Castlebar title hopes are dealt major Knock’
Minister Dara Calleary TD paid a visit to Knockmore GAA Club after the recent announcement of €2 million in funding from the Department of Justice IIP Scheme for work at St Joseph's Park. From left to right: Cian Kelly (treasurer), Philip Breslin (vice chairperson), Tony Moyles (communications officer), Dara Calleary (Minister for Social Protection), Sharon Walsh (secretary), Liz McHale (chairperson), Susan Rogers (LGFA secretary), Brendan Boland (IIP committee), and Frank Mulvihill (IIP committee/assistant treasurer). Picture: Sarah Jane Walsh
With crunch time quickly approaching in Division 1, the two points up for grabs in Knockmore on Saturday evening were more than valuable to both sides. Castlebar Mitchels arrived in North Mayo looking to keep their title bid alive while a win for the hosts would move them up to level points with their visitors, along with edging away from the teams in the drop zone.
It was Knockmore who produced arguably their best display of 2026 yet, pulling away from Mitchels in a final quarter during which they held the visitors scoreless from the 46th minute.
Peter Naughton got the scoring underway when hitting the first four points of the game unanswered, all inside the opening nine minutes. The Knockmore man’s first was from a free, his second score was a two point free and the fourth was from play, following a strong run from Conor Flynn. Their next score wouldn’t come until the 19th minute however, at which point they were a couple of points behind.
With eleven minutes on the clock James Durcan applied a pointed finish to a patient Castlebar Mitchels attack to open his side’s account. They levelled the contest after the next restart, with Cian Walsh showing great strength to hold off the best efforts of the Knockmore defence before finding the back of the net. He followed this up with a couple of pointed frees to give Mitchels a two point lead.
Naughton ended Knockmore’s scoreless period, whilst also regaining the lead, when he converted a penalty into the bottom left corner of the Castlebar net. Callum Filan replied for Castlebar by raising his first white flag of the evening with 22 minutes played, to level the contest once again.
As half-time approached, an unanswered triplet of singles in as many minutes from the hosts edged Knockmore ahead once again. Naughton fired over a fine score off the outside of his right boot from a tight angle, Keith Ruttledge converted from the same angle with the instep of his boot and Naughton added his sixth point from a free, in what was his final contribution before replaced at half-time. Castlebar’s reply was only a couple of points with Walsh adding another two frees before the short whistle sounded.
The visitors wasted no time in levelling the contest for the third time as Calum Filan added his second point from a free within a minute of play resuming. But this would be the last time the teams were level, as Knockmore replied with three on the bounce. Charlie Bourke fisted over the bar after his introduction for Naughton at half-time, Fergal Keane ventured forward from wing-back to split the posts and Connell Dempsey converted a free won by Ruttledge.
The sides exchanged points with Ruttledge pointing from play for the hosts and Dempsey converting his second free while Walsh added his fifth free for Mitchels and Patrick Garvey finished off their tally of 1-9 for the evening with almost a full quarter of the game still to play. However, Knockmore hadn’t closed their account just yet.
Their second green flag was waved on the 57th minute. Daniel Breslin and Caolan Hopkins combined before Fergal Keane rattled the back of the Mitchels net. As the clock ticked into stoppage time Dempsey fired over a ’45 his third point and Hopkins chipped in with a single to leave Knockmore the victors by eight points.
Scorers – Knockmore: Peter Naughton 1-1-4 (1-0pen, tpf, 4f), Fergal Keane 1-0-1, Connell Dempsey 0-0-3 (2f, 1 ’45), Keith Ruttledge 0-0-2, Charlie Burke and Caolan Hopkins 0-0-1 each.
Castlebar Mitchels: Cian Walsh 1-0-5 (5f), Calum Filan 0-0-2 (1f), James Durcan and Patrick Garvey 0-0-1 each.
Knockmore: Brian McMahon; Nathan Armstrong, David McHale, Ryan Casey; Adam Naughton, Adam Battle, Fergal Keane; Tadhg Staunton, Kieran King; Connell Dempsey, Liam Durkan, Thomas Clarke; Peter Naughton, Conor Flynn, Keith Ruttledge. Subs: Aaron Timlin and Charlie Bourke (for McHale and Naughton), Darragh Holmes (for Staunton), Daniel Breslin (for Flynn), Caolan Hopkins (for Clarke).
Castlebar Mitchels: Richard Byrne; Joe Tuohy, Johnny Maughan, Jack O’Reilly; Brian McDonnell, James Cunningham, Fintan Borotto; Brendan Gaughan, Shane Cunningham; Ben Joyce, James Durcan, Sean Morahan; Cian Walsh, Eoghan Hughes, Calum Filan. Subs: Luke Ruddy (for Maughan), Patrick Garvey (for Ruddy), Seanie O’Reilly (for J Cunningham), Kylum Chambers (for Hughes).
