Late Castlebar Mitchels surge sees St Jarlath’s toppled to set up Minor final showdown with Westport

Mayo Minor A Championship Semi-final

Castlebar Mitchels 1-16

St Jarlath's 2-8

In Castlebar

CASTLEBAR Mitchels and Westport will lock horns in a county final again after the county town boys left it late against a fine St Jarlath’s side who had them to the pin of their collar for much of this county semi-final. 

A St Jarlath’s team featuring former Mayo Minors Senan Guilfoyle and Tom Hession led as late as the 47th minute when the excellent Cian Walsh equalised for Mitchels. 

From then on, the Eastern Gaels-Ballyhaunis alliance were outgunned 1-4 to 0-2, with their hosts putting the icing on the cake with a Joe Forry goal in injury time. 

Mitchels had plenty of scoring power, no more so than in Cian Walsh who kicked four points in a scintillating display at wing-forward. 

The home side appeared to be stealing a march in the first ten minutes before Senan Guilfoyle scored a goal to make it a one-point game. 

Mitchels held them off, with the scores going back and for evenly until Conor Grogan got another goal shortly before half-time to see St Jarlath’s into the break with a 2-4 0-9 lead. 

The excitement continued throughout the second half, with Mitchels missing a glorious opportunity to take the lead when Gavin Forry drove a penalty kick wide. 

A strong finish by the lads in yellow and red, crowned by an injury-time Joe Forry goal, was enough to see Mitchels through to the county final against Westport - who defeated Crossmolina in the other semi-final. 

A full report, plus reaction from Castlebar Mitchels’ Shane Cunningham and Cian Walsh, will be carried in Tuesday's print edition of The Mayo News.