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Mitchels in a league of their own - Briliant Byrne denies Ballina

Tuesday, 11 December 2012 14:47

Castlebar Mitchels 1-9 Ballina Stephenites 0-9........THERE was a sense of relief at James Stephens Park, Ballina, on Sunday as Castelbar Mitchels finally laid their hands on some decent silverware and ended the season on a high by taking the Division 1A title to bridge a seven-year gap since they were last crowned league champions.

While the club have garnered the last three Under 21 titles -a magnificent achievement in itself - and also claimed the county minor championship this year, there is a growing disquiet amongst supporters that they have failed abjectly when it comes to transferring under age talent into senior success.

This victory, all the sweeter as it was over their great rivals from the past and present, Ballina Stephenites, will go some way to restoring faith and belief that the club can step up to the higher level and deliver the bigger prize next season.

For the moment, this match, originally fixed for Castelbar, but changed due to pitch problems to Ballina, had a good bit of bite in it on a chilly Sunday morning and the small band of followers got good value for money with a vigorously contested final league game, which was effectively a league final with just a point separating these two at the top of the table.

In the end, Mitchels prevailed due to a number of factors. They had an edge in fitness and showed a bit more composure under pressure, while, unlike Ballina, they managed to score a goal.

But it was the superb goalkeeping of Rory Byrne, a man whose talent has been seen to good effect for his club at Under 21 level, which ultimately denied Ballina at least a draw, if not a victory.

On this occasion he needed to be at his best in goals denying Ballina on at least two occasions, the most vital coming from the penalty-spot - and timely at that arriving as it did just on the stroke of half-time.

The save with his feet denied Ger Brady and kept Castlebar’s nose just ahead - 1-3 to 0-5.

Mitchels were a shade fortunate in many respects to be leading having been very slow to get into their stride and finding themselves four adrift before Fergal Durkan finally got them off the mark on 10 minutes.

Aiden Tighe, who was a huge presence along with Eanna Casey for Ballina at midfield, Pat Harte (free), another to cause major problems for the Castlebar defence in his new role at full-forward, Pat McHale and Thomas Doherty were all on target as Ger Brady ran the show for Ballina, who had three bad wides and should have been further in front.

However, the defining score of the half came from another Ballina turnover, Neill Lydon and Adrian Roche transferring to Aiden Walsh who sent a rocket past David Clarke in the Ballina goals.

A ’45 from Neil Douglas had Castlebar on terms coming to the close of the half and they just nosed in front when Tom King finished arguably the best move of the game with the last score of the half, but Brady had that chance to fire his team back into the lead only to see his well struck spot-kick stopped by the feet of Byrne.

An early second half surge from Castlebar saw them kick four points clear with points from Kevin Filan, Barry Moran and Lydon but Ballina were not quite finished.

The introduction of Ronan McGarrity certainly saw them add some bite at midfield, while Ger Cafferkey, Stephen Mullens and Brendan O’Hara were pushing forward with menace but Ballina’s woeful wastage and high number of turnovers were to prove costly as several promising attacks broke down.

At the same time Donal Newcombe, Richie and Alan Feeney and Adrian Roache were beginning to get on top at the back.

The huge presence of Harte was causing a lot of problems for the Castlebar defence and he popped three big frees to reduce the deficit to just a single point with 10 minutes remaining.

After Filan and Harte traded frees it was still a one point game but a hug point from Aiden Walsh from a long range free eased the pressure on Castlebar who needed just a draw to lift the title, an injury-time point from Roache finally sealing the deal but Ballina will feel they had their chances.

Scorers for Castlebar Mitchels: A. Walsh 1-1, K. Filan 0-2 (1f), N. Lydon, B. Moran, F. Durkan, A. Roache, T. King, N. Douglas (’45) 0-1 each. Scorers for Ballina: P. Harte 0-5 (3f), P. McHale, A. Tighe, S. Regan and T. Doherty 0-1 each.

Castlebar: R. Byrne, R. O’Malley, O. O’Reilly, A. Feeney, D. Newcombe, R. Feeney, A. Roache, B. Moran, G, McDonagh, F. Durkan N. Douglas, A. Walsh, N. Lydon, K Filan, T. King.

Subs used: .D. Kirby for Douglas, S. Keane for Filan, E. Tiernan for Durkan.

Ballina: D. Clarke, S. Mullen G. Cafferkey, B. O’Hora, K. Twomey, C. Leonard, B. Ruane, E. Casey, A. Tighe, B. Murray, G. Brady, T. Doherty, S. Regan, P. Harte, P. McHale.

Subs used: R. McGarrity for Twomey, A. O’Toole for Murray, L. Brady. P. McHale, J. Moylette, for Doherty, R. Campion for Regan.

Referee: R. Gurren (Aghamore).

Man of the match: Rory Byrne. vital penalty save denied Ballina, while he also came to the rescue with two other big stops.

