Early goal flurry sees Mitchels edge out Claremorris to win Under-21 A title

Mayo Under-21 A Championship Final

Castlebar Mitchels 4-5 Claremorris 0-14

Oisín McGovern in MacHale Park

AN early flurry of goals made an enormous difference as Castlebar Mitchels edged out the Under-21 A title at the expense of a fine Claremorris team in Castlebar this evening.

Both teams went long periods without scoring in a game where Claremorris were dominant for long period but could not land a killer blow.

Mitchels made a rip-roaring start by scoring three goals in the first ten minutes through Cian Walsh (2) and Ciarán Mylett.

The goals quickly dried up for the county town lads as Claremorris responded with an impressive variety of scores from the excellent Niall Hurley (2), who was abetted by the impressive Cathal Joyce and Darragh Byrne.

Kevin Filan’s lads persisted with their direct, attacking style but only added three points over the next 20 minutes through the Ciarán Mylett (2) and Conor Mulroy.

Leading 3-4 to 0-7 at the break, Mitchels when from a shortage of scores to an outright famine as Claremorris kept the scoreboard ticking away.

Darragh Beirne shone brightest up front as Claremorris spared no quarter to a Mitchels team that failed to score in the second half until substitute Gavin Forry pointed after 53 minutes.

Despite losing Cian Walsh to a second yellow card, Mitchels found the wherewithal to seal the deal in injury time when Forry passed across the goal for Mark Cunningham to bury the winner in the roof of the net.

There will be a full report plus reaction in Tuesday’s print edition of The Mayo News.