Mayo SFC: Castlebar Mitchels dominate from the start to land Moclair Cup
An inspired first half was followed by a steady second as Castlebar Mitchels won their first Mayo GAA Connacht Gold Senior Football Championship title in nine years with a 1-17 to 0-12 victory over Garrymore, writes Brian Gillespie.
A penalty on 59 minutes rolled to the net by Cian Walsh finally ended any slight hopes Garrymore might have had of a late rally, Mitchels controlling the game from start to finish to run out convincing winners in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar.
The game looked as good as over by half-time, with Mitchels leading 0-9 to 0-4. That might not have seemed like a huge lead, but they had played into the wind in that first half.
It would have been even better too but for a two-pointer on the stroke of half-time by Garrymore's Trevor Nally – just their second score after an earlier two-pointer by Aaron Hughes.
By the time Hughes had scored for Garrymore, Mitchels had seven on the board, including a four-point haul (one two-pointer) from the imperious Bob Tuohy. Joe Forry landed two (one free), with one each for Anthony O'Boyle, Seán Morahan and Cian Walsh.
Garrymore needed a response in the second half and made a good stab at a comeback, closing the gap to three points (0-10 to 0-13) by the 49th minute.
There was no panic evident among the Mitchels players, however, and Joe Forry's outrageous two-point free from tight on the touchline on the stand side of the pitch stretched the gap to five.
Despite a half-chance for Garrymore's Caolan Crowe that was blocked, Mitchels didn't really look like conceding, the back line marshalled by John MacMonagle, Donnacha McHugh and Paddy Durcan.
Garrymore never lacked effort but they were unable to overcome the slow start on a day when Castlebar Mitchels' young guns came of age.
Castlebar Mitchels: R. Byrne; J. Tuohy, D. McHugh, S. Cunningham; C. Mulroy, J. MacMonagle, P. Durcan (0-2tp); B. Tuohy (0-6, 1tp), U. O'Reilly (0-1); A. O'Boyle (0-1), N. Douglas, S. Morahan (0-1); C. Walsh (1-1, 1-0p), J. Forry (0-4, 1f, 1tpf), J. Durcan.
Subs used: E. Hughes (0-1), C. Filan, B. Joyce, E. Gibbons, C. Stenson.
Garrymore: B. Lynskey; C. Commins, J. Oates, J. Commins; D. Dolan, L. Óg Horkan, E. McGreal (0-3, 1tp); G. Golden, A. Hughes (0-2tp); E. Hession, A. Glennon, S. Nally; D. Quinn (0-4, 1tp), C. Slattery, T. Nally (0-3, 1tp).
Subs used: J. Hession, P. Hession, M. Connolly.
Referee: L. Devenney.
Player of the Match: Bob Tuohy. . .commanding from start to finish.
*See Tuesday's print edition for a full report and reaction