Forry on fire as Mitchels claim minor title
The Castlebar Mitchels team who won the West Mayo minor 'A' football championship final which was played in Tourmakeady. Pictures: John Moylette
Castlebar Mitchels held off a defiant display by Na Fianna to be crowned West Mayo Minor ‘A’ champions last Tuesday evening at a rain-soaked Tourmakeady.
The Burrishoole-Islandeady amalgamation had enjoyed a memorable win over Westport in the semi-final but remained the underdogs going into this decider against a Mitchels side littered with quality, including Mayo minors Eoghan Dever, Ben Joyce and Patrick Garvey, while Harry McHale and Joe Forry were part of last’s year county panel.
Forry stole the show, scoring 2-6, and got the first of his goals in only the fifth minute. After Forry and Patrick Garvey got the opening points, Harry McHale found Forry with a lovely ball and the full-forward buried his effort past Na Fianna goalkeeper Cillian Murphy.
Na Fianna were struggling to make any real scoring opportunities, consistently running into tackles as the Castlebar Mitchels defence clogged up the centre and turned over the ball time after time. One opportunity that saw them get in behind was when Daithí Nevin picked out Dillon Coughlan but the slick surface saw the ball bounce away. Na Fianna kept the opportunity alive but Ryan McNamara’s shot was blocked by Fionn McHale.
Joe Forry added another two points while Odhran Donnelly saw a great goal chance go wide after a quick move involving Daniel Filan and Patrick Garvey.
It appeared this final would be one-way traffic but Na Fianna gave their large travelling support something to cheer through their first score from a Ryan McNamara free, which had been brought forward for an infringement.
Na Fianna cut the gap further though McNamara, a free, and Tom Ginneally before they found the net on 23 minutes. Stephen Chambers jinked his way past two Mitchels defenders and finished from a tight angle.
It appeared to be game on but the response from Castlebar Mitchels was the hallmark of champions as they scored their second goal two minutes later. Harry McHale and Joe Forry combined once again and the excellent Forry made no mistake.
Mitchels finished the half strongly through an Eoghan Dever skyscraper and points from Rhys Saville and Forry’s first free of the evening to put them 2-7 to 1-3 ahead at half-time.
Forry picked up where he left off seconds after the restart with an effort from outside the arc but it was only a one-pointer as the Na Fianna goalkeeper tipped the ball over the crossbar. Daniel Filan extended the lead for Mitchels with his first point before he was denied a goal shortly after by Cillian Murphy.
Shea Daly and Ryan McNamara pointed for Na Fianna either side of Patrick Garvey’s second single of the evening and the game appeared all but over when Joe Forry turned provider for Daniel Filan to palm into the net to make it 3-10 to 1-5 after 40 minutes.
Na Fianna kept battling away thanks to points from Shea Daly and Andrew Gallagher while Daniel Filan kept the board ticking away for Mitchels, but the Green and White would cut the gap to six points thanks to a pair of two-point frees by McNamara, the first of which was brought forward as Mitchels failed to keep three forwards in the Na Fianna half.
McNamara pointed again to cut the gap to five on 49 minutes but that was as close as the amalgamation would get as two points from Patrick Garvey and a Joe Forry free all but sealed the title, with two late McNamara frees all Na Fianna could muster.
Scorers – Castlebar Mitchels: Joe Forry 2-0-6 (2f), Daniel Filan 1-0-2, Patrick Garvey 0-0-4, Eoghan Dever and Rhys Saville 0-0-1 each.
Na Fianna: Ryan McNamara 0-2-6 (2tpf, 4f), Stephen Chambers 1-0-0, Shea Daly 0-0-2, Tom Ginneally and Andrew Gallagher 0-0-1 each.
Castlebar Mitchels: Calum Casserly; Rhys Saville, James Bolster, Ethan McHugh; Eoghan Dever, Fionn McHale, Toby Lavelle; Matthew Flannelly, Ben Joyce; Odhran Donnelly, Patrick Garvey, Harry McHale; Oran Ludden, Joe Forry, Daniel Filan. Subs: Colm Heneghan (for Donnelly 35), Josh Concannon (for Ludden 41), Darragh Lawlor (for McHugh 47), John Heneghan (for Filan 60), Gideon Yusuff (for H McHale 60+2).
Na Fianna: Cillian Murphy; Jack Keane; Jack Keane, Conor Dunleavy, Tadhg Hollywood; Gary Wallace, Andrew Gallagher, Stephen Chambers; Finn Hanely, Tom Ginneally; Shea Daly, Dillon Coughlan, Caolan Moran; Daithí Nevin, Ryan McNamara, Ruairí McGowan. Subs: Dylan Moran (for McGowan ht), Conor McManamon (for Dunleavy 44), Caelan Moran (for Chambers 58).
REF: Kieran Barnicle (Breaffy)
