Castlebar stun Crokes to reach All-Ireland final

Mitchels march on


Castlebar stun Kerry champions to reach All-Ireland club final

Semi-Final
Castlebar 3-13
Dr Crokes 1-11

Mike Finnerty
Portlaoise

SINCE they regained the Moclair Cup last November, Castlebar Mitchels haven’t looked back.
The team that Pat Holmes has built over the last three years have powered onwards and upwards, answering every question that has been asked of them, and looking more impressive with every outing.
Now they are just one hour away from landing the biggest prize in the storied club’s prestigious 129-year history.
On the evidence of their latest show of strength, it would be foolish betting against them finishing what they have started.
A repeat of last Saturday’s performance in four weeks’ time, and the Andy Merrigan Cup will surely be crossing the county boundaries for the third time in 13 years.
We expected plenty of perspiration and industry from the Mitchels against Crokes and they didn’t disappoint; but it was their direct approach and attacking flair that ultimately bent the game to their will and broke the Kerry lads’ spirits.  
Having engineered a one-point lead at half-time (1-7 to 1-6), Mitchels saved their best football for the last quarter. Their tenacious tacklers and tight-marking backs combined to keep Dr Crokes scoreless for the last 15 minutes as the absence of their injured, mercurial forward Colm Cooper weighed heavily on the Munster champions.
Castlebar cut loose to rack up 1-4 without reply in the last quarter, man of the match Patrick Durcan firing in his second goal of the game in the dying moments to kickstart the victory celebrations.
Mitchels’ masterplan meant that Crokes were unable to build from the back, couldn’t find the space they needed to work, and saw their key men tied down for long spells.
Castlebar were in their faces, snapping at their heels, and attacking their goal from all angles. It was a joy to watch.
Mitchels started like they meant business with ‘new’ full-forward Barry Moran and Aidan Walsh both kicking confident points in the opening minutes.
Crokes weren’t long getting into the groove either, and four unanswered scores, including one each from Kieran O’Leary and Cooper, eased them into the lead after ten minutes.
Castlebar duly responsed with big points from Danny Kirby and Barry Moran levelling the game for the second time before the end of the first quarter.
The experienced Kerry outfit surged ahead again almost immediately with a couple of quickfire points but, crucially, ‘Gooch’ Cooper injured his knee after colliding with Ger McDonagh while he slotted over the second of them.
His departure on 20 minutes robbed Crokes of their talisman, and added fuel to Mitchels’ fire.
Less than a minute after Cooper limped off, Patrick Durcan galloped upfield to kick a goal, and three inspirational points before half-time from Richie Feeney, Tom King and captain Donie Newcombe sent Castlebar in for jaffa cakes ahead.
The second act produced by Mitchels was the result of many nights on the training ground in Castlebar.
The Mayo champions dictated the rules of engagement, tearing into the Crokes all over the field, and closing the game out with ruthless efficiency.
Mitchels won the second half by 2-6 to 0-5, with quickfire scores after the restart from Tom King (free) and Richie Feeney opening up some daylight at a crucial stage.
In truth, the tide looked to have turned once and for all when King picked up Barry Moran’s knockdown in the 12th minute, and fired the ball to the Crokes net with aplomb.
However, to their credit, Crokes came roaring back with three points in four minutes from Ambrose O’Donovan, Alan O’Sullivan and Johnny Buckley to pare the gap back to the minimum on 47 minutes.
That was all she wrote though for the challengers; Mitchels were about to seize the moment.
The under-rated Ger McDonagh was immense in the last 15 minutes; dishing out hits, kicking a crucial score and raking the skies to grab a Crokes kick-out.
Scores from Tom King (free), Aidan Walsh and Niall Lydon propelled Castlebar to victory, but not before Patrick Durcan popped up on the end of a typical swashbuckling attack to smack in his second goal of the day.
Another game over, and only one fence left to jump.

Castlebar Mitchels
C Naughton; A Feeney, E O'Reilly, R O'Malley; D Newcombe (0-1), T Cunniffe, P Durcan (2-0); G McDonagh (0-1), B Moran (0-2); N Lydon (0-1), A Walsh (0-2), R Feeney (0-2); D Kirby (0-1), N Douglas, T King (1-3, 3fs).
Subs: J Durcan for R Feeney (51); D Joyce for A Feeney (52).

Dr Crokes
D Moloney; F Fitzgerald (0-1), M Moloney, L Quinn; D O'Leary, E Brosnan, K Ward; A O'Donovan (0-2), J Buckley (0-1); A O'Sullivan (0-3), D Casey (0-1), B Looney; K O'Leary (1-1), C Cooper (0-2), S Doolan. Subs: M Burns for Cooper (22, inj); S Meyers for K Ward (h-t); G O'Shea for A O'Donovan (49, inj); C Brady for B Looney (55).

Referee: C Reilly (Meath)