Mitchels rejoice as Western shootout delivers high drama

Homeland County U16 Football League Division 1 – Final 

Castlebar Mitchels 4-15 

Ballintubber 1-20 

(AET, 1-12 to 0-15 at full-time) 

Maggie Chambers in Islandeady 

After a dramatic battle, where momentum swung back and forth throughout and that required extra-time to separate these two West Mayo rivals, it was Castlebar Mitchels who eventually overcame Ballintubber to claim the silverware in Islandeady on Thursday evening.

The sides couldn’t be separated when they met earlier in the league, which set the stage for a thrilling County U16 Division 1 final – and it certainly lived up to expectations.

The first-half was a cagey affair, marked by strong defensive structures and patient build-up from both sides. With both teams defending the arc, scoring chances were hard-earned. Playing with a strong breeze at their backs, Declan Shaw’s side opened the scoring in the sixth minute through Aaron Mujic. Castlebar’s early rhythm was disrupted by loose passing in the final third, which Ballintubber regularly intercepted.

Ballintubber’s first score came in the 12th minute through Noah Donnelly. However, their kick-outs into the wind proved difficult, and Castlebar took advantage, moving ahead through points from Niall Treacy and Kian Redmond. Conor Hoban began to assert himself at midfield, providing a crucial outlet. His influence grew as Cillian Reilly and Adam Burton added points, either side of a Hoban two-pointer free that gave Ballintubber the lead.

Still, the sides could not be separated. Seamus Maughan replied for Castlebar before Aiden Dempsey landed a superb two-pointer. Just before the break, Kian Redmond burst through the Ballintubber defence but his goal-bound shot was brilliantly saved by Noah Murphy. Sean Moran reacted quickest to the rebound, pointing to give Castlebar a 0-7 to 0-5 lead at half-time.

The second-half opened with scores from Sean Moran and Noah Donnelly before Ballintubber were dealt a blow as captain Tiernan O’Toole was forced off through injury. Points from Donnelly and Kian Redmond followed, but once again Hoban rose to the occasion, first converting a free, then turning over possession and raising the orange flag with a two-pointer.

Castlebar were struggling to retain possession, but their sharp movement paid dividends when Micheál Shaw slotted over to level the game in the 46th minute. With the wind in their favour, Ballintubber pressed on, and Cillian Reilly’s two-pointer in the 53rd minute put them two clear.

But the game was far from settled. Just a minute later, Mujic found substitute James Dever with a clever pass, and Dever made no mistake, rattling the net to give Castlebar Mitchels the lead. The sides continued to trade blows; Hoban replied with a two-pointer before Castlebar responded with two quick scores from Aiden Dempsey.

As the game ticked into added time, Ballintubber won a free, and Hoban coolly slotted it over to send the match to extra-time.

Tensions flared as the final whistle blew, with Ballintubber’s Cillian Reilly shown a straight red and Niall Treacy of Mitchels receiving a black card ahead of the restart.

Extra-time began at a blistering pace. Ballintubber looked to have regained control with three quick points from Adam Burton, Rory McGreal, and Richie Finnerty. However, Castlebar refused to fold. Fionn Filan pulled one back before Micheál Shaw rattled the net to swing the lead back to Mitchels, 2-14 to 0-19, at the interval. The Castlebar boys simply didn’t look back.

Aiden Dempsey pointed after the restart before Mujic fired home Mitchels’ third goal after a slick move from Redmond and Treacy. Four minutes later, Dempsey calmly converted a penalty to all but seal victory.

Though Ballintubber struck late through a goal from Cillian Donnelly and James Staunton’s point, it was the men in red and yellow who lifted the trophy after a relentless battle.

Scorers – Castlebar Mitchels; Aiden Dempsey 1-1-3 (1-0pen, 1f), Aaron Mujic 1-0-2, Micheal Shaw 1-0-1, James Dever 1-0-0, Sean Moran and Kian Redmond 0-0-2 each, Niall Treacy, Seamus Maughan and Fionn Filan 0-0-1 each.

Ballintubber; Conor Hoban 0-3-3 (2tpfs, 1f), Cillian Reilly 0-1-1, Cillian Donnelly 1-0-0, Noah Donnelly 0-0-3, Adam Burton 0-0-2, Rory McGreal, Richie Finnerty and James Staunton 0-0-1 each.

Castlebar Mitchels: Kevin Scully; Ruairi Mulroy, Jack McNicholas, Keelyn McHale; Micheal Shaw, Cillian Broderick, Sean Moran; Aaron Mujic, Niall Treacy; Aidan Dempsey, Kian Redmond, Darragh Broderick; Fionn Filan, Seamus Maughan, Lynden Heaney. Subs: Matthew Daly (for Heaney 44), James Dever (for Mulroy 49), Joshua Gibbons (for Moran 77), Ronan Barrett (for Filan 78), Dylan Burke (for Maughan 78).

Ballintubber: Noah Murphy; Jack Loftus, Tiarnan O’Toole, Ciaran Earley; Mattias Dolan, Ross Malone, Teegan Heneghan; Adam Burton, Cillian Reilly; Rory McGreal, Noah Donnelly, Richie Finnerty; Niall Spelman, Conor Hoban, Finnian Brady. Subs: Cillian Donnelly (for Brady 33), Brady (for O’Toole 36), James Staunton (for Spelman 55), Eoghan Lyons (for Heneghan 78), Sean Prendergast (for Finnerty 78), Ethan Clare (for Earley 80).

REF: Rory Courell (Islandeady)