Eight-goal Mitchels fire a warning shot to rivals
Paddy Heneghan, left, played a defensive role in Castlebar Mitchels' comprehensive victory over Knockmore in the Mayo U21 'A' football championship quarter-finals. Picture: David Farrell Photography
Castlebar Mitchels underlined their credentials as favourites for the Mayo U21 ‘A’ championship as they cut Knockmore to ribbons in the second-half of their quarter-final bout last Friday evening.
They had led by only two points at half-time, 2-5 to 1-6, and the game looked in the melting pot after a scintillating half which saw both sides attack with abandon. An array of long-range kick passing, superb points from distance and full-flowing team moves leading to goals were a staple of thirty minutes of football that simply flew by.
In the second-half, however, Knockmore had no answer to the pace, power and attacking threat that Mitchels possessed, as the hosts hit a further 6-5. Able to call upon the likes of Gavin Forry and Dylan Rice off the bench while county stars Donnacha McHugh, Bob Tuohy and Sean Morahan were not even in the 26, Kevin Filan’s side boasts a depth that is perhaps unmatched throughout the county.
Ciaran Mylett, who finished with 2-3, opened the scoring early for Mitchels from a free but Knockmore would start brighter as they kicked 1-2 without reply. Tadhg Staunton and Dylan Coleman, a free, pointed before Ronan Holmes found the net. Latching onto a cross-field ball, he turned Joe Tuohy and fired past Peter Basquille.
Ben McHale and Coleman, a free, traded white flags before Mitchels drew level before the end of the first quarter. John MacMonagle fed Cian Walsh for Mitchels’ first green flag, which was followed by a free by Mylett.
A great score by Coleman from nearly 45 metres out and a fisted effort by Tadhg Staunton put Knockmore ahead again with ten minutes to go in the first-half but it would be their last score until just before the short whistle, as Mitchels began to dominate every aspect of play. A pair of Walsh points restored parity before Mitchels would take the lead for the first time since the start of the match, as Conor Mulroy slalomed through four Knockmore defenders to score Castlebar’s second goal.
Tadhg Staunton’s point before the half-time whistle reduced it to two but that would be as close as Knockmore would get for the remainder, as they would add just one second-half point, near the end of proceedings, while Mitchels ran riot.
Mylett got his first goal just seconds after the restart, which was quickly followed with points from play by Mylett and MacMonagle.
Mulroy extended their lead further from a free before the goal of the game ended this as a contest. A rare Knockmore attack was stopped and Paddy Heneghan launched the counterattack. A brilliant run downfield was finished off by James Cunningham for Mitchels’ fourth goal on 42 minutes.
Mylett rattled the post shortly after but netted his second goal, soccer-style, moments after another free had been converted by Mulroy, with McHale adding another point with eight minutes remaining.
Kevin Filan ran his bench as Dylan Rice, John Kennedy, Fionan Reilly and Ronan Treacy all entered the field. The latter struck 1-1 within a minute of his entrance before a quick one-two with Mark Cunningham saw Ben McHale add a seventh goal.
Fergal Keane got a consolation point for Knockmore on 59-minutes but Mitchels had the final word as another substitute Dylan Rice scored the final goal of the night.
Scorers – Castlebar Mitchels: Ciaran Mylett 2-3 (0-2f), Conor Mulroy (0-2f), Ben McHale and Cian Walsh 1-2 each, Ronan Treacy 1-1 (0-1f), James Cunningham and Dylan Rice 1-0 each, John MacMonagle 0-1 each.
Knockmore: Ronan Holmes 1-0, Dylan Coleman (2f) and Tadhg Staunton 0-3 each, Fergal Keane 0-1.
Castlebar Mitchels: Peter Basquille; Kylum Chambers, Joe Tuohy, Emmet Murphy; John MacMonagle, Paddy Heneghan, Jack O’Reilly; James Cunningham, Brendan Gaughan; Conor Mulroy, Ben McHale, Shane Cunningham; Cian Walsh, Ciaran Mylett, Mark Cunningham. Subs: Gavin Forry (for S Cunningham 43); Dylan Rice, John Kennedy, Ronan Treacy, and Fionan Reilly (for Mulroy, Heneghan, Mylett and Walsh 54).
Knockmore: Jim Kelly; Sean McLoughlin, Ethan Clarke, Tom Horgan; Darragh Staunton, Adam Battle, Oran Timlin; Tadhg Staunton, Oliver Armstrong; Fergal Keane, Brian Durkan, Dylan Coleman; Adrian Sotoparra, Tadhg O’Sullivan, Ronan Holmes. Subs: Darragh Holmes (for Horgan 23); Diarmuid Breslin and Sam Thornton (for R Holmes and Clarke 56); Micheál Holmes (for McLoughlin 57); Mark Melvin (for Coleman 58); Liam O’Sullivan (for D Staunton 59).
REF: Enda Nolan (Balla)
