History made as defiant St Ciaráns lose by four to Mitchels
Seven-club amalgamation produce impressive display in first ever championship game
Mayo Senior Hurling Championship Round 1
St Ciaran’s 0-16 Castlebar Mitchels 3-11
Oisín McGovern in Ballyvary
A DARING and defiant St Ciarán’s side made history this evening as they lost out by four points in their first ever senior championship game.
A thrilling contest saw a slightly better Castlebar Mitchels team slowly edge their way to victory in the second half against the amalgamation of Moytura, Caiseal Gaels, Ballyvary, Westport, Claremorris, Gaeltacht Iorras and Ballina Stephenites.
A hat-trick from Mitchels dynamo Abdullah Abbasi made the difference in a game where a Luke Hurley-inspired St Ciarán’s got off to an impressive start.
Hurley, who finished with nine points to his name, was to the fore as the amalgamated side took an early lead, a lead that was undone in the ninth minutes when Abbasi struck his first goal.
Thereafter, Mitchels never trailed, but still found themselves level at 1-6 to 0-9 at half-time against a St Ciarán’s side that hit some lovely scores.
An early second half Abbasi goal put Mitchels three ahead, which allowed them to keep their opponents at arms length for the rest of the game.
Unsurprisingly, the big man Abbasi gave the winners the breathing room when he completed his hat-trick with a stunning goal on the turn after 42 minutes.
St Ciarán’s outscored Mitchels 0-4 to 0-1 in the final quarter but hadn’t enough in the tank to overturn the victors.
A full report, plus reaction from both camps, will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News.