Mitchels find their form too late to avoid exit door

Connacht Gold Mayo SFC Group 2 – Round 3 

Castlebar Mitchels 2-14 

Aghamore 0-12 

Colm Gannon in Canon Gibbons Park, Claremorris 

A commanding victory wasn’t enough for Castleabr Mitchels, as results elsewhere concluded their participation in this year’s senior championship.

When the full-time whistle went in Claremorris on Saturday, Kevin Filan’s side had done their part of the job, winning by eight points and seemingly heading for the quarter-finals, but Breaffy’s Houdini act in Ballina saw them progress at their near neighbour’s expense.

The result does at least keep Castlebar out of relegation trouble, with Aghamore instead destined for the dreaded playoffs.

It took until the third round of the championship for Mitchels to click into gear and they did so in style. Inside the opening eight minutes they were three points to the good. Rory Byrne opened their account from a long range free, which was followed by Paddy Durcan slotting over and then Sean Morahan getting in on the act.

Mitchels were hungry for work, hassling and harrying Aghamore and playing the game on their terms. Ten minutes in, Tom O’Flaherty registered Aghamore’s first point of the day from a placed ball, but it was only a short reprieve for the East Mayo men as Anthony O’Boyle and James Durcan added on a point each for Mitchels. Just before the quarter hour, the county town men raised the first green of the day.

The goal came from the boot of Neil Douglas who was restored to the starting line-up for this must win game, and he showed all the qualities that made him one of the best club footballers in the county in the past decade flashing the ball past Adam Byrne with a fantastic finish.

John MacMonagle was next to get in on the scoring action, with a well taken score for Mitchels. McMonagle was all action throughout the contest and along with the likes of Bob Tuohy, Sean Morahan and Donnacha McHugh showed that even though this year’s championship ended earlier than they wanted, Mitchels have the raw materials to be a serious player in the championship in the years to come. Gavin Durcan pushed his side into a 1-7 to 0-1 lead on 20 minutes and Aghamore were severely under the pump.

Fergal Boland got his side’s second point of the day not long after but Neil Douglas responded quickly to keep Mitchels well clear. The chasers were given something to build upon just before the break when Boland drove over a huge two pointer, but they were still 1-8 to 0-4 down at the turnaround.

Aghamore knew they had to get off to a good start in the second-half if they were going get back into the game and they did just that with Boland and Derry Og Cox bringing it back to a five-point game. But Paddy Durcan calmed the Mitchels nerves with a well taken point, before Adam Byrne drove over a 45’ for Aghamore to keep his side in touch. However, the game was put to bed in terms of the result, when Bob Tuohy showed great calmness and composure to roll the ball under Byrne and get Mitchels second goal of the evening.

That goal had Mitchels home and hosed in terms of the win, but they still needed to ensure that when all was said and done they were ahead by at least seven points, in case the Breaffy versus Belmullet game ended a draw.

In the end there were eight points between the teams, with Mitchels adding on scores from the likes of Mark Cunningham, Cian Walsh and Paddy Heneghan, who all had impressive cameos off the bench.

The smart phones were in overdrive inside and outside the fence as the result in Ballina was becoming all important – but on the field Mitchels were going about their work, adding scores when they got the chance and keeping Aghamore at arm’s length and their desired margin of victory intact.

When the final whistle was blown, it became a waiting game for Castlebar. The word was initially good, with Belmullet pulling themselves level with Breaffy, but a late score from their neighbours consigned them to the championship exit door.

Castlebar will look back on this year’s championship run with regret. They never got going against Belmullet but should have seen off Breaffy in Round 2. When they finally put all the jigsaw pieces together it was too little too late. A long winter lies in store.

Scorers – Castlebar: Neil Douglas 1-0-2 (1f), Bob Tuohy 1-0-0, Paddy Durcan and Anthony O’Boyle 0-0-2 each, Gavin Durcan, John McMonagle, Sean Morahan, Cian Walsh, James Durcan, Paddy Heneghan, Mark Cunningham and Rory Byrne (f) 0-0-1 each.

Aghamore: Fergal Boland 0-2-3,, Adam Byrne 0-2-2 (1tpf, 1f, 1 ’45), Conor Hunt, Tom O’Flaherty (f) and Derry Og Cox 0-0-1 each.

Castlebar Mitchels: Rory Byrne; Donnacha McHugh, Mark Dolan, Donie Newcombe; Paddy Durcan, John MacMonagle, Sean Morahan; Shane Cunningham, Bob Tuohy; Anthony O’Boyle, Gavin Durcan, Conor Stenson; Neil Douglas, James Durcan, Joe Forry. Subs used: Mark Cunningham, Cian Walsh, Paddy Heneghan, Thomas Waldron.

Aghamore: Adam Byrne; Conor Kilkenny, Conal Hession, Conal Breslin; Brendan Harrison, Robert Lyons, Conor Hunt; Sean Og Tighe, David Kenny; McNeive, Fergal Boland, James Lyons; Tom O’Flaherty, Cillian Mooney, Darren Duffy. Subs used: Derry Og Cox , Justin Kelly, Jack O’Connor, Brian Breslin, Hallen Coen.

REF: Vincent Neary (Bonniconlon)