Mitchels flex their muscles in Ballyhaunis rout
The Castlebar Mitchels management team will be very pleased with their 22-point win over Ballyhaunis, solidifying their position at the top of Division 1A.
Castlebar Mitchels have made it four wins from four in Division 1A after an outstanding display of football in Josie Munnelly Park last Saturday evening.
Despite the first half being a close encounter, Mitchels came to life in the second period and played attacking football of the highest standard, scoring 3-11. Jack O’ Reilly led the way for the league champion, scoring an impressive 2-1 from corner back.
Leading from start to finish, a brilliant turnover from the Mitchels defence in the opening minute set the home side up for their first point of the day through Steve Keane straight from throw-in, and tagged on two more scores through Paddy Heneghan, and a superb long-range effort from Anthony O’Boyle.
Ballyhaunis were struggling to break out of their own half and when they did, the superbly set up Mitchels defence was quick to swarm the East Mayo outfit.
The visitors did manage to get a score on the board in the seventh minute when Joshua Webb made a chance from nothing and managed to kick the ball over the black spot. This was quickly followed by another point from dual star Kevin Byrne.
As Ballyhaunis were beginning to settle into the game, Mitchels were doing an impressive job of slowing down and taking the sting out of the visitors' attacks before the teams exchanged points through Neil Douglas and Jarlath Carney.
Both defences were set up excellently and making it difficult to construct clear shooting opportunities. With 19 minutes on the clock, Jack O’Reilly scored his first of the day after he found himself on the end of a brilliant James Cunningham long ball. O’Reilly slotted the ball over the bar to extend his team’s side to two points.
The hosts worked hard towards the end of the first half as Ballyhaunis dropped 15 men behind the ball but Mitchels closed out the opening period with two Ethan Gibbons points, leaving the scoreboard reading 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval.
Mitchels were on fire from throw-in in the second period. With exactly one minute on the clock, Jack O’ Reilly burst forward to find himself in on goal and he chipped the ‘keeper with a clever finish to raise his first green flag of the evening. Donal Newcombe followed this up with a point only 40 seconds later and all of a sudden Mitchels found themselves with an eight-point lead.
It would only get better from there as with 34 minutes played, Mitchels full-forward Stephen Keane broke through the Ballyhaunis defence and gave a quick ball to Neil Douglas. He made no mistake and fired the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net to extend his team's lead.
Ballyhaunis tried not to let their heads drop. The teams exchanged scores once more through PJ Greally and Ethan Gibbons but it was clear that the Castlebar side were the better team.
On 36 minutes, Jack O’Reilly found himself with another goal chance. Playing a quick one-two with Mayo U20 star John MacMonagle, he tried to slot the ball past Ballyhaunis keeper Adam Cribbon Noone. The Ballyhaunis custodian made an excellent save but O’Reilly was alert to the rebound and calmly passed the ball into the back of the net.
Ethan Gibbons tagged on another point before Ballyhaunis scored their final point of the day on 41 minutes through Kevin Byrne.
Mitchels continued to shoot the lights out, however, with some excellent points from Ethan Gibbons, Paddy Heneghan, Ciaran Mylett, and James Cunningham.
Mitchels were playing a superb passing game, tiring an understrength Ballyhaunis side that only one substitute. Ethan Gibbons scored two excellent points to close out the game, solidifying Mitchels 100 percent league record, and ones to keep an eye on in the summer months.
