Garrymore end 44-year wait to set up Mayo final against Castlebar

Garrymore beat Belmullet after extra time to reach the Mayo SFC decider

Joe Forry scored Castlebar Mitchels' goal in a 1-16 to 0-14 Mayo SFC semi-final victory over Breaffy. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

This year’s Mayo SFC final will be a repeat of the 1982 decider between Castlebar Mitchels and Garrymore on the last weekend of this month.

There were emotional scenes in Ballina on Sunday afternoon as Garrymore celebrated reaching their first final since beating Mitchels 44 years ago.

Mayo’s All-Ireland winners Eoin McGreal and Enda Hession both played key roles as the South Mayo side beat Ryan O’Donoghue’s Belmullet after extra-time in a rain-soaked semi-final.

O’Donoghue was outstanding in the opening half, shooting a brace of two-pointers that helped the Erris men to lead by 0-9 to 0-8 at half-time.

The second half ebbed and flowed relentlessly with Garrymore goals from Mark Gibbons and Gary Golden, along with a Belmullet green flag from Fionn O’Donoghue, among the many highlights.

A late free from Ryan O’Donoghue looked to have snatched victory at the death for the North Mayo men, who were chasing a first ever county senior title, but Garrymore salvaged a draw thanks to a last-gasp equaliser from substitute Trevor Nally.

The six-time champions dominated extra-time, adding five points to their tally and holding Belmullet to just a solitary score as the clock ticked down.

But a second Fionn O’Donoghue goal set up a grandstand finish and the game ended in a welter of excitement as Belmullet goalkeeper, Shane Nallen, had a chance to win the marathon encounter with a free from outside the 40m arc.

However, the experienced Nallen saw his long-range shot drop short and Garrymore held on for a famous victory.

Meanwhile, Castlebar Mitchels booked their place in the final for the first time in nine years with a comprehensive 1-16 to 0-14 win over their near-neighbours Breaffy on Saturday in Charlestown.

In front of a large attendance that included Mayo’s All-Ireland winning manager, Andy Moran, Castlebar took the initiative in the opening half and kept Breaffy at arm’s length during a largely uneventful second half.

Joe Forry’s goal helped the wind-assisted Mitchels to lead at half-time by seven points, but the expected Breaffy comeback never materialised as Castlebar took control in most of the key areas.

Mitchels always kept their rivals at a safe distance throughout the second period although All-Star nominee, Jack Livingstone, thought he had cut the deficit to just two points late on, only to see his opposite number, Rory Byrne, catch his long-range free just above the crossbar.

Castlebar made the game safe with late scores from Bob Tuohy and Anthony O’Boyle sealing a deserved victory.

Mitchels’ quintet of recent All-Ireland medal winners with Mayo all stood out, with Donnacha McHugh tagging Aidan O’Shea, team captain John MacMonagle putting in a man of the match display, and Paddy Durcan, Bob Tuohy and Seán Morahan all having their moments.

Breaffy battled to the bitter end but all to no avail, despite the best efforts of county men Matthew Ruane and the aforementioned O’Shea.