costello getting in on the act with a fine effort to break the back of Mohill’s brave resistance.
Mitchels led by seven coming up to the end of normal time, but the Leitrim men cut the gap back to five thanks to a brace of late Beirne frees.
But their brave challenge fell short against a more experienced Mayo side.
Castlebar Mitchels scorers: David Stenson (0-3, 3f), Neil Douglas (0-3), Cian Costello (0-3), Barry Moran (0-2), Ray O’Malley (0-1), Eoghan O’Reilly (0-1), Ger McDonagh (0-1), Danny Kirby (0-1), Aidan Walsh (0-1)
Mohill scorers: Keith Beirne (0-7, 6f) , Ronan Kennedy (0-2) , Keith Keegan (0-1), Oisin Madden (0-1)
Castlebar Mitchels
1.Rory Byrne
17. Niall McCarney
3. Ger McDonagh
4. Donie Newcombe
6. Eoghan O’Reilly
7. Paddy Durcan
15. Ray O’Malley
8. Aidan Walsh
9. Barry Moran
10. James Durcan
11. Danny Kirby
12. Cian Costello
13. David Stenson
14. Neil Douglas
21. Calum Kyne
Subs:
5. Shane Irwin for McCarney
18. Anthony O’Boyle for Walsh
25. Mark Towey for Ray O’Malley
23. Matthew McCormack for Moran
Mohill
1. Padraig Tighe
17. Shane McGowan
3. Ronan Gallagher
2. James Mitchell
5. Darragh Gordon
6. Caitlin Canning
7. Ciaran Kennedy
8. Darren McLoughlin
9. Shane Quinn
10. Daniel Beck
4. Oisin Madden
12. Keith Keegan
13. Ronan Kennedy
14. Keith Beirne
15. Alan McLoughlin
Subs:
19. David Mitchell for Gordon
18. Ronan Gordon for Beck
24 Ethan Harkin for Madden
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