Castlebar Mitchels take the next step against Knockmore

Mitchels take the next step


Semi-Final
Castlebar 1-10
Knockmore 0-12

Mike Finnerty
Castlebar

SIXTEEN years of near-misses, bad days, and bitter disappointments were finally laid to rest by the senior footballers of Castlebar Mitchels last Sunday when they booked their place in a Mayo SFC Final for the first time since 1994.
This nail-biting, action-packed semi-final win over last year’s beaten finalists, and championship specialists, means that Castlebar will be appearing in their 45th county senior final next month in this, their 125th anniversary year.
Of course, only finishing the job and winning the Moclair Cup will be enough to mark the occasion for Peter Ford, Tommy O’Malley, Declan Shaw, their backroom team and this talented squad. Anything less would be a terrible anti-climax.
As usual, a resilient and courageous Knockmore weren’t beaten until the bitter end and they almost spoiled the fun for their hosts by putting in a big shift for most of the second half.
However, not even a typically gutsy performance by Nigel Reape’s men was enough to triumph over the kind of adversity that would have buckled a lesser team.
Knockmore were without their injured talisman, Kevin O’Neill, for three-quarters of the match, and despite losing Declan Sweeney with a serious injury after six minutes, not to mention falling four points behind at the same time, they very nearly stole this game.
They were squeezed out though by a Castlebar side that have grown in confidence over the last few seasons and who held their nerve in the closing stages after Knockmore had drawn level with two minutes of normal time remaining.
In the final, frantic moments, Kevin Filan used all his class and experience to curl over the lead score from an acute angle before the outstanding Richie Feeney strode forward from defence to smack over a superb long-range point.
Those moments turned out to be defining ones; although late Knockmore pressure, a red card for Filan after an off-the-ball incident, and a Kevin O’Neill free meant that it wasn’t over until it was over.
In hindsight, it was obvious right from the start that Castlebar meant business after the disappointment of coming up short at this stage in recent seasons. They went after their more experienced guests from the throw-in and a couple of points from the enigmatic Barry Moran gave them the early momentum.
The rangy full-forward also swooped for the game’s crucial score on six minutes when he rose highest in a crowded goalmouth to beat Knockmore’s Niall Canavan and Declan Sweeney to the punch, and flick Darragh Sloyane’s centre to the net.
Sweeney was injured in the process of trying to prevent the score, and his departure meant Knockmore were without the two men that have set the tone for them all summer.
However, the likes of Shane McHale, Trevor Howley, Kevin McLoughlin and Damien Munnelly all stood and fought. Their endeavour was reflected in the fact that Knockmore ‘won’ the last thirty minutes of a fractured half by 0-3 to 0-1 as Gerry Higgins, James Ruddy and Munnelly all hit the target.
Mitchels sole point in that barren spell came from the impressive Ronan Burke and, despite their flying start, the locals only led by 1-3 to 0-4 at the break.
The third quarter was when the game really started to ebb and flow as the pace quickened. Quick-fire points from Damien Munnelly (free) and the stylish Kevin McLoughlin levelled the game for the second time before Mitchels hit another purple patch.
Playing some lovely measured football they reeled off five points in twelve minutes as Neil Douglas (2), Niall Lydon, Aidan Walsh and Barry Moran all found their range to ease Castlebar ahead by 1-8 to 0-7 after 48 minutes.
Of course, Knockmore were never going to fade away and they rallied with four points without reply from Kevin O’Neill (free), the on-form Damien Munnelly, Kieran Langan and Aidan Kilcoyne to draw level again.
Ultimately, however, it wasn’t going to be their day.

Castlebar
C Naughton; R Feeney (0-1), A Feeney, E O’Reilly; R Burke (0-1), P Kelly, D Newcombe; S Fitzmaurice, D Sloyan; D Kirby, N Lydon (0-1), A Walsh (0-1); E Tiernan, B Moran (1-3), N Douglas (0-2).
Subs used: K Filan (0-1) for Tiernan; F Durkan for Lydon; G McDonagh for Durkan.

Knockmore
N Canavan; J Brogan, D Sweeney, B Gibbons; T Howley, S McHale, C Reape; J Ruddy (0-1), S Sweeney; K McLoughlin (0-1), G Higgins (0-1), A Keane; D Munnelly (0-5, 2fs), P Clarke, A Kilcoyne (0-1).
Subs used: K Langan (0-1) for D Sweeney (inj); A Statler for Keane; K O’Neill (0-2, 2fs) for Reape.

Referee: M Daly (Ballyhaunis)