Division 1A

TEAM	PLD	WON	DRAW	LOST	FOR	AGAINST	DIFF	POINTS
Castlebar Mitchels	11	8	1	2	142	112	30	17
Ballina Stephenites	11	6	2	3	112	111	1	14
Breaffy	11	6	1	4	134	114	20	13
Knockmore	11	6	0	5	130	112	18	12
Crossmolina Deel Rovers	11	5	1	5	129	111	18	11
Ballintubber	11	5	1	5	126	115	11	11
Davitts	11	4	3	4	137	130	7	11
Ballinrobe	11	5	1	5	109	119	-10	11
Bealach an Dóirín	11	5	1	5	127	142	-15	11
Charlestown Sarsfields	11	4	2	5	107	120	-13	10
Westport GAA	11	5	0	6	107	115	-8	10
Shrule/Glencorrib	11	0	1	10	106	165	-59	1

BALLAGH BOW TO SUPERIOR SAINTS

Tuesday, 27 November 2012 14:00

Stephen Drake sets up an attack for Ballaghaderreen in the Connaught club final against St. Bridget'sAIB CONNAUGHT CLUB SFC FINAL - BALLAGH BOW TO SUPERIOR SAINTS

Rossies power to theree-in-a-row - St. Bridget’s 1-12 Ballaghaderreen 0-6

HOPES that Ballaghaderreen would bridge a gap that has now been extended to six years since a Mayo club last won the Connaught club title were lost in the fog that engulfed Elverys McHale Park on Sunday, as the champions of Roscommon tightened their grip on the title by bringing it home for the third year in succession.

It was always going to be a big ask for the Mayo champions, who were dealt yet another blow in a long litany of championship setbacks when they lost influential forward Andy Hanley to emigration.

That, added to the loss earlier in the season of Andy Moran and David Kilcullen, proved to be just too great a burden to bear against such seasoned opposition as St. Bridget’s, who ground this win out with a strong second half performance.

The fact that Ballaghadereen scored just one point in the second half is a fair indication of the difference in class and experience and a Ballaghadereen defence which had coped so well in the first half, was eventually stretched beyond breaking point, the only goal of the game coming from a Ballaghadereen turnover and ending the game as contest with 12 minutes still remaining.

How they would cope with the physical presence of Frankie Dolan and Senan Kilbride were two of the worries Ballaghaderreen faced going into this final and while they held the twin threat in the first half, the Roscommon partnership cut loose in the second half to ultimately swing the game for the visitors a shade more comfortably than the final margin of nine points would suggest.

Three from three for Mitchels - Ballintubber floored by late sucker punch

Tuesday, 27 November 2012 14:00

GAA MAYO UNDER 21 A FOOTBALL FINAL REPLAY -Three from three for Mitchels - Ballintubber floored by late sucker punch

Castlebar Mitchels 1-13 ..... Ballintubber 2-6

NOT for the first time Castlebar were mugged when seemingly strolling home with their third Under 21 A title in-a-row following this replay at James Stephens Park, Ballina, on a crisp Saturday afternoon, which produced a dramatic second half recovery by Ballintubber.

It did look as if this game would be over by half time as the Mitchels totally bossed the first half, and had they taken at least three very good goal chances it would surely have been settled by the interval and we could all have had a hot one or two to keep the circulation going.

In the end, they were almost punished by a Ballintubber team who produced two stunning second-half goals to send this game, which only flickered in the first half, bursting into flames as the Mitchels, who looked so comfortable for so long, suddenly found themselves a point in arrears having led by six at the interval - 0-8 to 0-2.

Four minutes into the second half Danny Geraghty slipped a quick free to Niall Hession and his 30-yard screamer had hit the back of the net before the Mitchels ‘keeper had caught sight of it.

FIFTH ALL-IRELAND TITLE FOR CARNACON BECKONS - Mayo side to get sweet revenge for 2006 defeat

Tuesday, 27 November 2012 13:59

FOR the second time in the short history of Carnacon Ladies GAA Club, the senior team will bid to win back-to-back All-Ireland titles on Sunday next when they play Ulster and Monaghan champions Donaghmoyne in Sean O’Heslins Park, Ballinamore, at 1.30 p.m.

Having won the All-Ireland title in 2002, ’07, ’08 and last year, Carnacon know they will have to produce a top class performance if they are to retain their crown and win back-to-back titles for a second time. But they are more than capable of doing so, as they now seem to be in peak condition if one is to judge by their display in their semi-final victory over the star-studded Inch Rovers side from Cork.

This will be the second time for these two sides to meet in the All-Ireland final. They last met in the 2006 decider where Carnacon came out second best. It was a final Carnacon would like to forget as they were the better team but a combination of a couple of bad decisions against them and not making the most of their scoring chances cost them dearly.

However, Carnacon have had two wins over Donaghmoyne in semi-finals. Two years after losing to the Ulster side in the All-Ireland final they got sweet revenge by beating them by 1-11 to 1-6 before going on to defeat Inch Rovers in the All-Ireland final.