Mayo Intermediate Football Final
Match Report

Connaught Telegraph

GAA News 9 October 1996


Glory day for Moy Davitts

By Michael Commins

MOY DAVITTS 0 - 11       CLAREMORRIS 1 - 6

The red and white of Moy Davitts fluttered proudly in the evening breeze in Bohola, Straide, and Foxford, and from Shraheens across to Attymass last Sunday evening. This was a day for celebrations as the club, founded in 1974, overcame favourites Claremorris to capture the county Intermediate title with a rousing performance that lifted them into Mayo senior ranks for the first time in their history. This was a proud day for Moy Davitts and one which will be cherished by all who shared in its achievement for many years to come. And the exuberant jubilation was fully understandable as players, families, friends, neighbours, and supporters joined in one great celebration.

Yet, it all seemed so unlikely in the opening eighteen minutes of this game. Claremorris came to Crossmolina as favourites to take the honours and regain senior status. And they opened in splendid fashion, setting in place some classy moves that were to yield rich dividends.

Claremorris open in style

It was the towering Johnny Cummins who opened the scoring when he converted a free five minutes into the game. Within sixty seconds, Claremorris were again in full flight as Cathal Casey set in train a swift downfield move involving John Donelon, Brendan Fitzpatrick, Neal Higgins, and Brendan French. It was French who was well placed after a good ball from Higgins to give James Larkin little chance between the Moy Davitts posts.

Claremorris were rampant at this stage and Cummins converted a close in free before his team was again involved in a defence splitting attack featuring Cummins, Andy Joyce, John Donelon, Joe Gorham, and Brendan French, but goalie, James Larkin, brought off a crucial save as French went for his second goal in the space of three minutes.

Slowly but surely, Moy Davitts began to settle down and were themselves unlucky not to breach the Claremorris goal when Frank Molloy and John Kelly combined to put Joe Doherty in the clear but his effort was well saved by Niall Creighton. The rebound was driven against the crossbar by Frank Molloy. It seemed that fate was conspiring against the wearers of the red and white when two minutes later, Joe Doherty again blasted for goal only to watch his shot rebound off the woodwork.

Joe Gorham fired over a fine long range point for the South Mayo side and the hard- working defender, Brian Gallagher, came forward for a terrific score following some nice build- up work by Casey, French, and Horan. Moy Davitts eventually gave their supporters something to cheer for when they opened their scoring with a point from a free by Brendan Clarke. And when Brendan Fitzpatrick replied with a similar score from a placed ball two minutes later to leave Claremorris ahead by 1-5 to 0-1, who could have predicted that this would be their last score with the single exception of a point from a free in the closing minutes of the game.

Moy Davitts Revival

Incredibly, Claremorris began to drift out of this game and the Moy Davitts rally found its fight-back and inspiration in a wonderful point from Pat Clarke following a neat solo run. Tommy McNicholas was having a thundering game in defence while Gary Ruane and Maurice Tolan, who played second fiddle to the Claremorris centre-fielders during the opening quarter, were now beginning to assert control in this sector and it was Ruane who placed Joe Doherty for a fine point from play. Clarke added another from a free to leave the score at 1-5 to 0-4 at the interval.

Moy Davitts, with the wind to their backs in the second half, had a early point from Jimmy Byrne to leave it all to play for and while they dominated the exchanges in this period, they found it difficult to break down the Claremorris rearguard who did some stout defending. Doherty went close after ten minutes but Creighton was equal to the challenge and again brought off a good save. Frank Molloy had another shot off the woodwork before Pat Clarke landed a point from a long range free. The Moy Davitts supporters were in full voice after Gary Ruane raced through to kick a superb point and Pat Clarke brought the teams to level terms nineteen minutes into the second half.

Winning Scores

It was clear at this stage that Claremorris would be desperately lucky to hold out for a replay such was the trend of play and it came as no surprise when Jimmy Byrne kicked Moy Davitts into the lead for the first time in the game shortly afterwards. Frank Molloy's exquisite point a minute later left them two ahead and looking good.

Claremorris, to their credit, put in a gutsy finish with John Hession doing some fine work in the defence and Brendan Fitzpatrick converted a free to leave the minimum between the sides.

Claremorris players Johnny Cummins and Brendan Fitzpatrick may have felt somewhat aggrieved that two decisions went against them in the closing minutes of the game as Claremorris pressed forward in search of an equaliser. But when Claremorris look back on this game, they will know in their hearts that going forty minutes without a score will not win county titles for anyone. Bohola's Pat Clarke had the last say when he slotted over a free just before the full time whistle.

James Larkin effected the save that kept Moy Davitts very much in contention and played solidly throughout. He exuded confidence and was always in control. Tommy McNicholas, the man from Shraheens, had an exceptional game and gave a tremendous display from start to finish. Martin Neary was given a specific task at the outset and he duly obliged with an exceptional performance. Seamus Hennigan, Mervyn Kneafsey, and Declan O'Brien were prominent in defence. After a slow start, Gary Ruane and Maurice Tolan turned in some fine performances while Pat Clarke, Frank Molloy, Joe Doherty, and Jimmy Byrne were impressive in the forward lines.

This was a truly special day for John Gilmore and for the rest of the management team of Paddy Roche, Johnny Jordan, Joe King, and Jimmy Roche, and for people like Joe McEvey who was there at the start in the early seventies.

This is the second occasion that Claremorris has lost out at the final hurdle in the last few years. They were beaten by Charlestown in the 1993 replay at Ballyhaunis.

Big Niall Creighton brought off a few mighty saves and did all that was expected of him. Declan Mahon, Pat Grogan, Brian Gallagher, and Cathal Casey did well in defence with Andy Joyce and Noel Doherty toiling hard to curb a rampant Moy Davitts during the second half. Johnny Cummins had a great opening twenty minutes while John Hession won a good amount of possession and displayed good defensive qualities when the team was under pressure in the closing stages.

On the day, the forwards did not deliver on expectations. They only scored a goal and a point from play and hardly anyone could have forecast that such would be the case in advance of this game. While Claremorris did score a second point from play, that came from defender Brian Gallagher. John Donelon was, perhaps, their most impressive player on the day while Fitzpatrick, French, Gorham, Horan, and Higgins worked hard but found the going very tough against a very well marshalled and tight marking Moy Davitts rearguard.

It goes without saying that the unavailability of county panelist, Kevin Beirne, due to injury was a major loss to Claremorris. Kevin is one of the most consistent players in the club and his inspiring and steading influence was greatly missed last Sunday. The Foxford Brass Band, whose members are from both the areas served by Moy Davitts and Knockmore, certainly brought good luck to both teams last Sunday!

Moy Davitts: J. Larkin, D. O'Brien, S. Hennigan, T. McNicholas, M. Kneafsey, M. Neary, B. Hughes, M. Tolan, G. Ruane (0-1), K. Tuohy, F. Molloy (0-1), P. Clarke (0-6), J. Doherty (0-1), J. Kelly, J. Byrne (0-2). Subs. J. Durkan for B. Hughes, B. Clarke for K. Tuohy, F. Towey for J. Kelly.

Claremorris: N. Creighton, P. Grogan, D. Mahon, N. Doherty, A. Joyce, C. Casey, B. Gallagher (0-1), J. Hession, J. Cummins (0- 2), N. Higgins, J. Donelon, J. Horan, B. Fitzpatrick (0-2), J. Gorham (0-1), B. French (1-0). Subs. R. Charles for C. Casey, M. McGahon for J. Horan.

Referee: C. Collins (Lacken).



Connaught Telegraph - News - October 1996

Connaught Telegraph - Sport - October 1996