Carras win Minor C final with ten points to spare over Belmullet

Carras 1-18 Belmullet 2-5

Oisín McGovern in MacHale Park

THE battle of north and south ended in victory for the Carras Minors in MacHale Park this afternoon.

The amalgamation of Garrymore and Kilmaine overcame a Belmullet site that were overly reliant on Anthony Bairéad and only hit two points from play.

Despite hitting nine wides, Carras were dominant from start to finish as Conor Lydon and Hugh O’Loughlin ruled the skies at midfield and kicked nine points between them.

The exchanges were even in the open ten minutes, but Carras began to pull away slowly but surely.

Belmullet occasionally threatened the goal, but struggled to get their attacking rhythm going as their opponents went in 0-9 0-4 ahead at half time.

The Erris boys began the half in ideal fashion when full-forward James Ó Coinne raised the green flag within a minute of the throw-in.

However, guided by the excellent midfield pairing of Lydon and Loughlin, Carras went six points up by the 40th minute.

Belmullet were back within three points after a fine team move which saw Thomas Tighe offload to Anthony Barrett who stuck the ball in the net.

However, the boys from the barony were unable to build on that momentum and failed to score for the rest of the game.

A late penalty kick from Bairéad was saved by Dillon Walsh minutes before Eoin McGreal put the icing on the Carras cake with a goal after a superb solo run.

A full report will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News.

Carras: Dillon Walsh; Adam Gallagher (0-1), David McGrath, Luke Muniz (0-1); Eoin McGreal (1-1), Adam Bolton, Luke Murphy; Conor Lydon (0-4), Hugh O’Loughlin (0-5, 4f); Rory Barrett, Conor Keleghan, Jack Nevin; Conor Monaghan (0-3, 2f), Matthew Walshe (0-2), Tom Moran 

Subs: Cathal Tierney (0-1) for Boyle (22), Sean O’Brien for Moran (50) Shane Rogers for Barrett (60)

Belmullet: Kyle Heffernon; James Mac Iomhair, Cólín O’Domhnaill, James Eochaidh; Conor Breathnach, Rian Coincheanainn, Oisín O’Raghallaigh; James O’Maolabhail, Anthony Bairéad (1-4, 1 ’45, 2f); Edward Ó Brógáin, Thomas Tighe, Jack Heffernon; Lenny Gilbert, James Ó Coinne (1-1) Fionn Ó Donnochú

Subs: Paddy Discín for Ó Raghallaigh (14), Jack Ó Loinsigh for Gilbert (HT), Thady Breathnach for Ó Domhnaill (HT), Patrick Ó Ruadháín for Heffernon (54), John Mac Íomhair for Ó Brógáin (58, inj.), Tadhg Ó Coinne for James Mac Íomhair (60)

Referee: E Nolan