Mayo Vocational School's Senior Football
Final
Mayo GAA News 7 May 1997
Davitt College and Lacken take it to the limit in thriller
Davitt College 2-13----------St Pat's Lacken 2-11
Report: John Melvin
Davitt College and Lacken took it to the limit, and further, in this exhilarating county Vocational school's senior football final in balmy conditions at Knockmore on Wednesday last.
In a contest that seemed destined to end in deadlock, Davitt College somehow found that extra reserve in stamina to land the match winning points in the dying moments. Significantly the winning scores came came from two players who left major indentations on the game-Martin McNicholas and Keith Hopkins.
The hand writing, or should that be foot-writing of Martin McNicholas was written all over the game script while Keith Hopkins, who kicked some tremendous points was another influential figure. Not surprisingly they were both instrumental in landing the scores which finally tilted the balance in favour of the Castlebar school.
But for so long it looked like the boys from Lacken would steal a march on the pre-match favourites.
They were never daunted and certainly never overawed despite conceding two first half goals which left them trailing at the break 2-6 to 1-6.
In fact it was Lacken who scored the first goal of the game when Martin Barrett's high centre dipped under the bar.
The sides had been level at 0-3 each up to that point with Keith Hopkins, Theron Coghill and Martin McNicholas keeping Davitt College in front only to be pulled back by Conor Hannick (two frees) and Neill Maughan, who could so easily have found the net as the Davitt College full back line visibly creaked during that opening fifteen minutes.
Davitt College were also in some difficulty in midfield in the early stages where the powerful partnership of Aodhan and Paul Tighe were wreaking havoc.
But Davitt College's were not unnerved having conceded a silly goal and the reply was swift, with full forward Kieran Lally Walsh providing the finishing touch to a very good move but an even better goal was to follow a minute later when Justin Conlon provided the perfect pass for Martin McNicholas, who provided a class finish with the left peg.
From being four points up Lacken found themselves a point behind and that ws extended to three points with McNicholas now beginning to find the room to express himself while Hopkins landed a fine a free from the hands to make it 2-6 to 1-6 at the break.
Within seven minutes of the restart a rejuvenated Lacken side had pulled level. Vincent Howley, opening with a point which Ray Walsh replied to, but it was a goal from Shane Lynn which turned this game on it's head.
It was level at 2-9 each with ten minutes remaining, McNicholas, Vincent Howley, Paul Tighe and Hopkins with a powerful point from all of fifty yards keeping things boiling over and it was Paul Tighe who edged Lacken in front only for Theron Coghill to tie it again at 2-10 each and both sides traded points again Sean Reilly (Lakcen) and McNicholas before a bad clearance in the last two minutes gifted a point to Hopkins, while McNicholas showed his pace and his class to cut in along the by-line before angling a gem of a point to clinch it for Davitt College.
Lacken gave it a tremendous shot and were certaintly unlucky on a few occasions but when it came to handling the pressure and holding their nerve, Davitt College proved the masters with full back Kevin Ansbro steadying matters. Mervyn Marley, Justin Conlon and Barry Basquill did their work while when the pressure was at it's most intense, Harry Flynn was able to respond with some tremendous fielding and positioning in the vital alst ten minutes while Theron Coghill Sean Reilly, Ray Walsh and Garry Dillon played well but the two stars that burned brightest were McNicholas and Hopkins.
Lacken will be disappointed with having victory within their grasp and allowing it to slip. But this young team will be back. For wholehearted effort and endeavour the outstanding performances came Karl Dooher, John Barrett, Paul Tighe, Aodhan Tighe, Sean Reilly, Shane Lynn, Vincent Howley and Conor Hannick
Davitt College: Declan Gannon, Sean, Kevin Ansbro, Fintna McMorrow, Justin Conlon, Mervyn Marley, Barry Basquill, Harry Flynn, Keith Hopkins (0-4); Garry Dillon (0-1); Sean Reilly (0-1); Theron Coghill (0-2); Martin McNicholas(1-5); Kieran Lally (1-0); Ray Walsh . Subs; Alan Dillon, J.P. FLaherty, M. Walsh for Conlon.
Lacken: Rory Kennedy, Martin McLoughlin, Karl Dooher, Trevor Healy, John Barrett, Seamus Hennigan, Martin Barrett (1-0); Shane Lynn (1-1); Aodhan Tighe, Paul Tighe (0-2); Sean Reilly (0-1); Vincent Howley (0-2); Maurice Scanlon, Conor Hannick (0-5); Neill Thomas.Subs: M. Maughan for N.Thomas.
Ref: P.J. Loftus (Ballina).
