Mitchels undone as Morris boys inspire Holly-Carra win

Mayo IFC Group 2 – Round 2 

Hollymount/Carramore 1-16 

Castlebar Mitchels ‘B’ 1-14 

Nathan Guilfoyle at St Coman’s Park, Hollymount 

This was a really enjoyable encounter, one where both sides went toe to toe and contributed to a very spirited, free-flowing, high-scoring encounter.

Hollymount/Carramore were missing their star forward Darren Coen through injury but the Morris brothers, Matthew and Dylan, stepped up and kicked a combined 1-5, in what was a very strong team performance.

The defence was well marshalled by Stephen Coen and Dylan Jennings, while Jack Keane, Nathan Moran and Oisin Duffy were all strong around the middle also.

Castlebar Mitchels, it should be said, were also very impressive for a so-called ‘B’ team, with Cian Walsh, Mark Cunningham and David Stenson all spearheading a very sharp attack.

It was a very evenly matched first-half, with both sides exchanging scores early on, with Dylan Morris and Jake Daly matching each other’s efforts.

Castlebar grabbed a goal five minutes in, after Mark Cunningham steamed through before applying a fantastic finish into the back of the net, leaving goalkeeper Niall Campbell with no chance.

Mitchels nearly had a goal a minute later, only for Campbell to pull off a fantastic save from a Cian Walsh effort.

The next 10 minutes of the half were even, with Conor Heneghan and David Stenson exchanging scores. Hollymount/Carramore then found their own goal, with Matthew Morris turning home the rebound from a Dylan Morris effort.

Cian Walsh, Brian Walsh and Kylum Chambers all kicked on with scores for Mitchels, while Hollymount/Carramore matched them with scores from Jack Keane and Conor Heneghan, two frees.

David Stenson struck a free to leave his Castlebar Mitchels side 1-6 to 1-5 ahead at the break.

The second half was equally as enjoyable.

Hollymount/Carramore pushed on to take the lead, with four points on the bounce through Matthew Morris, two, Conor Heneghan and Kevin Costello, who claimed the score of the day with a fine outside of the boot effort.

Castlebar Mitchels ‘B’ soon entered a purple patch of their own however, and registered scores through Stenson, two, and three in-a-row from Cian Walsh, leaving them two ahead.

But Mitchels would then go 15 minutes without a score, while Hollymount/Carramore pushed on strongly. Substitute Kevin Feerick pointed, before a mark from Dylan Morris levelled things up with 10 to play. Quick scores from Jack Keane and Tom Morris left them two up, before Matthew Morris pushed the lead out to three points.

Castlebar Mitchels fought hard and had scores in the end through three David Stenson frees, however, Jack Keane was responding with two more of his own, to ensure his side ran out two point winners, in what was a great championship clash.

Hollymount/Carramore have now ensured their qualification to the last eight while Castlebar Mitchels ‘B’ will hope to beat Kitimagh to avoid the drop into the relegation playoffs.

Scorers – Hollymount Carramore: Matthew Morris 1-3, Conor Heneghan and Jack Keane 0-4 (3f) each, Dylan Morris 0-2, Tom Morris, Kevin Feerick and Kevin Costello 0-1 each.

Castlebar Mitchels ‘B’: David Stenson 0-8 (5f), Cian Walsh 0-4 (2f), Mark Cunningham 1-0, Brian Walsh and Kylum Chambers 0-1 each.

Hollymount/Carramore: Niall Campbell; Stephen Conroy, Dylan Jennings, Barry Sheridan; Joe Lydon, Stephen Coen, Enda Maloney; Mike Sheridan, Jack Keane; Oisin Duffy, Nathan Moran, Kevin Costello; Conor Heneghan, Dylan Morris, Matthew Morris. Subs: Kevin Feerick (for Maloney 41), Tom Morris (for Heneghan 48), JJ Connelly (for Sheridan 55).

Castlebar Mitchels B: Peter Basquille; Kylum Chambers, Ray O’Malley, Eoghan McHale; John Kennedy, Conor Murray, Ruairi Burke; Paddy Flannelly, Conchobar Mulroy; Brian Walsh, David Stenson, Tomas Waldron; Cian Walsh, Jake Daly, Mark Cunningham. Subs: Fintan Borrotto and Brendan Gaughan (for Murray and Mulroy ht), Eoghan Hughes (for B Walsh 43), Emmet Murphy (for Durcan 50).

REF: Kieran Barnicle (Breaffy)