Kavanagh’s bullets kill off gallant Cappataggle men
Liam Mellows 2-21
Cappataggle 1-21
TWO Conor Kavanagh goals — one in each half — and flawless displays from defender David Collins and sharpshooter Tadhg Haran were pivotal in steering Liam Mellows to a superb SHC semi-final victory and, onwards, to a third consecutive final appearance in a fortnight’s time.
For the third year running, Liam Mellows claimed a semi-final victory at Cappataggle’s expense; heartbreakingly for Tony Nevin’s outfit, just a point separated the two teams at the penultimate stage in 2017 and 2018 while, on Sunday, the difference was a mere goal.
Yet, no one can say this Liam Mellows’ win was not deserved. Their hunger throughout was insatiable — they devoured Cappy when it came to primary possession — while their ability to out-work and out-manoeuvre their opponents was nothing less than impressive.
To this end, a great deal of credit must go to manager Louis Mulqueen. In his tenure, he has transformed an outfit with potential to a side that is extremely competitive and now expects it of themselves to deliver match-winning performances in these big games.
If Mellows were not imbued with this great sense of self, they would not have overcome their ignominious opening to this fixture at a sun-kissed Kenny Park on Sunday. After just seven minutes, they found themselves six points in arrears — 1-4 to 0-1 — after defender Stephen Barrett directed the ball into his own net for a Cappy goal.
This own goal was the worst possible start for Barrett and Mellows but, as if the player was a microcosm of the Liam Mellows entity, both duly recovered from this setback. They could do this because this Mellows team has been reengineered around the infallible principles of the collective and, so, they can now absorb such hits.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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