Bob Tuohy’s dominance powers Castlebar Mitchels to Mayo title
Under a grey sky at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar Mitchels lifted the Paddy Moclair Cup on 25 October 2026, defeating Garrymore 1‑17 to 0‑12. Bob Tuohy’s six points sparked the victory, ending a nine‑year wait for a Mayo county title.
The Mitchels entered the final with a record thirty‑one county titles, a pedigree that cast them as the Goliath of the contest. Garrymore, a small South Mayo parish whose club is the community’s sole sporting outlet, were the clear underdogs. Their journey to the final had been celebrated as a classic David‑versus‑Goliath story.
Castlebar’s early firepower
Bob Tuohy opened the scoring with a sensational two‑pointer into the diagonal breeze, while Joe Forry’s dummy and jink created a simple finish for Cian Walsh. By the midway point of the first half the Mitchels had surged to 0‑7, Garrymore still scoreless, after two further Garrymore attempts missed the target. Paddy Durcan’s contests for possession against Garrymore talisman Enda Hession underscored Castlebar’s control.
Mid‑half surge and second‑half drama
The half‑time whistle showed Castlebar leading 0‑9 to 0‑4, with Aaron Hughes and Trevor Nally adding two‑pointers for the visitors. In the second half Garrymore fought back, Eoin McGreal striking a third double from the right wing and Joe Forry replying with an incredible strike. A quick dink into Darren Quinn set up a corner‑forward strike that pushed the score to 0‑16 to 0‑12 with minutes remaining.
Captain John MacMonagle’s decisive tackle on Justin Commins earned a black‑card penalty, and Cian Walsh converted a low penalty to seal the win – the Mitchels’ first county title in nine years. The triumph propels Castlebar into the Connacht championship, where only the London champions Fulham Irish stand between them and a provincial final.
Coverage across sport platforms
The 42FM Sport, Golf and Horse programmes, together with the Video Review and Podcasts, also featured a Rugby Extra segment and a Football Family roundup. Readers can see more Stories and Email James for further details. The match has become a talking point across the county’s sporting media.