By Tomás Keating
Davitts are the Mayo Senior Football League champions for 2022 and the man at the helm, Paul Carey, was delighted with his side’s second-half performance in victory over Parke last Sunday.
Michael Daly presents the Mayo SFL Division 2 trophy to Davitts captain Colm Boyle after their win over Parke on Sunday. Pictures: Conor McKeown
“It was great. We felt at the half-time that we didn’t play well in the first half, and we left a lot of scores behind us but all year we have been finishing strong,” Carey told the
“In a lot of the games we have really shone through in the last ten minutes, and we did it again there today.
“Whatever it is about us, we have a bit of dogged in us and we never give up. It was great to win it.”
Carey and his men came through a very tough semi-final against neighbours Hollymount-Carramore, which saw midfielder Ronan McNamara kick a long-range free to win it after extra-time. He feels games like these have been moulding Davitts into a stronger team.
“We felt that we had that game sewn up ten minutes into the second half, but we let them back into it. We had to grind it out in the end, but that’s what it takes.
“These games are tough, going up to the likes of Cill Chomáin, Lahardane and places like that where you get nothing simple.
“They’re a very young team and they will only get better going up playing Division 1.
“The U19s were in the B competition, and they wanted to be in the A grade, that’s the ambition they have. They all want to play against bigger and better teams to prove themselves.”
Davitts’ Evan Ronane sets up an attack while being pursued by Cian Donohue and Shane Kelly during his team’s Mayo SFL Division 2 final victory over Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin in Charlestown on Sunday.
It was a memorable day for Davitts but they will know they have bigger fish to fry in their upcoming Mayo senior championship group with Castlebar Mitchels, Garrymore and Charlestown Sarsfields. However, Carey knows how much days like last Sunday mean to the club.
“It’s not every year that we go out and get to finals and win it. The likes of Castlebar and all them big teams go out every year and get to finals and we haven’t.
Darragh McGale of Davitts searches for a way past Parke defender Mark Walsh.
“So, when we got there today, we wanted to put our heads into it and win it.
“We have a tough group. Going out to Garrymore, hosting Castlebar and playing Charlestown in a neutral venue.
“But that’s what we want, any game in senior championship is really tough so we’ll give it a go and these lads won’t fear anyone,” he concluded.
