A step too far for Davitts but a bright future ahead

The final whistle was the confirmation of the end of road for Davitts for the season, but while downhearted it had ended, their supporters stayed with them right to the end and gave them a rousing cheer as they exited they field for the last time this year - thanking them for bringing them on the adventure that had ventured outside of the counties competition borders.

Davitts manager Mark Concannon was disappointed afterwards but in no doubt that the best team won the day on Sunday.

“Yeah, look, from the first whistle, to be honest I thought, I thought we were off a little bit. I was a bit concerned, come in with that, and for both teams, I suppose, but we never got to the pace of the game for the first 20 minutes.

“I think we were 13 points to one down, or whatever it was, to 2-7 to a point, whatever. And it was a long road back then. We got a grip foot from 10 minutes before halftime.

“But again, to be honest with you, from the start, the 2nd half, within 5 minutes, you kind of knew that Caherlistrane had the step on us to let's be honest.” Right from the off Caherlistrane had Davitts on the back foot and while he kew they were a good side, it was the best that Concannon had seen them play this year he said.

“I was talking to there and I'd know Barry (McCabe - Caherlistrane manager) fairly well and he has them going well all year, but from what I've seen on tape, that's their best performance.

“I thought they were excellent and awful hard to contain from the fullback line. And the halfback line, the two McGraths there every time, and especially the first half there, got overlap every time down the five channel.” Having worked their way back into contention before the turnaround, there was no other option but to go for it in the second half according to Concannon.

“The second half, then we had to go out and chase the game and it made things very difficult. We we're just a bit lethargic. We struggled to go to the tempo of the game.

This game won’t define his side either he believes: “Look, you'd have these days in football. Two weeks ago, we were absolutely excellent. I thought today was Caherlistrane’s day.

“We just didn't get to the tempo of the game, but the effort the lads put in all year was an absolutely brilliant.

And this won't define them.

“Look, they'll be back very strong next year and they'll be a good contender in senior football.” 

The future for the south Mayo club is very exciting according to their manager and they will be back raring to go again in the not to distant future.

“If you told me we'd been playing a few games in MacHale Park at the start of the year, we'd be absolutely delighted.

“I don't think many people give us a chance to win the county title, but we got a really good run, things came together and there's really good talent coming behind as well. So I think Davitts are going to be a really good place for the next couple of years," he concluded.