SPARKLING stories of red and black warriors entranced my youth as fatherly fables of dazzling Down dynamos danced through my boyhood imagination. The colours were described so vividly that they left a lasting impression in my psyche and those thoughts came rushing to the surface again last Sunday.

Red and black colours danced in the breeze from early morning as the people of Ballindine and Irishtown headed towards Tullamore and the biggest day in their sporting history. Later that evening they streamed home, waving their flags joyously as talk of Croke Park and a glimpse of heaven decorated their conversations.

The Davitts footballers had swept past their Greystones opponents to qualify for the All-Ireland final amid scenes of unbridled emotion as the red and black danced on the Tullamore turf after a display that’ll live long in the memory.

Like the Down footballers of yesteryear, Davitts played with flair and imagination, style and strength. They kicked mighty scores, defended stoutly and won comfortably, but the fact that no silverware is handed out at the end of semi-finals wasn’t lost on them. The Mayo champions are on a mission and one more victory is required before the deal can be sealed.

On Sunday last they were never in danger of being diverted from their chosen course. Greystones won the toss, but amazingly chose to play against the breeze and then failed to anticipate the Davitts onslaught and pack their back division.

This tactic gave Davitts the room and opportunity to unleash their twin attacking threats, Michael Conroy and Fergal McGrath. The duo were on fire and kicked all of their team’s first half total of 1-8. Conroy notched 0-7 while McGrath delivered a goal and a point and won a huge amount of possession as the men from Connacht streamed forward.

At the other end, Colm Roche and Colm Boyle were particularly impressive winning ball and driving out, but their colleagues weren’t far behind them and Greystones found it hard to make any progress in attack. Thomas Gbelovevia did kick an early point and Darren Hayden landed another for the Wicklow men, but they were playing second fiddle all over the pitch.

Davitts were swarming forward and by the 25th minute Conroy had kicked five points and McGrath had added another. Then David McDonagh won a ball deep in his own half and it was transferred quickly to Conroy. He looked up and found McGrath careering through the middle. The full-forward advanced and calmly stuck it in the corner of the net to unleash a red and black wave in the stand.

Two more Conroy points left the Mayo men well clear at the break, 1-8 to 0-2 as they changed ends and faced into the gale.

Greystones came out for the second half in determined fashion and drove through on goal in the opening seconds for Daniel Woods to punch over a point. The Leinster champions went looking for a goal after that and Hayden had sight of the net for a moment, but Boyle produced a mighty block and Mark Diskin saved the follow-up from Billy Cuddihy.

Davitts needed to steady the ship and did so brilliantly when David McDonagh ran through, sold a dummy or two and slipped the ball to the net with a flick of his left foot. Ronan McNamara streaked through to punch a point a few seconds later to seal the deal and there was no way the Red and Black would be beaten after that.

Greystones were given little time or space in which to operate and their only chance of a reviving goal arrived 17 minutes into the second half when Hayden’s long-range free came back off the woodwork and Cuddihy punched the rebound wide.

At the other end Conroy continued to torture the opposition and McGrath also kicked a beauty as the people of the border community prepared themselves for their greatest celebration yet.

The Connacht champions had heroes all over the pitch. Mark Diskin didn’t put a foot wrong in goal, Alan Roche who was replacing the emigrated full-back Frankie Barrett was excellent, Boyle was inspirational, Colm Roche had the game of his life, Kevin Gallagher, Johnno Clarke and James Cummins never put a foot wrong, McNamara and Paul Carey worked tirelessly, Pat Coyne, Keith Prendergast and Aidan McTigue ran themselves ragged. One could spend the day praising the performance, but fine words don’t win All-Irelands and the Red and Black will return to the training pitch this week to prepare for their biggest challenge yet.



SCORERS – Davitts: Michael Conroy 0-9 (3f), Fergal McGrath 1-2, David McDonagh 1-0, Ronan McNamara 0-1.

Eire Og: Darren Hayden 0-2 (f), Thomas Gbelovevia, Daniel Woods and Daniel Webb 0-1 each.



DAVITTS: Mark Diskin; Colm Roche, Kevin Gallagher; Johnno Clarke, Colm Boyle, James Cummins; Ronan McNamara, Paul Carey; Keith Prendergast, David McDonagh, Pat Coyne; Aidan McTigue, Fergal McGrath, Michael Conroy. Subs: Martin Cosgrove (for Clarke 41), Carlos O’Gara (for McTigue 55), Liam Kearns and Keith Glynn (for Prendergast and McDonagh 56).



EIRE OG: Lorcan Traynor; Jack Tanner, James Kelly, Eoin McHugh; Craig Smullen, Stephen Kelly, Sean Horan; Thomas Gbeloveia, James Leonard; Daniel Woods, Darren Hayden, Peter Smith; Gino Fuisciardi, Billy Cuddihy, Karl Manahan.



Subs: Daniel Webb (for Smullen 41), Daniel Keane (for Woods 44), Peter Keane (for Horan 49), Paul Doherty (for Cuddihy 55).



REF: Conor Lane (Cork).