Unbeaten Swinford seize the moment in Ardagh
Lee Traynor fired a hat-trick goals for Ardagh but it still wasn't enough to deny Swinford from making it two wins from two in Mayo SFL Division 4.
Swinford made it two wins from two with victory by the thinnest of margins away to Ardagh last Saturday evening.
The hosts themselves had enjoyed an opening round win but were unable to gain anything here, despite a hat-trick of goals by Lee Traynor and a contribution of a goal and seven points by teenager Tony Carey.
Perfect conditions had led to a free-flowing game in Ardagh, one where it was Swinford who were fastest out of the traps. By the 15th minute the men from East Mayo were already 1-5 to 0-2 ahead, with their goal supplied by Luke McNicholas and scores from the likes of Kevin McDonagh and Dylan Toner, who landed a two pointer.
Tony Carey popped over a pair of points for Ardagh for whom Adam Foody and Brendan Carr were working exceptionally hard, and they stormed into contention courtesy of the first two of Lee Traynor’s three goals. The sides continued to swap points and by half-time, Swinford’s lead was just two points, 1-10 to 2-05.
The locals made the better start to the second-half as it took only 30 seconds for Tony Carey to raise another white flag. However, that was quickly cancelled out after a fast attack by Swinford which ended in a point by Sean McDonagh. Indeed the visitors would edge into a four points advantage but when a black card to Sean Peyton reduced their numbers to fourteen in the 37th minute, that allowed Ardagh to grow more into the game.
Fine midfield play from Brendan Carr and a great pass inside led to Ardagh’s third goal, this one finished to the net by Tony Carey which reduced his side’s deficit to just one point.
All through the game however, Raef Donnelly and Dylan Toner had been providing the Swinford inside forward line with some quality possession and it was off some more of this good work that the away side went three points up again, with a point by Luke McNicholas supplemented by a 50th minute goal from centre-forward Sean McDonagh.
Ardagh substitute Adam Naughton arrived into the action to perform a great catch of a Swinford kickout which led to some excellent combination between Tony Carey and Lee Traynor for the latter to bury his third goal and bring the sides level entering the final few minutes.
A free for Ardagh in the 61st minute was narrowly missed by Carey, and the following kickout was won by Dylan Toner whose quick ball inside led to a free for Swinford which was cooly slotted over by match-winner Sean McDonagh.
