Castlebar come out on top in entertaining Mayo U-21 clash
Ben Joyce and Calum Filan impressed for Castlebar with the pair combining for a tally of 0-14
U-21 A Football Championship Quarter-Final
Castlebar Mitchels 0-19
Westport 2-11
In Jack Kenny Park
As the sun shone high in the sky in West Mayo early on Sunday afternoon, an entertaining U-21 game was played out between two sides full of talent.
This was a real nip and tuck contest with neither side managing to build up a clear lead across the hour.
This year’s Mayo minor Fiachra O’Cinnseala was prominent early on in attack for the hosts as he caused the Castlebar defence plenty of problems. Down the other end, Calum Filan and Ryan Gibbons caught the eye close to the Westport goal.
The opening goal of the contest arrived with 24 minutes on the clock when the energetic Darragh Hoban passed the ball across the goal and as Fionn O’Cinnseala received the ball, he smashed the ball past Mark Moore in the Castlebar goal.
Going in at the break after an open half of football, Westport led narrowly 1-7 to 0-8.
In front of an enthusiastic crowd, Castlebar started the fresh half in fine fashion. Scores from Calum Filan, Ryan Gibbons and the brilliant Ben Joyce swayed the contest again. Four minutes into the second half, the boys in blue hit back again with Fionn O’Cinnseala finding the net once again with a low finish after Ben Holmes won the ball around the middle.
Castlebar led by experienced manager Paul Jordan then started to grow into the game. Ben Joyce booted over a brace of two point frees while Filan was buzzing in attack.
Westport had chances but the Mitchels rearguard performed well with tigerish defender Brian McDonnell, Conall Durcan and this year’s Mayo U-20 Shane Cunningham to the fore.
Both sides were missing players with the hosts without the likes of Jack O’Malley and Elcmar O’Toole while Mitchels impressed while without the services of their senior players such as John MacMonagle, Joe Forry and Cian Walsh.
On the day, Ben Joyce and Calum Filan caught the eye while the pair both kicked 0-7 each. Joyce, who is just 17 years of age, has been featuring off the bench for the Castlebar Mitchels senior side in recent times as has Filan.
Castlebar now join Claremorris, Balla and Crossmolina in the last four.
A full match report will be carried in Tuesday’s edition of The Mayo News.