Kuba’s class helps Ballagh’ bag point on the road

AbbVie Mayo SFL Division 2 – Round 1 

Davitts 3-12 

Ballaghaderreen 1-18 

In Davitt Park, Ballindine 

A goal and thirteen points contribution by Mayo senior panellist Kuba Callaghan wasn’t enough to see Ballaghaderreen to victory on Saturday, with a draw in their game away to Davitts in the first round of Mayo SFL Division 2 probably the fairest result after a very exciting match.

In this clash of sides from the Roscommon and Galway borders respectively, Ballagh’ played with the assistance of the stiff wind in the first-half, and they made full use of it, shooting early two-pointers from Kuba Callaghan and Ryan Lynch in the second and third minutes. They added single points from Callaghan and Sean McHugh before Ciaran Treacy opened the Davitts account with a 12th minute point.

Two minutes later, after a great move started off by a Conor McDermott interception in defence, Dylan Burke put Ciaran Treacy through for a brilliant goal for the home side, to narrow the gap to two points.

The visitors responded with a series of unanswered scores between the 18th and 26th minutes, the first point coming from the boot of Callum Coleman and that man Kuba Callaghan scoring two single points in the 19th and 20th minutes and two fine two-pointers in the 25th and 26th minutes.

Davitts goalkeeper Dylan O’Brien had denied Callum Coleman what looked like a certain goal in the 20th minute and a black card for Davitts wing-back Tommy Waldron in the 25th minute left them temporarily down to fourteen men. A Dylan Burke point for the hosts in the 28th minute stemmed the tide but in the first minute of injury-time Callaghan scored a superb individual goal, soloing in from the left touchline and firing home an unstoppable shot. That left the visitors ahead by 1-13 to 1-2 at the break and Ballaghaderreen looked set for an emphatic victory.

Ciaran Treacy opened the second-half scoring with a 33rd minute point and moments later Liam Kearns intercepted a misplaced Ballagh’ kickout, soloed through and finished clinically to reduce the deficit to seven points. The home side had their tails up now and points from Dylan Burke, Shane Treacy, in the 38th and 39th minutes, and a monstrous Jack Melvin two-pointer in the 41st minute narrowed the gap to three.

In the 43rd minute, Ballagh’ were thrown a real lifeline when Davitts were punished for a breach. At first the free was awarded to Davitts but it was then brought forward to the other end of the pitch and Kuba Callaghan gleefully converted for a most welcome two-pointer for his side. Davitts showed their mettle and reacted to what they perceived to be a gross injustice with points from Stephen Nyland, Shane Treacy and Ciaran Treacy and another Jack Melvin two-pointer, to level the game with nine minutes remaining.

Two Kuba Callaghan points in the 56th and 58th minutes saw Ballaghaderreen regain the lead. Davitts rallied again and Jack Melvin got a fantastic goal two minutes into injury-time to put his side ahead for the first time in a pulsating match.

There was still time for Ballagh’ to work the ball upfield and centre-forward Conor Moriarty pointed from twenty metres to level the game in the 64th minute. The visitors won the resulting kickout and almost snatched a late winner but for a tremendous block down by Davitts corner-back Conor McDermott.

Referee Shane Corcoran then blew the final whistle and a share of the spoils was probably the fairest outcome of this very entertaining match.

Beat for Davitts were Charlie Phillips, Conor McDermott, Dylan Burke, Sean Clarke, Jack Melvin, Liam Kearns and Ciaran Treacy. For Ballaghaderreen, Seamie Cunniffe, Kane Phillips, Ryan Lynch, Darragh Kelly, Conor Moriarty, Callum Coleman and the deadly Kuba Callaghan all starred.

Scorers – Davitts: Jack Melvin 1-2-0, Ciaran Treacy 1-0-3, Liam Kearns 1-0-0, Dylan Burke and Shane Treacy 0-0-2 each, Stephen Nyland 0-0-1.

Ballaghaderreen: Kuba Callaghan 1-4-5 (1tpf), Ryan Lynch 0-1-0, Callum Coleman, Sean McHugh and Conor Moriarty 0-0-1 each.

Davitts: Dylan O’Brien; Charlie Phillips, Cathal Higgins, Conor McDermott; Tommy Waldron, Thomas Ronayne, Dylan Burke; Sean Clarke, Cathal Corless; Shane Treacy, Jack Melvin, Ronan Kelly; Liam Kearns, Stephen Nyland, Ciaran Treacy. Subs used: Danny Corless, Darragh McGale.

Ballaghaderreen: Thomas Dillon; Paul Hanley, Seamie Cunniffe, David Drake; Kane Phillips, Donal Forrest, Luke O’Grady; Ryan Lynch, Darragh Kelly; Lee McGowan, Conor Moriarty, Seamus Buckley; Callum Coleman, Kuba Callaghan, Sean McHugh.

REF: Shane Corcoran (Islandeady)