Tonight saw the final group game from Group 2 of the Michael Walsh Intermediate Cup to see who would join Westport in the Quarter Finals and play Hollymount-Carramore on Sunday.

I arrived five minutes into the game to witness Liam Moran put a penalty away for Swinford to lead by 2 goals.  Darren Campbell had scored an earlier goal to give us a lead that we did not give up for the remainder of the game.

Castlebar came back into the game and scored 3 points without reply, including one 45.  A great catch from Barry Brennan, playing at full forward, laid off to Kevin McShea who slotted the ball over the bar to give us a 4 point lead.

Shane Holleran then pulled off a great save in goal to send the ball for a 45 that was missed by Castlebar. Mitchels finished the half with a point from a free to leave the score at HT at Castlebar Mitchels 0-4 Swinford 2-1.

Management made two changes at the break bringing on Jack McDonnell for Darren Campbell and Jason Carney for Kevin Barry.

Kevin McShea extended our lead from a  free before Castlebar scored 2 frees. Kevin McShea pointed again to leave us still three points clear. Joe Kelly entered the game for Swinford before a ridiculous decision from the referee to give Conor Horan a black card. A situation where Conor was clearly fouled and the referee gave the decision the other way before showing the black card. Paul McNicholas entered the game and we came under sustained pressure from Castlebar. In the space of five minutes Mitchels scored three points to level the game but we showed great strength and maturity from there to the end of the game to outscore Castlebar by 3 points to 1.

A great team score by full back Fergal Harte and points by Jack McDonnell and Stephen Henry reinstated our 3 point lead. The last 5 minutes brought sustained pressure from Castlebar but they only got one point to leave us two points ahead at the end.

FT Castlebar Mitchels 0-10 Swinford 2-6

We now meet Hollymount-Carramore on Sunday at 12pm in Hollymount in the Quarter Final.

Swinford: Shane Holleran, James Lavin,  Fergal Harte, Kevin Barry, Aiden McLoughlin, Conor Horan, Danny McNicholas, Eoin Gallagher, Stephen Henry, Tom Howley, Kevin McShea, Liam Moran, Darren Campbell, Barry Brennan, Michael Walsh.

Subs used: Jack McDonagh, Jason Carney, Joe Kelly, Paul McNicholas, Kevin McDonagh.