Swinford put some points on the board
Swinford players reflect on their home win against Ballycastle last Saturday. Picture courtesy of Swinford GAA
Swinford secured their first win of the junior championship campaign on Saturday evening when holding off a late Ballycastle comeback in what was also their final group outing.
Quarter-final qualification was already beyond the reach of the home side before this game while it was almost a mathematical impossibility for Ballycastle to reach the last eight, despite a game in hand.
Swinford made an excellent start, opening up an early two-point lead through Mark Forkan and Kevin McDonagh, his from the placed ball. Ballycastle settled themselves however, and began to find their feet, with Finn McDermott Cox driving through the centre to register the North Mayo side's opening score approaching the 10-minute mark.
Swinford came again, with Evan Rowley and Jack Ferguson both raising white flags, but Ballycastle continued to apply pressure and with ten minutes remaining in the first-half half, Sam Kelly and McDermott Cox reduced their side’s deficit to the minimum with well-taken scores.
Swinford responded strongly before the interval, enjoying their best spell yet as Forkan and McDonagh added to their tallies before Michael Daly, an early substitute, also got on the scoresheet.
It was their opponents who had the final say before the break, however, with Sam Kelly converting a dead ball to leave Ballycastle just a goal adrift at half-time.
Swinford came out with renewed purpose after the restart and quickly extended their lead. Dylan Toner converted a ’45 before Gavin Tuffy and captain Jack Ferguson added further scores to put the home side in a commanding position.
Ballycastle found it difficult to break through a resolute Swinford defence, but a number of positional changes eventually helped them get back into the contest.
One of the key moves saw Lorcan O'Donnell pushed into the full-forward line and the change immediately paid dividends as he struck two points in quick succession to reduce the gap.
Their East Mayo hosts remained composed though, and continued to find scores as the final quarter progressed. Sean McDonagh, Toner, Ferguson and Thomas Tuffy all raised white flags as the home side once again looked to have put the result beyond doubt. However, the visitors refused to surrender and Anthony Tighe gave them renewed hope when he found the net late on.
The visitors pressed in search of a second goal, but Swinford held firm to see out the remainder of the contest and deservedly claim their first championship win of the season.
Ballycastle will feel they had opportunities to make the game even tighter, with a number of missed frees, particularly late on, ultimately proving costly.
They will now turn their attention to their final group game when they host Tourmakeady in two weeks’ time but both themselves and Swinford are already destined for the junior ‘B’ championship later in the month.
Scorers – Swinford: Dylan Toner (1 ’45) and Jack Frguson 0-0-3 each, Kevin McDonagh (2f) and Mark Forkan 0-0-2 each, Gavin Tuffy, Sean McDonagh, Thomas Tuffy, Evan Rowley and Michael Daly 0-1 each.
Ballycaste: Sam Kelly 0-1-2 (1tpf), Anthony Tighe 1-0-0, Lorcan O’Donnell 0-0-2, Finn McDermott Cox 0-0-2.
Swinford: Emmet Peyton; James Lavin, Alan McLoughlin, Enda Lavin; Gavin Tuffy, Josh Smith, David Taylor; Dylan Toner, Jack Ferguson; Kevin McDonagh, Mark Forkan, Sean McDonagh; Darren Campbell, Thomas Tufffy, Evan Rowley. Subs: Michael Daly (for Lavin), Brian Lord (for Smith), Danny Molloy (for Rowley), Michael Prendergast (for Tuffy).
Ballycastle: Jason O’Neill; Keith Carden, John Carey, Dean Kelly; Fionnan Mac Conghamhna, Kevin Healy, Michael Tighe; Shane Grier, Finn McDermott Cox; Shane Maughan, Fergal Forde, Lorcan O’Donnell; Tom Tomas, Eoin McDonnell, Sam Kelly. Subs: Micheál Forde (for Carey), Anthony Tighe (for McDonnell.
REF: Declan Leonard
