Breaffy stay on the Road in provincial pursuit
Breaffy’s Vivienne Ward is tackled by Four Roads Oonagh Kelly during last Saturday's AIB Connacht LGFA Junior Club Football Championship quarter-final at Breaffy. Pictures: David Farrell Photography
Breaffy booked their place in next Saturday’s Connacht junior club semi-final, but only after surviving a dramatic late comeback from Roscommon champions Four Roads in an absorbing contest last Saturday morning.
Having edged Kilmoremoy with a last-gasp winner in the Mayo final, Breaffy again put their supporters through an anxious finish despite appearing to have the game firmly under control on more than one occasion.
The hosts made a blistering start and after 17 minutes held a commanding seven-point lead, while keeping Four Roads scoreless. Aisling Flanagan opened the scoring from the throw-in before Sophie Moran doubled the advantage. Further points from Emily Moran and Katie Moran stretched the lead to four, while Vivienne Ward added two scores and Moran contributed another to leave Breaffy in complete control.
Although Breaffy spurned a number of additional scoring chances, their defence remained resolute in the face of some dangerous attacking play from Clodagh Finneran.
The Four Roads forward eventually opened her side’s account five minutes before half-time and moments later struck for a crucial goal, finishing to the net after her side regained possession from the kick-out. That score breathed life into the visitors and reduced the deficit to three points at the interval.
Breaffy restarted strongly, with Sophie Moran on target early in the second-half, but Four Roads steadily gained momentum. Points from Donna Kelly and Sally Bolger cut the gap to two before Maria Walsh responded to keep the Mayo champions just out of reach.
As the closing stages approached, the tension increased. Finneran and Ward exchanged points before two Elizabeth Coyle frees left only the minimum between the teams entering the final ten minutes.
Breaffy then produced the decisive burst. Flanagan landed an important point before Sophie Moran blasted home a superb goal. Katie Moran added another point and when Sophie Moran struck for her second goal deep into stoppage time, Breaffy appeared home and dry with a nine-point cushion.
However, Four Roads refused to give in. Goals from substitutes Siafra Finneran and Donna Kelly, coupled with a Kelly point, sparked a frantic finish and reduced the margin to just two points.
The final whistle arrived just in time for Breaffy, whose relief was evident as they secured their place in the provincial last four after a hard-fought victory.
Breaffy’s reward is a semi-final trip to Shamrock Gaels of Sligo next Saturday, October 24 at 1pm.
Scorers – Breaffy: Sophie Moran 2-0-3, Vivienne Ward 0-0-3, Aisling Flanagan and Katie Moran 0-0-2 each, Emily Moran and Maria Walsh 0-0-1 each.
Four Roads: Clodagh Finneran and Donna Kelly 1-0-2 each, Siafra Finneran 1-0-0, Elizabeth Coyle 0-0-2f, Saly Bolger 0-0-1.
Breaffy: Niamh Flanagan; Tara Concannon, Katelyn McManamon, Kate McConway; Ava Flynn, Ella Fallon, Sarah Cashin; Meadbh O’Shea, Aisling Flanagan; Sophie Moran, Chloe Fahy, Emily Moran; Amy Golden, Vivienne Ward, Katie Moran. Subs used: Maria Walsh, Marie Claire O’Grady, Aoife Moran, Nora Fallon.
Four Roads: Anna Galvin; Anna Fallon, Oonagh Kelly, Kate Heneghan; Maria Bolger, Maria Lohan, Sinead Mannion; Sally Bolger, Meabh Finneran; Shauna Fallon, Deborah Finneran, Celine Gacquin; Siobhan Treacy, Elizabeth Coyle, Clodagh Finneran. Subs used: Siafra Finneran, Donna Kelly, Aoife Kelly, Aíne Fallon, Moya Kelly.
REF: John Devlin
