Classy Claremorris too strong for Castlebar in Mayo minor football final

Nathan Guilfoyle

When Claremorris and Castlebar Mitchels met in the Under 17 county final last November, Castlebar Mitchels captured the title with a 10-point victory. Remarkably, Claremorris nearly doubled it with a 17-point victory – 3-14 to 0-6 – over Mitchels to capture the 2023 Homeland minor A title.

It was a truly amazing performance from Claremorris, who showed the hype surrounding this group of players in recent years is thoroughly deserved.

Led by star forward pairing Niall Hurley and Darragh Beirne, who bagged 3-9 between them, Mitchels couldn’t cope with the firepower Claremorris were able to produce.

It was not a two-man show, however, with captain Dara Hurley, Craig Cassidy, Mark Noonan and Paul Gilmore all delivering simply sensational performances. Collectively, every single player covered every blade of grass at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar. The work rate was outstanding.

It was a star-studded affair overall, with 12 of the players on display having worn the Mayo jersey at Under 17 level in the past 18 months.

Claremorris held the lead throughout the game, but a purple patch in the last quarter blew Mitchels away. They were outscored by 3-5 to no score in that period.

It was truly a brilliant team performance, the management team of Padraic McHugh, Fred Joyce, Gerry Kelly, Joe Gilmore, Martin Macken and Noel Doherty having the young men in blue set up perfectly to succeed.

From Mitchels’ perspective, nothing seemed to click for them in attack, and they lost the battle around the middle. They could never really get into gear throughout the game.

Mayo Under 17 forward Gavin Forry got Mitchels on the scoreboard with a free in the first minute, but they would not lead again after that.

It was an even opening quarter overall but Claremorris made more inroads on the scoreboard, with Niall Hurley (three) and Beirne (two) deadly accurate and causing major damage, even with Castlebar Mitchels opting to play two sweepers in front of them to limit their influence.

Mdfielder Craig Cassidy was outstanding, imperious in the air while carrying the ball forward throughout, while midfield partner Harry Smyth complemented him perfectly.

Ryan Gibbons responded with a pair of scores for Mitchels, but Claremorris would finish the first half strongly with further points from Beirne, Niall Hurley and Dara Hurley, which left them leading by eight points to three at the break.

Castlebar sprung Calum Filan from the bench at half-time. He kicked 2-6 when the sides met in the final last year and made an immediate impact this time out, kicking a mark.

Claremorris responded through Niall Hurley, who was set up by a marauding run from Paul Gilmore, who was outstanding throughout, the defender getting on the scoresheet himself moments later.

Castlebar had their best spell of the match soon after but a combination of wides and a watertight Claremorris defence, led by sweeper Rio Mortimer, meant the goal they probably needed never really looked like coming.

Shane Cunningham added a point to reduce the gap, but they would not score again in the remaining 20 minutes.

Claremorris simply came into their own in the last quarter. It started with a nice point from David Hurley, before the first goal came soon after. Cassidy's long ball in on top of Hurley saw the dangerman break it down to himself and turn two men before being cynically pulled down inside the area. Hurley stepped up and dispatched the penalty himself.

Sean O’Connell added a point and Hurley would get his second goal with 10 minutes to go, leaving Claremorris 13 points up with 10 minutes left. Andre Ludden got himself on the scoresheet before Beirne added 1-1 in the dying minutes after winning and scoring a penalty.

The full-time whistle soon sounded, and it was a thoroughly deserved victory for Claremorris in what was a scintillating performance. It was a disappointing end to a brilliant campaign for Castlebar Mitchels, but with the talent that they possess there is no doubt that they will be back.

Claremorris: E. Campbell; R. Mortimer, M. Foody, D. Slattery; David Hurley (0-1), P. Gilmore (0-1), M. Noonan; H. Smyth, C. Cassidy; S. O’Connell, Dara Hurley (0-1), J. Sullivan; D. Beirne (1-4, 1-0p 1f, 1m), N. Hurley (2-5, 1-0p, 1f), C. O’Brien.

Subs used: A. Ludden (0-1), E. Maguire, C. McLoughlin, M. Petkovic, S. Halleran, E. Dillon.

Castlebar Mitchels: M. Moore; C. Durcan, K. Chambers, B. McDonnell; F. O’Reilly, S. Coyle, S. O’Reilly; S. Cunningham (0-1), P. Flannelly; J. McMonagle, D. Rice, B. Gaughan; R. Gibbons (0-2), C. Walsh, G. Forry (0-1f).

Subs used: C. Filan (0-2, 1f, 1m), C. Enright, D. Molloy, A. Morahan.

Referee: J. Walker (Cill Chomáin).

Player of the match: Niall Hurley (Claremorris)...a tally of 2-5 in a county final speaks for itself, but remarkably he did nearly all of it whilst being double marked.