SFC Section 3
Charlestown 2-9
West Mayo 0-5
Michael Commins
Charlestown
KNOCK Airport was never in any danger from a ‘volcanic eruption’ as the Mayo senior championship for 2010 got under way in its shadow on Saturday evening.
It was a tame affair as county champions Charlestown eventually brushed aside the challenge of junior amalgamation side West Mayo. Yet, at half-time, you would find a number of pundits ready to back West Mayo for a shock result when they led by a point after playing against the wind.
Still, one could not but feel that sense of expectation that comes with the start of every championship season. There is something eternal in its appeal, an anticipation that makes dreamers of us all. Vincent Neary from Bonniconlon had the honour of throwing the ball in as the new season got under way.
All of 12 minutes and 38 seconds had elapsed before the first score was registered in the championship. That honour fell to Jarlath O’Malley from Louisburgh as he edged the visitors in front. It was no more than they deserved as West Mayo carried the game to Charlestown in the opening half.
Playing against a strong wind, they outplayed the champions in many quarters and they led by 0-3 to 0-2 at the interval. Brian McCormack and Cormac Gordon picked off the other two scores for West Mayo while Charlestown’s only scorer in that first half was Paul Mulligan, one from play and one from a free.
A shock of major proportions looked on the cards as West Mayo, under the management of the genial Padraic Walsh, took to the field with the wind to their backs for the second half.
However, an injury to excellent corner-back Martin Nee just two minutes after the restart, impacted greatly on the cohesion and confidence of the team. Martin Mulvaney levelled the game and six minutes later Mark Caffrey blasted to the net from close range.
This was truly the turning point in the game and Charlestown surged in confidence over the final 20 minutes. Inexplicably, West Mayo seemed to lose heart. Gone was the flair and flamboyance which had blossomed so well in the early stages of the game. They wilted before our eyes as Charlestown closed down the avenues and steadied the ship for home.
Paddy Walsh epitomised the spirit of the home side with a superb display. Time and again he surged out of defence, showing a confidence beyond his years. Mark Caffrey has seen it all before but he was at the heart of the Charlestown resurgence in the second half, doing the simple things well and showing how games are won.
The scores which Charlestown found so hard to achieve in the first half now began to come thick and fast with some delightful points from Mark Caffrey, Martin Mulvaney, Paul Mulligan, Tom Parsons and Richie Haran.
And when Mickey ‘The Tank’ Divilly, dancing like Maurice Fitzgerald of Kerry fame, posted a high ball towards the West Mayo square in the closing minutes, Anthony Mulligan found himself perfectly placed to finish to the net.
The collapse of West Mayo in the second half was hard to fathom, considering the style and fervour displayed in the early stages. Vinnie Feeney scored their only point from play in the second half while Jarlath O’Malley had the distinction of getting both the first and last scores of this game.
Paddy Walsh, Darragh McMeel, Aidan Higgins, Sean Morris and Mark Caffrey excelled for Charlestown, especially in the second half, with notable displays also from Dermot Higgins, Tom Parsons and Paul Mulligan.
Ollie Feeney was superb at full-back for West Mayo, giving the old fashioned style display associated with the likes of Noel Tierney of the Galway three-in-a-row team of the 1960s.
Martin Nee (until injured), John Cloherty, Marcus O’Malley, John Hegarty, Stephen O’Grady, Peter Collins, Cormac Gordon and Vinnie Feeney also fared well for West Mayo who will be no pushover for the other teams in this group when the championship resumes in four weeks time.
Charlestown
D Sloyan; E Casey, D McMeel, P Walsh; D Higgins, A Higgins, K Duignan; S Morris, T Parsons (0-1); B Quinn, M Caffrey (1-3), M Mulvaney (0-1); S Moran, R Haran (0-1), P Mulligan (0-3, 2f).
Subs used: A Mulligan (1-0) for B Quinn; M Divilly for M Mulvaney; J McBrien for S Moran; D Caffrey for D Higgins; O Conway for P Mulligan.
West Mayo
N Feeney; M Nee, O Feeney, A Moran; J Cloherty, M O’Malley, J Hegarty; P Collins, S O’Grady; C Gordon (0-1), J O’Malley (0-2, 1f), S Cloherty; V Feeney (0-1), B McCormack (0-1), M Feeney.
Subs used: P Moylette for M Nee (inj); D Durkan for M Feeney; P Ruane for B McCormack.
Referee: V Neary (Bonniconlon)
