Davitts dig out crucial win in Bonniconlon

IFC Group 1, Round 2

Bonniconlon 0-8

Davitts 0-11

This might not have been the greatest game ever played but Davitts won't care. The men from the southern border left North Mayo with a championship win under their belts on Saturday evening and that was the only box they needed to tick.

Bonniconlon were game and gallant hosts. They never let Davitts out of their sight, but their inability to break down an impressive Davitts back division proved to be their undoing.

The home side only scored three times from play in the entire match and although Davitts weren't much more prolific they did enough to win.

Dylan Gallagher was the star of the show in the first half for Davitts, kicking four points while Colm Boyle, Jack Melvin and Niall Treacy also troubled the umpires. At the other end, Bonniconlon enjoyed a lot of possession but they couldn't find the time or space in which to make an impression.

Sean Neary converted three placed balls and Richard McKenzie added one from play to leave the home boys three adrift at the half-way mark, 0-4 to 0-7.

Bonni' began the second half on the front foot with a fine point from hard-working wing back Conor Redmond. However, they couldn't build on that and Davitts gradually ground their way further clear. Gallagher and Treacy converted frees to leave them four to the good midway through the second half, but a free from Brian O'Malley left just a goal in it after 46 minutes.

The home side sensed they could get something out of the game at that stage, but Davitts defended impressively and converted frees from Treacy and Gallagher gave them a five-point lead and a modicum of comfort as injury time arrived.

However, Bonni refused to fade away and a long-range point from O'Malley followed by a converted free from Neary left just a goal between them, but the final whistle sounded before the home side could launch another attack and the men from the south had recorded a cherished championship win.