Two weeks ago these two teams met in round 5 of Division 1E of the league at Robert McCallion Memorial Park and the visitors prevalied by a point. If that was anything to go by we were going to be in for a right game in the Championship in Westport.
Westport got the opening point in the first minute. Swinford nearly replied in great fashion but a shot from Gerry Callaghan flew past the post and wide. Westport got into their rhythm and rattled over two more points (one free).
Swinford came back in great fashion and with converted frees from the left by Dermot McNicholas and the right from Adrian Forkan and then a point from Tom Horkan had the game level after ten minutes.
Westport regained control and put over three points to move three clear once again. Adrian Forkan pulled one back with a converted free but Westport added another three before the half time interval to leave them five ahead: Westport 0-9 Swinford 0-4
It looked like a tall ask for Swinford at this stage and when Westport got the first score of the second half there looked like no way back for Swinford. Thats not how the team from East Mayo are built and Swinford got scores from Adrian Forkan (F) and Tom Horkan split by a Westport point to leave five between the teams.
On the 39th minute Swinford found their way back when after a great run by Barry Brennan and some confusion in the square Tom Horkan found the net. Suddenly Swinford found their attacking prowess and a point by Kevin McDonagh and two find scores from Dermot McNicholas put them ahead for the first time in the game with less then a quarter to go.
Westport were not finished and came back with three points of their own to go two ahead with five minutes remaining. Swinford didn’t give in and once again came back with a point from the boot of Adrian Forkan.
With the clock ticking down and into the last minute Kevin McDonagh put over a hugh point from the left side and leveled the game for the fourth time. Westport had one last chance to win the game but thankfully the ball went wide. The final whistle came with the score Westport 0-14 Swinford 1-11
A draw in the first round of the Junior B Championship was deserved by both teams. The youngsters of Westport and the mix of youth and experience on the Swinford team gave a tremendous game for the crowd on a Saturday afternoon.
It was great to see the return of Tom Horkan and the championship debut for Swinford for Dermot McNicholas. Plenty of life left in them old legs. Great work done in the middle of the field by Barry Brennan and Joe Kelly and the defence marshalled by captain Paul McDonagh did very well. We now look forward to the visit of Kiltimagh in the next round.
Swinford Aaron Kinsella, Johnathan Moore, Paul McDonagh, Cillian O’Donnell, Darren Campbell, Darragh McIntyre, Kevin McDonagh, Joe Kelly, Barry Brennan, Tom Horkan, Eoin Gallagher, Gerry Callaghan, Gearoid Brady, Dermot McNicholas, Adrian Forkan. Subs Stephen Kenny, Shane Julian.
Scorers: Tom Horkan 1-2, Adrian Forkan 0-4, Dermot McNicholas 0-3 Kevin McDonagh 0-2
Into injury time and two points when Mick Walsh wins a free in the middle of Fr. O’Hara Park, Charlestown…..Mick drives it down the field to JP Broderick who skilfully loses his marker and drives the ball into the back of the net. The ball is quickly played out by the Ballaghaderreen goalkeeper but to no avail as Tommie Ward blows the full time whistle and we end a ten year wait to win the Canon Henry Cup.
