Claremorris win the inaugural Austin Garvin Memorial Cup after beating The Neale in high-scoring South Mayo final

South Mayo Minor A Championship Final

Claremorris 2-18

The Neale 2-9

In Claremorris 

THE memory of the legendary football coach and reporter Austin Garvin was honoured in his native town by the Claremorris Minors, who became the first-ever winners of the Austin Garvin Memorial Cup this evening. 

Claremorris were deserving winners of the cup named in honour of Austin Garvin, whose wife, Mary, presented it to the winning captain, James Sullivan, after the game.

The scoring began after just 15 seconds and was unrelenting from beginning to end. The game was enthralling, but the result was expected as a talented Claremorris went 1-11 to 1-4 at half-time, with Sean O'Connell (Claremorris) and Evan Lydon (The Neale) swapping goals before the break. 

Claremorris finished with ten unique scorers and pulled ten nine points ahead before The Neale were given a penalty for a foot block, which was duly converted by Tom Lydon. 

The local lads were never at risk of being caught though, particularly after Fionnán Sweeney sauntered forward from corner-back to finish their second goal in the 45th minute. 

A nine-point Claremorris victory was a fitting and fair conclusion to a South Mayo Minor final that paid a deserving homage to one of its greatest sons. 

A full report plus reaction from the Claremorris camp will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News.