Mayo sides fail to secure silverware at Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta

MAYO teams Béal an Mhuirthead, Cill Chomáin, and Cill tSéadhna were unable to secure national titles at the Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta in the Muskerry Gaeltacht, Cork, over the past weekend.

Cill Chomáin came closest to victory, reaching the Junior Men's Football Semi-finals on Sunday. Their journey included two full 60-minute games on Saturday. They began with a 2-10 to 1-8 win over Meath's Clann na nGael in the preliminary round, with a goal each in either half from Luke Ó Thaidhg and Seán Ó hÉilí. 

Following a tight opening half, Cill Chomáin led by 1-6 to 1-5 at half-time, and although Clann na nGael equalised early after the restart, Cill Chomáin drove on to victory.

Later on Saturday Cill Chomáin secured a spot in the last four by defeating Cork club Naomh Abán by 2-11 to 0-9. Early goals from Luke Ó Thaidhg and Daithí Mac an tSiúil helped ensure an early 2-1 to 0-2 lead, and they never looked back.

However, in the semi-final, Donegal's Naomh Mhuire dominated, winning 2-17 to 0-4. Naomh Mhuire led 0-2 to 0-1 after four minutes, with Justin Ó hÉilí scoring for Cill Chomáin. Unfortunately, this was their only score in the first half, as Naomh Mhuire moved to a commanding 2-10 to 0-1 lead at the break, thanks to two goals from Donal Devlin.

There was a better balance to the scoring in the second half, with Ó hÉílí, Kian Ó Gallchobhair and Conchuir Mac an tSiligh on target for Cill Chomáin, but Naomh Mhuire had firmly laid the foundations for the win early in this contest.

Béal an Mhuirthead faced disappointment in the Men's Senior competition, losing 4-13 to 1-12 to Cork's Beál Átha a Ghaorthaidh in a preliminary round tie on Saturday morning.

A close game early on, with only one point separating the teams six minutes into the second half, turned as Beál Átha a Ghaorthaidh pulled away. Early goals left Béal an Mhuirthead trailing 2-1 to 0-0 after just two minutes. An 18th-minute goal brought them closer, but a disallowed goal for a square ball hindered their progress. Trailing 2-5 to 1-5 at halftime, Béal an Mhuirthead worked hard, but their opponents' two second-half goals secured a 10-point win.

The Ladies Junior competition saw Cill tSéadhna struggle against Cork's Naomh Fionnbarra, ending with a 6-14 to 1-3 loss at the quarter-final stage on Saturday.

Rhona Ní Bhuacalla, a former Cork player and TG4 Analyst, set the tone with a goal 40 seconds in. By the half-time break, Naomh Fionnbarra led by 4-8 to 1-1. Cill tSéadhna only managed two points in the second half, with Naomh Fionnbarra ultimately winning by 26 points.

Naomh Fionnbarra subsequently lost the final to Meath side Clann na nGael on Monday morning in what was the first of four finals to take place on the final day of the Comórtas Peile.