Mayo GAA News 9 July 1997
Castlebar Mitchels 1-20 Lacken 0-6
Castlebar Mitchels clocked up the biggest win of the day when the out-pointed and outclassed Lacken at McHale Park to book a quarter-final championship shot at Kilmeena.
As the scoreline indicates, it was up front where Castlebar packed the punch. Brian Kilkelly, one of the leading lights at senior level for so many years, led the way with a sparkling second half display and with another senior players, Steve Murphy on board, the Mitchels just had too much punch in the attack.
Castlebar also had the edge at midfield where former Achill play Paul McNamara held sway while in defence they had the experienced and rejuvenated Mickey Feeney, Eugene Caulfield, Steve Burke and Benjy Smith and John McSharry very much in command. Lacken, who were without the influential Michael Collins, had a very young team and paid the price in terms of a lack of experience and strength. Michael Fitzmaurice kept them in the game in the first half with some good free taking and they trailed by just 0-8 to 0-4 at the interval.
Brian Kilkelly and brother Declan were picking off some good points along with Conor Reilly in that opening half.
However, it was in the second half that Castlebar began to pull away with points from Brian Kilkelly before the same player set up his brother Declan for the goal which settled any lingering doubt about the outcome. Garda Kevin Filan, Conor Reilly, Mickey Feeney, Steve Garavan Paul McNamara and Steve Murphy clocked up the scores as Castlebar pulled out of sight in a one-sided second half.
Mitchels; M. Devanney, S. Burke, M. Feeney, O. Keane, B. Smith, J. McSharry, e. Caulfield, J. Beirne, P. McNamara (0-1);P. O'Hara (0-1); K. Filan (0-3); S. Murphy (0-3); D. Kilkelly (1-3); B. Kilkelly (0-6); C. Reilly (0-3). Subs: F Joyce for Beirne, S. Garavan 90-1) for Filan, J. Tiernan for D. Kilkelly.
