Mayo IFC: Davitts edge Islandeady in thriller to book final place against Ballinrobe
Davitts and Islandeady left it all behind them on the pitch in a thrilling Egan Jewellers Mayo Intermediate football championship semi-final in a blustery but dry Tourmakeady GAA pitch today, writes John Melvin.
The best team won in the end on a final scoreline of Davitts 3-16 to Islandeady’s 0-17.
But that final margin of eight points does not do justice to the herculean efforts of Islandeady who edged out Kiltane last weekend in a quarterfinal replay which needed extra-time before Islandeady won their ticket to this semi-final meeting.
The sides were evenly matched in a high-octane first half.
Davitts, who will meet Ballinrobe in the final in two weeks’ time, scored the only goal after eight minutes when Cian Naughton deflected the ball into the net following excellent work by Niall Treacy. The goal gave Davitts a two-point lead at the break, 1-8 to 0-9.
The Treacy brothers Niall, Ciaran and Shane were to play leading roles in securing victory for Davitts as did their midfielders Cian Naughton and Fenton Kelly.
Yet the South Mayo lads owe a great debt of gratitude to their goalkeeper, Dylan O’Brien, who brought off there brilliant saves to prevent Islandeady from finding the net.
Davitts used possession more intelligently in the first half, but Islandeady’s determination and passion kept them firmly in contention, even when they fell four points behind after the break.
They really tore into their task and had Davitts under a lot of pressure, Zac Collins, the superb Brendan Gibbons the oustanding Ryan McNamara who kicked four beauties with his left foot, leaving just a point between the sides -1-11 to 0-13- with 10 minutes remaining.
Islandeady had a chance to level the match from a free, but Darragh Joyce’s effort dropped short and was cleared by the Davitts keeper and one sensed that was the point, if it had been converted, could have driven the west Mayo lads to victory.
Despite that setback Islandeady never gave up but the decisive score came when Jack Melvin found the net to bring his final tally for the day to 1-5.
The introduction of the experienced Colm Boyle steadied the Davitts ship during the final seven hectic minutes, but Islandeady refused to relent.
A brilliant run by Seamie Lally almost produced a goal, only for the outstanding O’Brien to make the save.
Davitts sealed the victory as injury time approached when Cian Naughton scored his second goal and his side’s third.
Islandeady battled to the end and deserve great credit for pushing the odds-on favourites all the way.
* Read a full report in next week’s edition of the Connaught Telegraph