Dashing Davitts turn on the style
Despite going down to fourteen men due to a black card midway through the second half, Liam Nyland’s young Davitts side completely dominated the exchanges for a brilliant win.
In front of a packed crowd in Ballindine, a perfect day for football ensured. Davitts were able to play their progressive, vibrant football, which was the opposite of what last year’s county finalists brought to the table.
Led by former Mayo U20s Niall Treacy and Dylan Gallagher, Davitts simply always had men to aim for inside and the dynamic duo were always supplied by the likes of Mark Bermingham, Liam Kearns, and Stephen Nyland.
Combined with the colossal work around the middle by Jack Melvin and the aforementioned Bermingham, Davitts were full value for their five point win. Considering Breaffy got a last minute goal by midfielder Niall Carter, five points flatters James Fallon’s troops in truth.
With the aid of the wind at their backs, Breaffy started well. The sides were level after the first quarter, with Tommy O’Reilly, Ben Murphy and usual goalkeeper Jack Livingstone (who played at wing forward in the game) all pointing for Breaffy, while Davitts kept in touch through the silky Liam Kearns, Shane Treacy, and Bermingham.
Breaffy used the wind well and led at half time 0-6 to 0-4, with further scores from Livingstone, Pierce Deane, and Robert Fadden. Breaffy had the majority of the possession but were struggling to truly maximize the wind at their backs. Davitts responded with only one point in the second quarter through the outstanding Dylan Gallagher.
The second half might as well have been a different sport, with Davitts superb. Breaffy couldn't be faulted for their work rate but the quality in their play was lacklustre.
Although Murphy nudged Breaffy ahead by three points early on, they would only score a goal in the last minutes after that, and simply could not score.
Meanwhile Davitts were flying. Three quick scores from Melvin, Treacy, and Gallagher had their tails up, although they were reduced to 14 men after Brian Óg McTigue was shown a black card ten minutes into the second half. Yet they prospered during the spell, and Gallagher and Treacy exchanging scores to leave them two up before McTigue came back in.
The audacity of Liam Kearns led to the gap going out to three after a long range score with the wind, before Treacy (two) and Gallagher left them five up. Breaffy threw the kitchen sink in the last minutes and midfielder Niall Carter left the gap at two after a brilliant fetch and finish for goal.
It seemed like Breaffy would push on, however Davitts showed maturity beyond their years with two further scores for the win.
Sitting in the upper tier of the division missing county star Fenton Kelly, it is exciting what “Stan” is building in Ballindine.
