Mitchels impress massively to secure minor title

Castlebar Mitchels turned on the style to secure the Homeland Mayo minor football championship for 2020, beating Ballina Stephenites at Elverys MacHale Park today on a scoreline of 5-13 to 3-05.

The warning signs were there for Ballina early on as Mitchels created a goal chance after racing into a three-point lead with scores from Mark Cunningham, Paddy Heneghan and Eoghan Hughes (free).

The goal chance was missed but they had cut through the Ballina defence, and it was portent of things to come.

The first goal was actually scored at the other end, however, and it put the Stephenites into the lead for the one and only time in the game. Niall Feeney had opened the scoring for Ballina in the eighth minute and very quickly afterwards an incisive move ended with Sam Callinan finding the net, his scuffed shot catching out Mitchels 'keeper Peter Basquille.

Mitchels responded straight away with a goal of their own, scored by the lively Paul Walsh, and by half-time they had added four more – two each for Mark Cunningham and Eoghan Hughes, the lead at one stage standing at 5-06 to 1-03.

Dylan Thornton scored a second goal for the Stephenites just before the half-time whistle, getting a hand to Niall Feeney's long, high delivery, but they still had a mountain to climb for the second half.

That mountain proved too steep. They managed to prevent Mitchels from adding to their goal tally, though they rode their luck at times, but the county town side were able to add points at regular intervals to keep the scoreboard ticking over, Donnacha McHugh with arguably the pick of the scores in that second half.

The Mitchels rearguard, led by captain James Cunningham, made life incredibly difficult for the Stephenites forwards, though Rory Morrin and especially Niall Feeney were willing workers.

On the couple of occasions that Ballina broke through, Basquille broke their hearts with two outstanding stops.

Positioning Frank Irwin high up the pitch led to some nervy moments and eventually Ballina found the net again. Irwin palmed a high delivery into Liam Holmes' path whose shot for goal appeared to be going wide until Niall Feeney got a touch.

That late goal only made the scoreboard take on a slightly more respectable look and soon the Mitchels entourage were celebrating a very much deserved win, captain James Cunningham accepting the trophy in front of a small but delighted group of supporters.

*Pictured above, Castlebar Mitchels minor captain James Cunningham holds aloft the trophy after today's final victory over Ballina Stephenites in Elverys MacHale Park. Photo: Michael Donnelly