One-sided contest unfolds in opening round of Mayo senior football championship

Castlebar Mitchels sauntered to a comfortable 2-16 to 0-10 victory against Balla in the opening Group 2 game of the senior football championship, which was played at Nally Park.

Balla were hoping for a positive start to their campaign on home soil, however, Castlebar Mitchels raced into a 0-6 to no score lead after 15 minutes thanks to points from Calum Filan (two, one free), Paddy Durcan, Ethan Gibbons (two-pointer free) and Cian Walsh.

On 20 minutes, the locals notched a badly needed point when Oisín Cronin’s free crept between the posts.

Balla struggled to find an avenue past a rigid Castlebar defence which was well-marshalled by Donnacha McHugh, Fintan Borotto, Paddy Durcan and John McMonagle.

At the other end, Castlebar’s Cian Walsh was in fine fettle and he struck over three points on the spin to shunt the visitors into a healthy 0-10 to 0-2 lead.

Castlebar’s Bob Tuohy then landed an awesome two-pointer, and the same player very nearly added a goal on the stroke of half-time, however, his palmed effort was diverted onto the crossbar by the retreating Balla wing-back Patrick McLoughlin.

Trailing 0-12 to 0-2 at the interval, a positive start to the new half was vital for the maroon and white and they did manage to acquire the first point of the second period when Conor Walsh forced the umpires into action. But that joy was short-lived as a cracking goal from Castlebar’s Cian Walsh garnered a 1-12 to 0-3 lead for the guests.

Balla kept plugging away and points from Liam Glynn and Ryan Fadden reduced the arrears ever so slightly.

Castlebar though, were eager to maintain their momentum and the visitors added a second goal on 51 minutes, when Anthony O’Boyle rustled the back of the net.

Balla’s Colm Murphy landed a peach of a two-pointer on 59 minutes, before the Balla custodian David Dolan guided over an inch-perfect ‘45.

However, Castlebar were the better team on the evening and were deserving victors in the end.