Second-half scoring frenzy sees Caiseal Gaels crowned hurling champs

Mayo Junior B Hurling Final

Caiseal Gaels 3-22

Gaeltacht Iorrais 0-11

Patrick Hennelly at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park

An awesome second half display by Caiseal Gaels saw them collect the Tom Earley Memorial Cup at a sun-drenched MacHale Park last Saturday afternoon.

A 20-point winning margin would have been difficult to imagine at half-time, as a gutsy Gaeltacht Iorrais trailed by a solitary point in their first ever men’s final at Mayo HQ.

Niall Walsh slotted over a free after 3 minutes to give Iorrais the opening score.

Caiseal Gaels were eager to atone for last year’s final defeat and they landed three points on the bounce through Matthew Connor and Paddy Dozio (two frees) before Brendan McGrath replied.

Paddy Dozio hit a brilliantly taken ‘65’ on 13 minutes before Gaeltacht Iorrais hit a purple patch. Derek McDonnell hit two points, Niall Walsh scored a free and Tomas McGonagle got one to give them a two-point lead.

The Gaels finally ended an 11 minute barren period when Dozio fired over two frees. Iorrais’ Walsh aided by the breeze, struck over a peach of a long-range free. However, a brace of points from Caiseal’s Killian Gallagher during first half stoppage time gave his side the lead.

Early second half points from Dozio (free) and Matthew Connor momentarily strengthened Caiseal Gaels’ grip on the game.

Iorrais’ Eoghan McGrath and Caiseal’s Connor then traded points, before a fine free from Brendan McGrath reduced the deficit to two points.

However, the turning point of this game arrived on 36 minutes, when Caiseal Gaels industrious corner-forward Killian Gallagher received possession on the right-wing and darted towards goal before unleashing a smashing finish from an acute angle that flew into the bottom corner of Paul McGrath’s net.

The brave Iorrais men were stunned, but they barely had time to catch their breath as Dozio landed a free on 40 minutes, before his team-mate Aidan Morrisroe guided over an impressive long-range point from near the half-way line.

The Gaeltacht outfit’s game plan was in tatters, moreso when Gallagher notched his second goal on 42 minutes. Caiseal Gaels were relentless and Dozio added three further points in addition to scores from Jamie Duffy and Connor.

Gaeltacht Iorras ended their near 20 minute wait for a score when Walsh struck over a free on 53 minutes but that was quickly negated as a rampant Caiseal tagged on points in reply through Brendan Vesey and the deadly Dozio.

McDonnell fired over a white-flagged effort for the North Mayo men on 58 minutes; however, the leaders ended the game in impressive fashion, courtesy of points from Luke Connor and Dozio, and a terrific goal from Connor before the full-time whistle.

Scorers. Caiseal Gaels: Paddy Dozio 0-12 (8f, 1 65’), Killian Gallagher 2-2, Matthew Connor 1-4, Aidan Morrisroe, Luke Connor, Brendan Vesey, Jamie Duffy 0-1 each.

Gaeltacht Iorrais: Niall Walsh 0-4 (all frees), Derek McDonnell 0-3, Brendan McGrath (1f) 0-2, Eoghan McGrath, Tomas McGonagle 0-1 each.

Caiseal Gaels: Darren Williams; Norman Finnerty, Paul Vesey, James Brennan; Jack Craughwell, Aidan Morrisroe, Keith Collins; Luke Connor, Brendan Vesey; Paddy Dozio, Jamie Duffy, Matthew Connor; Killian Gallagher, Gary Murphy, Gavin Hunt. Subs used: Colin Duffy, David Burke, Martin Vesey, James McGrath, Kyle McLoughlin.

Gaeltacht Iorrais: Paul McGrath; Noel McLoughlin, Sean McDonnell, Patrick Lavelle; David Donoghue, Paddy Barrett, Anthony Walsh; Brendan McGrath, Nickey Carolan; Nathan Ruddy, Eoghan McGrath, Tomas McGonagle; Niall Walsh, Derek McDonnell, Liam O’Donnell. Subs used: Ryan Ruddy, Declan Sweeney, Martin Mangan, Daniel Barrett, Sam Barrett.

Ref: Sean O’Neill