O'Donoghue delivers as Belmullet clinch league title

It required two moments of magic from Ryan O'Donoghue before Belmullet squeezed past Moy Davitts in Sunday's exciting Division 2 league final in Crossmolina. The inter-county attacker ended the game with 2-5 to his name and the goals, which arrived in the second half were exceptional strikes.

Moy Davitts were excellent opponents and could have easily grabbed at least a draw in a frantic finish. 

Brian Heneghan was their main attacking threat and he kicked some excellent scores in the first half to leave the Moy boys just one adrift, 0-7 to 1-5, at the interval. At the other end, Belmullet had been extremely wasteful, seeing two goal chances well saved by Chris McGlynn and a number of point efforts flying well off target.

The Belmullet goal arrived after nine minutes when Anthony Barrett palmed the ball home. Gerry Barrett was to the fore for the Erris men with Jason Boylan and Fionnan Ryan impressing in the middle, but they faced a huge challenge from the East Mayo squad in the second period.

There was still just a point between them at the end of the third quarter when a long ball into the square was gathered brilliantly by O'Donoghue and he wriggled past three men to rattle the net.

That concession failed to deflate Moy Davitts and they played some excellent football to draw level, 0-13 to 2-7, before O'Donoghue struck again. Colin Barrett's shot was well saved by McGlynn, but O'Donoghue grabbed the rebound, twisted and shimmied before sinking a shot in the bottom corner. 

Once again, Moy Davitts fought back and a goal from Heneghan and points from Cian McHale had things tied up in injury time. However, Belmullet went up the field one last time and when Ronan Murray was fouled O'Donoghue sent the ball straight between the sticks to win the title.

A full match report and after-match reaction will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News