McGarry’s men continue their crusade for redemption
Adam Parsons of Ardnaree Sarsfields is unable to stop Brian Reape from getting his shot away.
When they’re good, they’re very, very good. But that much was known about Moy Davitts last year too. And the year or two before that as well. Their downfall has been not playing at their best for long enough; it cost them dearly in last season’s two county finals against Crossmolina and in the 2022 and ’23 semi-finals against Kilmeena, four games they could arguably have won.
To serve revenge on the West Mayo outfit next Sunday would taste sweet but Moy Davitts will know that any repeat of last Sunday’s first-half display against Ardnaree Sarsfields is likely to be punished much more severely.
The East Mayo outfit gave their supporters a scare when trailing the 5/2 outsiders by three points at half-time. But Moy Davitts went from scoring 0-4 in the first-half to 1-16 in the second, outscoring their opponents by fifteen points after half-time alone. Like we said, when they’re good, they’re very, very good.
A goal by former Mayo attacker Brian Reape just eighty seconds after the restart kickstarted his side’s stunning revival, with two-pointers from play by Ronan Clarke and Cian McHale, and two from frees by McHale, seeing Paul McGarry’s men ease their way into another final.
Disappointed at how their afternoon had unravelled, this has nonetheless been another year of definite progress for Ardnaree Sarsfields. Division 2 finalists in 2024, reaching the intermediate semi-final was their first time to do so in over 50 years. And an appearance in the final could certainly not have been ruled out when they marched into a 0-6 to 0-2 lead after 26 minutes in front of a large attendance at James Stephens Park.
Moy Davitts looked a little casual early doors and wides by Ronan Clarke, Brian Heneghan and Cian McHale were punished at the other end by points from Cathal Noone, a free, and John Timlin, his first of three from play in the first-half.
The favourites eventually opened their account in the twelfth minute through McHale but when Padraig Ruane struck an equaliser two minutes later, that was Moy Davitts’ last score until the half hour mark – as Ardnaree made use of their extra player following the black carding of Brian Reape in the 19th minute. Noone fired over a self-won free and Jonathan Doherty fisted two points either side of one from the boot of Timlin, while at the other end Cian McHale watched a pair of two-point free attempts drift the wrong side of the posts. Another effort from Padraig Ruane dropped into the arms of Ardnaree goalkeeper Ronan Connolly.
Moy Davitts eventually ended their drought when a foul on Brian Heneghan handed a tap over free to Cian McHale. And from the kickout, a fine catch by Ryan Kenny – one of several during an impressive display by him around the middle – was the catalyst for Sean Kenny to split the posts and reduce the arrears to two points. However, the final say of the half lay with Ardnaree for whom half-back Lee Grant linked up with half-forward Dylan Sweeney to set-up John Timlin who rounded off an excellent half’s work with another point, leaving the side managed by Rory Clarke and Liam McHale minding a 0-7 to 0-4 lead.
“In the first-half, Ardnaree set-up very defensive and they made it hard for us,” said Paul McGarry afterwards. “I suppose we walked into their trap really but we regrouped at half-time, we chatted about it, and in fairness to the lads in the second-half they really turned it on.”
The manager, in his first season in charge of Moy Davitts, wasn’t half wrong.
Brian Reape, fresh from his ten minutes in the sin-bin before the interval, arrived like a train to receive Conor Reid’s pass and hammered the ball past Connolly for the opening score with barely a minute played. Level. And from the moment Ronan Clarke lofted over a two-pointer in the 33rd minute to give his side the lead for the very first time, Moy Davitts simply never looked back.
Three more points – a free from outside the arc by Cian McHale and an excellent single on the turn by Reape – were cancelled out by a point from Dylan Sweeney followed by a pair of frees from Cathal Noone, but that was as close as Sarsfields were going to get.
Four points on the spin by Cian McHale, including a two-pointer from play, meant that by the 43rd minute Moy Davitts were six in front, 1-13 to 0-10, and while Ardnaree called for reinforcements, with Nathan Roddy, Seaghan Duffy and Peter Timlin all introduced, luck wasn’t on their side. Timlin immediately sent Duffy through on goal but a last ditch block prevented what undoubtedly would have been the quickest score by a substitute in this year’s championship.
Jonathan Doherty’s handpass, intercepted by full-back Tadhg Ruane, was another goal chance that went abegging, as the final ten minutes instead turned into a procession for the men from further up the Moy.
Substitute Jamie Clarke, Ronan Clarke, Cian McHale, a free, and Brian Reape picked off singles while McHale scored another two-point free.
Roddy supplied Peter Timlin whose 56th minute goal effort drew an excellent save from goalkeeper Chris McGlynn while sub Liam Jones might also have hit the net three minutes later but he was unable to keep his shot below the crossbar.
The final say, however, rested with the excellent McHale whose twelfth point – and Moy Davitts’ last – came from a free earned by substitute Liam Byrne.
“If they do play for a full game it will take a very good team to beat them,” said McGarry, admitting however that Kilmeena will present a tough challenge for last year’s beaten finalists.
“Kilmeena came down from senior last year so they have experience as well. They’re two good teams, it’s a final, it’s going to be tough, we know that, but it’s going to take a good team to beat us as well,” he assured.
Scorers – Moy Davitts: Cian McHale 0-3-6 (2tpf, 5f), Brian Reape 1-0-2, Ronan Clarke 0-1-1, Padraig Ruane, Sean Kelly and Jamie Clarke 0-0-1 each.
Ardnaree: Cathal Noone 0-0-4f, John Timlin 0-0-3, Jonathan Doherty 0-0-2, Dylan Sweeney and Liam Jones 0-0-1 each.
Moy Davitts: Chris McGlynn; Stephen Clarke, Tadhg Ruane, Jack Dunleacy; David Byrne, Oisin McHugh, Colm McHale; Conor Reid, Padraig Ruane; Sean Kelly, Cian McHale, Ryan Kenny; Brian Heneghan, Brian Reape, Ronan Clarke. Subs: Jamie Clarke (for S Clarke ht), Anthony Jordan (for Byrne 42), Liam Byrne (for Heneghan 58), Conall Quinn (for T Ruane 59), Ajay McGrath (for Kelly 60).
Ardnaree Sarsfields: Ronan Connolly; Kevin Gillespie, Pat Mills, Kenzie McKee; Stephen Jackson, Lee Grant, Jack Regan; Ronan O’Malley, Jason Crean; Jonathan Doherty, Dylan Sweeney, Adam Parsons; Cathal Noone, Ethan Convey, John Timlin. Subs: Liam Jones (for Regan ht), Nathan Roddy (for Grant 43), Peter Timlin and Seaghan Duffy (for Convey and O’Malley 46), Sane Timlin (for Jackson 50).
REF: James Regan (Hollymount-Carramore)
