Honours even as Moran delivers on the double
Colm Moran struck 2-2 for Westport who fought from behind to draw with visitors Claremorris.
Colm Moran scored 2-2, among which was the only point of the last eleven minutes of this match, to earn Westport a share of the spoils against a Claremorris side that led from the 16th to the 52nd minutes of Saturday’s fiercely contested Division 1B contest on the shores of Clew Bay.
County absentees meant that neither team was at full strength but that took none from what was an absorbing encounter between two sides who will fancy their chances of silverware later this year.
Leading by six points towards the end of the third quarter, it’s only natural that Claremorris will feel disappointed not to have made it back-to-back wins having thumped Hollymount-Carramore in the opening round. But Westport showed some of the grit that had also seen them score last when earning a share of the spoils away to Balla a week previous.
Things had seemed to be conspiring against the hosts early doors on Saturday when after two wides inside five minutes by Malcom McEvilly, they then lost full-forward Kevin Keane and wing-back McEvilly himself, to injuries, after six and sixteen minutes respectively. Claremorris were now also a point in front, with Mark Maloney converting two frees, including a two pointer, and Dara Hurley and Conor Og Dennedy shooting singles, to nullify a ninth minute Colm Moran goal and a pointed ’45 by Westport goalkeeper Paddy O’Malley.
Moran’s goal had some good fortune about it, as a fisted point attempt by Kevin Keane’s replacement, Liam Shevlin, had rebounded into the corner-forward’s path off the crossbar.
Moran’s younger brother, Mark, overcooked another Westport goal chance in the 20th minute, with punishment served via Claremorris points by midfielder David O’Reilly and Matthew McCormack.
Killian Kilkelly, once from a free, did score a pair of Westport points either side of a second by McCormack, but the experienced O’Reilly was to give the visitors five points of breathing space at the interval when he rose above O’Malley to flick Hurley’s high delivery into the Westport net and leave the scoreboard reading 1-8 to 1-3 at the change of ends.
Claremorris could have scored a second goal just five minutes after the restart but O’Malley tipped over a ferocious shot from half-time substitute Conor McGuinness. Instead, Westport had reduced their arrears to three points by the 38th minute, with Conor Calvey scoring from outside the arc and one pointers coming from the boots of Mark Moran and Killian Kilkelly, a free, with Mark Maloney having now scored his only point from play down at the other end.
Maloney, however, would also drive over his second two-point free of the match, and McGuinness fisted over his second point of the half, to leave Claremorris with a commanding 1-13 to 1-7 lead after 43 minutes, the hard running of half-backs Dara Hurley and Padraig Cummins, and that of midfielder Darragh Joyce, helping to keep Westport pinned back.
The hosts, however, bestirred themselves to enjoy much the better of the exchanges in the final quarter. It was off a pass by Conor McGraynor, operating as a midfielder, that Colm Moran buried his second goal of the game, and while Matthew McCormack hit a swift point in reply, Claremorris didn’t score again during the seventeen minutes that remained.
Sub Cian Grimes and Conor McGraynor scored points that easily could have resulted in goals if shooting inches lower before Westport dragged themselves level courtesy of Colm Moran. Two goals already to his name, his first point came on 50 minutes and was the result of full-back Niall McManamon joining the attack to link-up with Luke Tunney who supplied Moran. The other, on 52 minutes, was thanks to a superb delivery by brother Mark.
Maloney, twice, and Joyce did have late opportunities to snatch victory for Claremorris, but all three kicks tailed wide.
Scorers – Westport: Colm Moran 2-0-2, Killian Kilkelly 0-0-3 (2f), Conor Calvey 0-1-0, Paddy O’Malley (’45), Mark Moran, Cian Grimes and Conor McGraynor 0-0-1 each.
Claremorris: Mark Maloney 0-2-2 (2tpf, 1f), David O’Reilly 1-0-1, Matthew McCormack 0-0-3, Conor McGuinness 0-0-2, Dara Hurley and Conor Og Dennedy 0-0-1 each.
Westport: Paddy O’Malley; Leon Askin, Niall McManamon, Brian McDermott; Malcom McEvilly, Lee Keegan, Ronan Geraghty; Joe Grady, Conor McGraynor; Killian Kilkelly, Mark Moran, Conor Calvey; Colm Moran, Kevin Keane, Luke Tunney. Subs: Liam Shevlin (for Keane 6, inj), Cian Grimes (for McEvilly 16, inj).
Claremorris: Darragh Fallon; Darragh Fitzpatrick, Aidan Butler, Paddy Barry; Dara Hurley, Padraig Cummins, Matthew Macken; David O’Reilly, Darragh Joyce; Conor Og Dennedy, Adam Vahey, Mark Maloney; Johnny Cummins, Matthew McCormack, Cathal Joyce. Subs: Conor McGuinness (for C Joyce ht), James McCormack (for Dennedy 42), Conrad Dixon (for Macken 53, inj).
REF: Ronan Gurren (Aghamore)
