Magnificent Davitts reach summit as…. Team captain Conroy leads by example

Tuesday, 24 January 2012 15:34

DAVITTS produced another breathtaking team performance to see-off the challenge of the Wicklow and Leinster champions, Éire Óg, to reach the All-Ireland intermediate club championship final in Tullamore on Sunday.

Davitts 2-12

Éire Óg (Wicklow) 0-5

As the final scoreline suggests, this was easy for Davitts in the end. However, such was their overall team performance it would have been hard for any club side live with Davitts.

From the start Davitts took control in all departments of the field and never allowed the young Éire Óg side get into the game. They just played the simple game of fast, direct football and such was the work rate of every Davitts player - that their opponents simply had no answer to the non-stop onslaught.

Led brilliantly by team captain Michael Conroy (who scored nine points, six from play) this performance was a follow-on from the one they produced when beating Padraig Pearses in the Connaught final. If anything this was an even better performance.

But if Conroy and company put the scores on the board, great credit must go to the backs and midfielders who supplied quality ball to the forwards throughout.

Now preparations will start for the All-Ireland final in just over two weeks’ time where one more performance like Davitts have produced in the last number of games would leave them in with a great chance of winning the biggest prize of all, the All-Ireland title.

Before a ball was kicked Davitts’ greater experience was seen to telling effect as their opponents, despite winning the toss of the coin, decided to play against the very strong breeze. This was a massive mistake by Éire Óg as any advantage from the start should always be taken. By the time half-time arrived they were made to pay for this mistake as Davitts were almost out of sight.

After being gifted the wind advantage, Davitts quickly set about their task as they took the game to their opponents. There were just five minutes gone on the clock when Michael Conroy had them two points in front after directing the ball between the posts from two frees. A minute later they had increased the advantage when Fergal McGrath floated over a delightful point.

The Wicklow side did manage to open their account in the sixth minute with a point from midfielder Thomas Gbelovevia. However, they would fail to trouble the umpires again until the 30^th minute when they scored their second point of the half, this time from a free by Darren Hayden.

In between these two Éire Óg scores, Davitts were in complete control. Their backs were just simply superb as they never allowed their opponents any great scoring opportunities while Ronan McNamara and Paul Carey were the maters in the middle of the field.

Up front the half-forward line were working their socks off while the last line of attack caused all sorts of problems. Indeed, Éire Óg could just not stop Aidan McTigue, McGrath and Conroy.

Conroy doubled the Davitts advantage to four after scoring magnificent points from play in the ninth and 10^th minutes.

Although Davitts continued to drive forward they failed to convert a few good scoring chances. But a Conroy pointed free arrived before Aidan McTigue was presented with a goal chance in the 19^th minute. However, his effort was well saved before Conroy drove the breaking ball over the bar.

Now six points in front it was beginning to look good for Davitts. But four minutes later it got a lot better after Colm Boyle and Conroy combined to send McGrath through on goal. Being presented with a great opportunity, McGrath took his time before hitting an unstoppable shot to the back of the net. It was a score Davitts’ overall play richly deserved.

In the final moments of the half Conroy and Éire Óg centre-forward Darren Hayden exchanged points to leave Davitts leading by nine points at the break, 1-8 to 0-2.

As expected Éire Óg came out for the second half with all guns blazing in an effort to get back into the game. Now wind assisted, they put some early pressure on the Davitts defence. However, their only reward was a fisted point from Daniel Woods in the opening minute as they were kept at bay by the resolute Davitts backs.

Their only chance of getting a much needed goal in these early stages came in the 34^th minute when first Darren Hayden was denied by a great block by Colm Boyle and a follow-up attempt by full-forward Billy Cuddihy was saved by the brilliant Mark Diskin.

After withstanding everything the Wicklow side threw at them in the opening eight minutes of the half, Davitts killed off the game as a contest in the 39^th minute when they scored their second goal. It came after David McDonagh won a poor kick-out by Éire Óg goalkeeper Lorcan Traynor. The Davitts centre-forward burst through on goal, beating two defenders before hitting a magnificent left-footed drive to the corner of the net. When midfielder Ronan McNamara followed with a delightful point a minute later it was game, set and match to the south Mayo side as they now held a 13-point lead.

It was now just a case of Davitts seeing the match out and they did so in a very professional manner.

Éire Óg, in fairness, kept battling away but their only reward was two more from Hayden and substitute Daniel Webb. Fro the final seven minutes they had to play with 14 players as centre-back Stephen Kelly received his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card.

In the final 11 minutes Davitts added three more points to their tally one from Fergal McGrath and two from Conroy, his second with the left foot, a truly magnificent score.

In the end it was too easy for Davitts who once again produced a five-star team performance. From one to 15 they were superb from start to finish and if they can reproduce this kind of form in the All-Ireland final they will take some beating.

Scorers for Davitts: M. Conroy 0-9, F. McGrath 1-2, D. McDonagh 1-0, R. McNamara 0-1.

Scorers for Éire Óg: D. Hayden 0-2, T. Gbelovevia, D. Woods, D. Webb 0-1 each.

Davitts: M. Diskin, C. Roche, A. Roche, K. Gallagher, J. Clarke, C. Boyle, J. Cummins, R. McNamara, P. Carey, K. Prendergast, D. McDonagh, P. Coyne, A. McTigue, F. McGrath, M. Conroy.

Subs used: L. Kearns, C. O’Gara, M. Cosgrove, K. Glynn.

Éire Óg: L. Traynor, J. Tanner, J. Kelly, E. McHugh, C. Smullen, S. Kelly, S. Horan, T. Gbelovevia, J. Leonard, D. Woods, D. Hayden, P. Smith, G. Fuisciardi, B. Cuddihy, K. Manahan.

Subs used: P. Keane, D. Webb, D. Keane, P. Doherty.

Referee: C. Lane (Cork).

Man of the match: Michael Conroy…as team captain led by example and scored a massive nine points, six of them from play.