Mitchels put 1-20 past Ballina Stephenites to advance to league semi-finals

Mayo Senior Football League Division 1 Quarter-final

Castlebar Mitchels 1-20 Ballina Stephenites 0-14

Oisín McGovern in Josie Munnelly Park

Castlebar Mitchels have marched into the league semi-finals with a free-scoring victory over their North Mayo rivals.

Ethan Gibbons (0-6, 5 frees) and Mark Cunningham (0-5), were the main scorers in a game where Mitchels kept the scoreboard ticking relentlessly.

Ballina Stephenites gave a fair account of themselves as well, despite still missing Padraig O'Hora and a couple of other key players.

However, Mitchels were simply too clinical and too pacy in attack for the Ballina defence to cope.

Once they raced into a 0-4 0-0 lead inside eight minutes, Barry Moran's men never trailed once.

Mark Cunningham was electric yet again and was unlucky not to finish with a goal.

Likewise, Ethan Gibbons and Paddy Heneghan and Neil Douglas all had their eyes firmly fixed on goal, with Douglas landing the game's only three pointer in the 38th minute.

Trailing by 0-9 0-6, Ballina Stephenites were bolstered by the introduction of former county player Mikey Murray, who kicked three points in an excellent second half display.

Evan Regan was the visitors' top scorer yet again, but will rue a good goal chance which he blasted over the bar.

Thanks to Douglas's early second half goal, Ballina Stephenites were never going to catch Mitchels, but they never quite fell away either.

Castlebar Mitchels now progress to the Division 1 semi-final.

Read the full report plus reaction from Castlebar Mitchels captain Donal Newcombe in Tuesday's Mayo News.

Castlebar Mitchels: R Byrne; M Dolan, J Touhy, D Newcombe; M Fahy, D McHugh, J Cunningham; C Stenson, A O'Boyle (0-2); U O'Reilly (0-1), B Touhy (0-1) M Cunningham (0-5); N Douglas (1-2, 1f), E Gibbons (0-6, 5f), P Heneghan (0-3)

Subs: S Keane for Douglas (49), E Murphy for Newcombe (50), C Mulroy for Heneghan (51), P Ruddy for Stenson (51), J O'Reilly for McHugh (55)

Ballina Stephenites: D Clarke; L Golden, G Cafferkey, S Callinan; S Regan, D Tighe (0-1), R Geraghty; L Jordan, F Irwin (0-3, 1f); B Collins, C McStay, M Birrane (0-1); E Regan (0-5, 3f), D O'Mahony, T Leonard

Subs: M Murray (0-3) for Leonard (29), K Tighe (0-1) for O'Mahony (36), L Duggan for Geraghty (41), C Sweeney for S Regan (45), S Mullins for Cafferkey (46), M McHale for Irwin (57)

Ref: J Glavey (Aghamore)