Swinford a C-lass above after extra-time thriller

Mayo U21C Championship Final

Swinford 2-11 

Erris St Pats 1-12 

(AET) 

Darragh Walsh at James Stephens Park 

Ballina Stephenites hosted the meeting of Erris St Pats and Swinford in the U21 C Final on a windy Sunday afternoon. With the strong wind blowing straight towards the town end goal, the stormy conditions provided some excellent examples of point scoring from both sides, both with and against the wind.

The contest’s scoring opened after four minutes as Josh Carey converted an Erris St Pats free, his first of his 1-7 tally. Swinford replied quickly however, as they raised the first green flag of the game. Luke McNicholas wasted no time in striking a loose ball on the Erris 21 yard line into the bottom right corner of the Erris net.

Eight minutes passed before the next score was found and it was Carey that found it, finding the back of the net with a looping shot over Danny Forkan and into the Swinford net. Michael Daly replied for Swinford, converting a free kick from a tight angle with a curling effort off his left foot, but that would be their last score until the second half. Meanwhile, Carey added a couple of singles and James Armstrong pointed to leave Erris three points to the good at half time.

Swinford returned to the field three down and the wind blowing in their faces, but oddly enough they were the team that led on the score board with eleven minutes played in the second half. Dylan Toner pointed from range, McNicholas added to his goal with a point from play and a couple of frees from a couple of Seans left Swinford a point ahead as Sean McDonagh and Sean Murphy both split the posts.

John Ginty found Erris’ first score of the second half with a left footed free kick from range to level the contest, but Swinford quickly regained the lead. Mickey Ginnelly failed to deal with Swinford shot that dropped short of the target, dropping the ball at the feet of Jack Murphy who finished the ball into the back of the net. Carey was at hand to convert a free kick for Erris while McNicholas added a fine score for Swinford following a strong solo run.

Three points up with ten minutes to play, Swinford saw their captain Alan Howie walk to the sideline as he dragged down Brendan Conway who was bearing down on the Swinford goalmouth following a clever interception. Carey converted the resulting free kick and his opposite number, McDonagh, replied with a free kick of his own for Swinford.

With seven minutes left to play Darragh Henry converted a free kick, striking the ball between the posts off the ground, to leave Swinford four ahead. The Swinford crowd grew confident that the title was theirs, but the young Erris men showed why you should never write off a team from back west.

Carey floated over a couple of beautiful free kicks from outside the 45 yard line before the game entered injury time, Armstrong added his second single and with 33 minutes on the clock John Ginty fired over a boomer from outside the 45 to level the contest. Carey attempted to win the game with a long range effort that drifted just wide of the target with the last kick of the game but this one was destined for extra time.

Swinford added the first score of extra time through Euan McDonnell following a move involving McNicholas and Danny Molloy. Henry doubled his side’s lead with a single from play to end the first period of additional play.

The second half turned messy with Charlie Ginnelly and John Ginty receiving their marching orders for the Erris side. Thomas Tuffy did extend Swinford’s lead to three and Erris could only muster up a point, but a fine point it was, as Brendan Conway fired over a sideline ball with the last kick of the game.

However, it was to be Swinford’s day after a gargantuan effort from both sides over the highly entertaining 80 plus minutes of play.

Scorers - Swinford: Luke McNicholas 1-2, Sean McDonagh (2f) and Darragh Henry (f) 0-2 each, Michael Daly (f), Dylan Toner, Sean Murphy (f), Euan McDonnell and Thomas Tuffy 0-1 each.

Erris St Pats: Josh Carey 1-7 (0-6f), James Armstrong & John Ginty (2f) 0-2 each, Brendan Conway 0-1f.

Swinford: Danny Forkan; Alan Howie, Jack Ferguson, Conor Ryan, Jack Murphy, Raef Donnelly, Euan McDonnell, Dylan Toner, Danny Molloy, Michael Daly, Darragh Henry, Sean Murphy, Sean McDonagh, Thomas Tuffy, Luke McNicholas. Subs: Euan Murphy (for Daly), David Taylor for (Donnelly).

Erris St Pats: Mickey Ginnelly, Shane Gallagher, Fionn McDonagh, Michael Needham, Jason Calvey, Owen Doherty, Nathan Ginnelly, Brendan Conway, Charlie Ginnelly, James Armstrong, John Ginty, Padraic Carey, Rory Conway, Ben Donoghue, Josh Carey. Subs: Rory Ginty for N Ginnelly).

REF: Kieran Barnicle (Breaffy).