Mitchels Cian eye for goal sees them retain title
Castlebar Mitchels team celebrate with the Mayo U21 A Cup after their win over Westport. Picture: Conor McKeown
There is nothing like a local derby to draw the crowds and to bring out the best in the respective teams. True to form this eagerly-awaited U21A final fixture didn’t disappoint, producing a highly-entertaining encounter, that in the end, saw Stephen Murphy’s home side prevail but they were given a searching test of their credentials against Pat Conway’s Westport side.
Thankfully, the rain stayed away for the entire contest but players did have to cope with a very strong diagonal and bitterly cold wind throughout. Westport had whatever advantage this would bring them in the first half, making the opening thirty minutes so important for their side, but they didn’t use this and actually trailed by four points at the break. Castlebar were the better team, on balance. Had their Mayo senior player Bob Touhy been available, they probably would have been even more clear at the break.
However, two early second half goals by Westport turned this game on its head, putting them two clear. But Westport never built on these two goals, scoring one single point for the entire duration of the tie that proved costly in the end. Driven on by the outstanding Mark Cunningham in attack along with Cian Walsh in the corner, the Mitchels’ kicked 1-6 at the other end that proved decisive in the end, although Westport did win a penalty late on but was saved by Peter Basquille in the Mitchels goal.
“I’m delighted for the lads. They are a great bunch.” said their manager Stephen Murphy to the afterwards. “These are the future of Castlebar Mitchels. We play the true Mitchels style of football. We play attacking football, the quality is never in doubt. When you look at the likes of Mark Cunningham, Eoghan Hughes, Cian Walsh, Sean Morahan, Con Mulroy at centre-back, John McMonagle at full-back, it’s serious quality and of course our keeper’ Peter Basquille saving that wonderful penalty – and all this without Bob Tuohy today of course.”
And speaking of this save, he had particular praise for their goalie in that his save came at such a vital time in the game with just three minutes remaining and the Mitchels’ were two up.
Murphy continued: “To me, Peter Basquille is the best keeper’ in the county. And I mean that. Yes, we have been lucky, there is a crop of players there together that have come all the way up and we have had great battles with Westport over the last five years with this group and again today. It’s great to have both of them playing against each other, two right good clubs bringing the best out of each other.”
Conditions from throw-in always meant scoring was going to be difficult and that showed in the opening half as Castlebar led at half time by four on an unusual scoreline of 3-1 to 1-3.
Mark Cunningham struck his side's opening goal in the fifth minute while Calum Filan accounted for his side's second and Cian Walsh struck home his side's third right on the half-time whistle. A Gavin Forry low hard strike from outside the large rectangle was allowed through the legs of Mark Cunningham, beautifully setting up the awaiting Walsh who soccer-styled home.
Westport were still in it at the break thanks mostly to a splendid finish to the roof of the net by Fionn O’Hora in just the seventh minute along with efforts from Darragh Hoban, Tim Carty and Conal Dawson (free) to leave them just four behind.
Castlebar were rattled when they lost Shane Cunningham to injury early in the second half and then conceded two goals in a three-minute blitz to go behind for the first time in the game. Cian Mulchrone and Darragh Hoban with his second goal of the game edged his side clear, but Mitchels would not allow this terrible start to the half effect their overall game plan.
Points by Jack O’Reilly and the hugely impressive Cian Walsh drew the sides level on 3-3 apiece and ten minutes from time, Castlebar edged ahead with Eoghan Hughes raising the white flag. Then a splendid ’45 by goalie Peter Basquille was followed by Cian Walsh getting his third point of the day and victory was sealed on the stroke of 60 minutes when a brilliantly worked slick passing upfield move set substitute Joe Forry through on goal and he didn’t miss with a crisp finish.
“Goals ultimately win games, the way we scored them four goals; two through the hands and another was off the pitch at Celtic Park,” said manager Stephen Murphy. “It was Gavin Forry with a splendid cross to Cian Walsh, Cian does a step-over and Mark Cunningham taps it in. The quality is unreal. The future is bright for Castlebar but they have got to stick together. In three years from now, this will be our senior side and it’s a promising future for our club.”
The only matter to be concluded on a bitterly cold day was the presentation of the trophy to captain John McMonagle by the recently appointed vice-chairman of Mayo county board and proud Castlebar club member, Michael Diskin.
