Galway intermediate champs too strong for Mayo counterparts

Mayo intermediate football champions Davitts have bowed out of the Connacht competition at the quarterfinal stage, defeated 2-18 to 1-11 by Caherlistrane of Galway, writes Aiden Henry.

In the end, Davitts could have few complaints as they were beaten by a well-drilled outfit that hit the ground running from the off.

Caherlistrane had Davitts playing catch-up for most of the game, which was played at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar.

However, in fairness to Davitts, they battled very hard throughout, especially when they trailed their opponents by 12 points with just 20 minutes played. Indeed, they put in a great last 10 minutes of the opening half, scoring an unanswered 1-5 to reduce the deficit to four points as the two sides went in for the interval break.

Although Davitts went seven points down after seven minutes of the second half, they rallied once again and reduced Caherlistrane's lead to four points as the game entered the final quarter.

But that was as good as it got for the Mayo side as the visitors upped the ante in the final 15 minutes to run out convincing winners in the end.

As already mentioned, the damage for Davitts was done in the first 20 minutes as Caherlistrane completely dominated and made it pay where it mattered most – on the scoreboard. There was less than 20 seconds gone when they took the lead, a point from centre-back Richard McGrath. As things transpired, it was a lead they were never to lose.

After going 0-4 to 0-1 in front, they Galway side struck for a goal in the 12th minute when a driven shot by Ciaran Donnellen ended in the back of the net off Davitts goalkeeper Ronan McNamara. Spurred on by this green flag, Caherlistrane followed up with four more points before getting a second goal, this time from Alan Morris.

It looked at this stage that Davitts were in real trouble. Indeed, a massive win for Caherlistrane looked very much to be on the cards. But as we have seen on numerous occasions in the past, Davitts never know they are beaten – and this was no exception.

Two pointed frees by Niall Treacy and a two-pointer from Jack Melvin brought them back into the game. Then, on 30 minutes, they were awarded a penalty after Niall Treacy was fouled as he bore down on goal. From the resulting spot kick, Melvin brilliantly dispatched the penalty.

When Treacy followed up with a pointed free, the gap was suddenly down to four points as the match official blew for the half-time break.

On the resumption, Caherlistrane were quickest out of the blocks and extended their lead to seven points after three early unanswered points.

However, Davitts again hit back and after a single from Jack Ronayne, Niall Treacy landed a brilliant two-pointer from play before Cathal Corless made it a four-point game as the game entered the final quarter.

In that final quarter, Caherlistrane regained control. After goalkeeper Kieran McDonagh converted a free from outside the arc in the 52nd minute, there was no way back for Davitts. The Galway side went on to add four more points to end up winners by 10.

*See the print edition on Tuesday for more on the game