County final awaits Castlebar after Breaffy battle
Joe Forry smashes home a first-half goal for Castlebar Mitchels during the Mayo GAA Connacht Gold SFC semi-final against Breaffy at Fr O’Hara Park, Charlestown, last Saturday. Pictures: David Farrell Photography
The Mitchels are heading back to the big time after an impressive showing against Breaffy last Saturday evening in Charlestown.
Kevin Filan’s side got their match ups right and were able to keep Breaffy at arms length for the majority of this contest, which didn’t hit the heights the neutrals would have hoped for, but that will be of little concern to the county town men right now.
As for Breaffy another season that promised plenty has come to an end in a disappointing fashion, as they never were let impose themselves in the game by their near neighbours.
There is still plenty of experience in the Mitchels line up with the likes of Rory Byrne, Paddy Durcan, Neil Douglas and Anthony O’Boyle all putting in impressive showings - but it’s the new guard who have yet to taste success with the club such as John McMonagle, Donnacha McHugh, Bob Tuohy, Sean Morahan and Joe Forry who lit up the game when it mattered.
Neil Douglas opened the scoring with a close range free after Ultan O’Reilly had been fouled two minutes in, but that was canceled out by a Conor O’Shea effort from a placed ball not long after.
From the resulting kick-out Rory Byrne found Morahan who then moved the possession on to Douglas for his second of the day from a tight angle out on the right and two minutes later the veteran attacker put his side three clear with a two point effort from a free out on the left wing.
Conor O’Shea kept Breaffy in touch from another free after Davitt Neary was upended on his way towards goal.
Just before the ten minute mark Mitchels were temporarily reduced to 14 when Joe Tuohy was shown a black card, Aidan Cunningham made it a one point game with an effort the crept just inside the post - but the next score was to be decisive when was said and done.
Cian Walsh cut in down the left flank, he flicked the ball across to John McMonagle who under pressure moved it quickly to Conor Mulroy - he saw Joe Forry breaking and speed and found him with the hand pass. Forry kept his composure and rolled the ball to the back of the net for a Mitchels goal.
Douglas swung over a fine effort on the turn to have his side five to the good by the 13th minute. Breaffy did hit back with Conor O’Shea getting his first from play and then Matthew Ruane driving over a two pointer to make it 0-6 to 1-5 with 18 minutes gone.
Forry then beat his man to the ball and turned to sling over a fine point to push his side three clear again. He then punished a breach by Breaffy with a two point free to put his side even further ahead and then charged at goal again to point and round off an amazing 12 minutes where he kicked 1-4.
John McMonagle then drove right through the heart of the Breaffy defence to put his side into a 1-10 to 0-6 lead with 26 minutes gone on the clock. Joe Mellett did pull one back for Breaffy not long after from a free - but the final word on the half was left to Callum Filan who had replaced the injured James Durcan earlier in the half to send Mitchels in leading 1-11 to 0-6 at the break.
Breaffy needed to get a good start in the second half if they were going to regain control of a contest that was rapidly spinning away from them, but it was the Mitchels who kept on rolling early in the half with Calum Filan getting the first score of the final 30 minutes and then Forry putting nine between the sides with a close range free.
They may have had the hard work done and ended up winning the game, but for the next 20 minutes Mitchels went without scoring and Kevin Filan and his management team will have be drilling into their players over the next three weeks that it won’t be good enough come final day to do the same.
Breaffy reeled off the next four points through a brace from Conor O’Shea and one each from Aidan O’Shea and Davitt Neary - but also left a number of scores behind them as they tried to chase down their opponents.
Cian Walsh settled the Mitchels nerves with a point four minutes from time to keep his side six to the good - but when Jack Livingstone drove over a two point free - there were just four between the teams and an unlikely Breaffy comeback was still on the cards.
A minute into injury time Livingstone stood over another two point free, this one well beyond the 45 meter line, if he made it; all bets were off - but to his despair and the Mitchels joy Rory Byrne reached over the crossbar to pull the ball down and away to safety.
Points from Bob Tuohy and Anthony O’Boyle either side of a Tommy O’Reilly effort closed the game out.
The Mitchels deservedly march on to the final for the first time in nine years and it would be a brave person to bet against the county town men adding another title to their already stacked trophy cabinet.
Scores Castlebar Mitchels: Joe Forry 1-5 (1tpf, 1f); Neil Douglas 0-5 (1tpf, 1f), Calum Filan 0-2, John MacMonagle 0-1; Bob Tuohy 0-1; Anthony O’Boyle 0-1, Cian Walsh 0-1
Breaffy: Conor O’Shea 0-5 (2f), Matthew Ruane 0-2 (1tp), Jack Livingstone 0-2, (1tpf), Aidan Cunningham 0-1; Aidan O’Shea 0-1, Davitt Neary 0-1, Joe Mellett 0-1 (1f), Tommy O’Reilly 0-1
Castlebar Mitchels: Rory Byrne; Joe Tuohy, Donnacha McHugh, Johnny Maughan; Conor Mulroy, John McMonagle, Paddy Durcan; Bob Tuohy, Ultan O’Reilly; Anthony O’Boyle, Neil Douglas, Seán Morahan; Cian Walsh, Joe Forry, James Durcan. Subs: Calum Filan for James Durcan (11 mins), Donal Newcombe for Johnny Maughan (22 mins),Stephen Keane for Neil Douglas (44 mins), Ben Joyce for Conor Mulroy (52 mins), Shane Cunningham for Joe Tuohy (59 mins)
Breaffy: Jack Livingston; Conor Beirne, Mark Dervan, Conor Coghill; Yousif Coghill, Robbie Fadden, Daire Morrin; Niall Carter, Matthew Ruane; Aidan Cunningham, Aidan O’Shea, Davitt Neary; Joe Mellett, Conor O’Shea, Gareth Dunne, Subs: Pierce Deane for Gareth Dunne (34 mins), Tommy O’Reilly for Joe Mellett (42 mins), Oisin Costello for Aidan Cunningham (44 mins), Ross Connelly for Daire Morrin (47 mins)
Ref: John Glavey
