Impressive Breaffy show they are once bitten, twice shy
Westport's Finbarr McLaughlin tries to tackle Breaffy's Davitt Neary during last Sunday's senior championship quarter-final. Picture: Conor McKeown
Familiarity breeds contempt, so the saying goes. But no matter how many times these sides meet in championship action, neither will take the other for granted or lose respect for each other because they know that the margin between triumph and heartbreak is paper-thin most of the days.
At this stage of the competition last year, Breaffy were cruising only for a systems malfunction down the homestretch to allow Westport secure what looked an improbable victory. It meant the pressure was on Sean Deane’s men to show in last Sunday’s rematch that they had learned from last year and were ready to be serious contenders for the Moclair Cup.
When the final whistle blew there were six points between the sides and it was Breaffy who had progressed to the semi-final. The decisive score of the game came with less than five minutes to play when Robbie Fadden slotted home from the penalty spot to put the half-dozen points between the teams and finally free Breaffy of a dogged Westport challenge.
The Clew Bay side were shorn of the services of both Eoghan McLaughlin and Lee Keegan for this game, although Keegan did come into the action late on in an attempt to wrestle the contest back in his side’s favour.
Breaffy let their intentions be known right from the throw-in, as Aidan O’Shea won the throw in and drove at the Westport defence, playing a one-two before fisting over the bar. The ever reliable Killian Kilkelly levelled the game up from a free two minutes later.
Breaffy then hit two on the spin, through Gareth Dunne and Davitt Neary, before Kilkelly and Joe Grady responded to leave it all tied up on seven minutes. Two minutes later Kevin Keane kicked the first of the three points he would score during the opening 30 minutes as the veteran defender-come-attacker caused the Breaffy rearguard plenty of problems.
The hosts edged back in front with their first two pointer of the day through Aidan Cunningham, who took aim knowing he was on an advantage after an earlier foul. Keane replied with two singles of his own to edge his side back in front by the quarter hour mark, but Breaffy were about to reel off four points on the spin thanks to a Daire Morrin two pointer that just scraped over the bar and individual efforts from Joe Mellett, a free, and Neary’s second from play.
As was the tenor of this contest, Westport hit right back with Kilkelly pointing from play and Finbar McLaughlin landing a regulation two pointer to have the teams all square at 0-9 apiece. Then the first goal of the day arrived, with Neary picking the ball up on the left touchline and looking up to see Gareth Dunne one-on-one inside. Neary’s ball found Dunne who fired home a rapier of a shot to the back of the net with gusto. That was quickly followed by a Conor O’Shea point and Breaffy were looking good heading into the sheds at half-time.
But as is their way, Westport bounced back. Kilkelly nipped in for a point and then with the last play of the half, Joe Grady was able to find the space he needed to launch over a two pointer that left the scoreboard reading 1-10 to 0-12 to Breaffy at the turnaround.
The second-half burst into life three minutes in when Davitt Neary took off on a run and was fouled, but knowing he had the advantage in his favour he let fly from way out the pitch and his effort flew over for another two pointer.
Kilkelly closed the gap back with a fine point from play close in, but every time Westport seemed to be within striking distance, Breaffy were able to move that little bit further ahead – and Conor O’Shea got in on the two-point act to put his side 1-14 to 0-13 up.
Points from Kilkelly and Rory Brickenden ate into the lead to leave just two between the teams by the three quarter stage, but Conor O’Shea was able to stretch the lead back out to three. Mark Moran who had been thrown into the action by Pat Holmes, brought it back to a two point game and everyone was living on their nerves, except for the men in blue and white hoops. Conor O’Shea pointed a free and Joe Mellett quickly added one from play to stretch their lead out to four.
Kilkelly brought it back to a three point game from a close in free after Westport’s hassling and harrying had forced a Breaffy player to overcarry the ball with eight minutes left on the clock.
Then, with five minutes to go, Conor Coghill drove out from the heart of the Breaffy defence and found Davitt Neary and the duo played a brace of one-twos with the ball ending up with Neary bearing down on goal. His effort was saved by Paddy O’Malley but referee Liam Devenney deemed it to be a foot block and awarded the spot kick.
Robbie Fadden who had seen his penalty against Knockmore in the previous round saved, didn’t shirk the responsibility and he drove the ball low into the left corner of the net and that was that for the game.
Both sides tagged on a point each before the final whistle, but Breaffy had the hard work done by then and now look forward to a semi-final against the near neighbours Castlebar Mitchels. They’ve been down this road before many times and still not got over the line, but maybe this year will be different?
Scorers – Breaffy: Conor O’Shea 0-1-4 (if), Davitt Neary 0-1-2, Gareth Dunne 1-0-1, Robbie Fadden 1-0-0pen, Aidan Cunningham and Darie Morrin 0-1-0 each, Joe Mellet 0-0-2 (1f), Aidan O’Shea 0-0-1.
Westport: Killian Kilkelly 0-0-7 (3f), Joe Grady 0-1-1, Kevin Keane 0-0-3, Finbar McLaughlin 0-1-0, Rory Brickenden, Mark Moran and Jack O’Malley 0-0-1 each.
Breaffy: Jack Livingstone; Conor Beirne, Mark Dervan, Conor Coghill; Yousif Coghill, Robbie Fadden, Daire Morrin; Niall Carter, Matthew Ruane; Aidan Cunningham, Aidan O’Shea, Davitt Neary; Joe Mellett, Conor O’Shea, Gareth Dunne. Subs: Pierce Deane (for Dunne), Tommy O’Reilly (for Cunningham), Ross Connelly (for Y Coghill).
Westport: Paddy O’Malley; Tom Lambert, Niall McManamon, Brian McDermott, Joe Grady, Rory Brickenden, Ben Holmes, Brian O’Maley, Jack O’Malley; Luke Tunney, Conal Dawson, Joey Holmes, Killian Kilkelly, Kevin Keane, Finbar McLaughlin. Subs: Ben Doyle (for Tunney), Mark Moran (for Lambert), Lee Keegan (for Grady), Colm Moran (for Keane), Conor Calvey (for J O’Malley).
REF: Liam Devanney (Ballina)
