Mitchels the masters

Mitchels the minor masters

Castlebar     1-11
Aghamore    2-5

Edwin McGreal
McHale Park

AGHAMORE may have borne the tag of favourites going into this county final but there can be no doubting that the Minor A championship rests in the right location this week as a spirited, purposeful and very able Mitchels side simply had too much for the East Mayo champions.
Mitchels, who had struggled at the minor grade earlier this year, have really got their act together in recent months and a club whose future direction was being questioned by many not long ago (they still have to secure their senior league status) are now the holders of the County Minor and Under-21 A titles.
Not bad going you’ll have to agree.
And while their U-21 team won their county final by a flattering margin, the three-point win on Sunday was flattering only to Aghamore. Mitchels dominated from pillar to post, one five-minute Aghamore spell notwithstanding, and were they a bit more adept in front of goal, they would have been well home and hosed before the final few minutes.
They hit the ground running early on and in no sector were Mitchels dominated. Aidan Walsh and Ger McDonagh got things rolling at midfield and in too many areas of the field were Aghamore second best.
Donal Newcombe pointed well after five minutes and Aidan Walsh followed that with a free. Alan Freeman responded with a free but two Pat Fitzgerald points (one free) gave the home side a 0-4 to 0-1 lead.
But Aghamore assumed a surprise lead. Wing back Jamie Tighe struck their second point on 18 minutes following a superb pass from Kenny Feeney and within seconds the ball was in the net.
Alan Freeman switched the ball to the left wing where his namesake Cathal took possession. Seeing Alan continue his run untracked Cathal completed the 1-2. Alan slipped the ball to Colm Caulfield and he finished well past Rory Byrne.
Mitchels’ response was impressive. Their struck their only goal on 24 minutes but it did have a touch of fortune about it. Ger McDonagh’s free on the right was an attempt at a point but it landed on the 20 metre mark. Tall full-forward Alan Casey took possession here and his shot on the turn seemed to be an attempt at a point as well but it flew into the top corner of the net. Mitchels augmented this with points from Aidan Walsh (free) and Seamus Staunton (free) to lead 1-6 to 1-2 at the break.
Aghamore could have had a goal early in the second half. Alan Freeman got into the danger area but his effort was superbly blocked by Eoghan O’Reilly, and subsequent points from the hugely impressive Seamus Staunton and Ioseph O’Reilly saw Castlebar six clear.
That looked like the break for home but Aghamore changed things, moving Cathal Freeman (who was getting no latitude from man of the match Neil Douglas) out and moving Alan Freeman inside. The effect was quick.
On 43 minutes Cathal Freeman bore in on goal (after seeming to take too many steps) and saw his left-footed effort hit the right hand post. The ball flew across the goal and the other Freeman, Alan, was on hand to knock the ball home.
This led to Aghamore’s only real period of dominance. Kenny Feeney was pulling the strings at centre half-forward, and he provided two assists for two left-footed points from Cathal Freeman and suddenly only one point separated the sides.
This was going to test Mitchels’ character but they didn’t shirk. Neil Douglas epitomised that and a 60 yard run from him ended with Staunton pointing a key score for Mitchels.
From then on Aghamore looked ragged and Ger McDonagh began to dominate at midfield. Still the gap didn’t look like widening. Aidan Walsh missed a straightforward free but made amends one minute later, winning possession just outside the square and cleverly bicycle kicking the ball over the bar.
Aghamore were always a threat for a goal but Mitchels were excellent at the back and the closest we would come to that goal was with a minute to go. However, Alan Freeman’s 21 yard effort flew well over.
Fittingly, the final say would come from the game’s best player. Neil Douglas made another superb run from deep in his own half. It ended with him 21 yards out and despite the pressure being applied, he guided the ball over the bar.