Mitchels find a bit extra to beat Westport

Mayo Senior League Division 1 Final

Castlebar Mitchels 2-16
Westport 0-21
(After Extra-Time)

THE David Gavin Perpetual Cup returned to the Castlebar Mitchels clubhouse on Saturday evening after a nail-biting finish to the Mayo Senior League Division 1 Final at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar.
Extra-time was required to separate the defending league champions and their neighbours, the county champions, from Westport and it looked like a penalty shoot-out was on the cards after Bob Tuohy’s brilliant equalising goal in the ninth minute of the second period of extra-time.
But there was still time for Mitchels to force a free and the prolific Ethan Gibbons (who kicked a string of outrageous long-range points during the game) clipped the winning score from a free not long before the final whistle.
The Mitchels team joint-managed by Barry Moran and Niall Lydon had led at half-time in normal time by 0-11 to 0-6 with the aforementioned Gibbons (3), Paddy Durcan (2), Neil Douglas, Mark Cunningham, Bob Tuohy and Donie Newcombe kicking the pick of their scores.
Westport had looked out of sorts with only well-taken points from Killian Kilkelly (2), Oisin McLaughlin, Alan Kennedy and Mark Moran giving their supporters something to shout about.
The county champions looked to be in dire straits early in the second half when Ultan O’Reilly crashed home a Castlebar goal to push the holders six points up.
But, incredibly, Mitchels were outscored over the next 30 minutes by 0-8 to 0-2 as Westport came roaring back into contention.
The introduction of Colm Moran proved the catalyst as the former Mayo forward caught fire and shot three excellent points from play, with his brother, Mark, and Killian Kilkelly also finishing off some very slick moves.
The sides were level (1-12 to 0-15) after 45 minutes and the last quarter was fast and furious.
Mitchels hit back with scores from Anthony O’Boyle and Bob Tuohy to make a break for the finish line but Westport summoned up another comeback as substitute Conor McGraynor and Luke Tunney grabbed precious points in added time to force the game to extra-time.
Westport maintained their momentum into extra-time and outscored the Mitchels by 0-5 to 0-2 to lead by 0-21 to 1-15 seven minutes into the second period.
It looked at that stage like Martin Connolly’s men had broken the homeside’s resolve and that they would repeat their county semi-final victory of last year.
But Mitchels had another ideas and, when Jack O’Reilly forced a turnover close to the Westport goal in the closing stages, Bob Tuohy raced on to the loose ball before cracking a piledriver past Paddy O’Malley for the levelling goal.
Shortly afterwards Ethan Gibbons had kicked the winner and the final whistle sounded.
Mitchels captain Donie Newcombe lifted the cup and paid a lovely tribute to the late David Gavin, after a match that was a fitting contest to his memory.

Castlebar Mitchels
P Basquille; D Conlon, J Tuohy, M Dolan; P Durcan (0-2), J Cunningham, D Newcombe (0-1); B Tuohy (1-2), M Fahy; U O’Reilly (1-1), N Douglas (0-2,‘45), A O’Boyle (0-2); E Gibbons (0-5, 1f), P Heneghan, M Cunningham (0-1).
Subs used: S Morahan, T Waldron, R Burke, S Keane, E Murphy, P Ruddy, P Waldron, J O’Reilly.

Westport
P O’Malley; N McManamon, B McDermott, L Tunney (0-1); R Geraghty, Paul Lambert, Pat Lambert; L Keegan, B O’Malley (0-1); R Walsh, M Moran (0-3), O McLaughlin (0-2); A Kennedy (0-4, 3fs), K Keane, K Kilkelly (0-5).
Subs used: C Moran (0-4), L Shevlin, F McLaughlin, C McGraynor (0-1).

Referee: L Devenney (Ballina Stephenites)