It was a long road to Belmullet and a longer one back as we finished on the wrong side of a tight game. A game of two halves, saw two black cards for the home team and a home management duo that could do with lessons in respect for the opposition, supporters and the referee. .
A slow start to the game saw us 1-1 down after six minutes but we should have been level a few minutes later. Our first score was a great long range point from Fergal Harte and then Michael Walsh was denied a goal by a goal-line clearance.
The home team extended their lead with a pointed free and added another point before the half finished leaving them five clear.
The second half began with another pointed free by the home team before Jack McDonnell got our second score from a free. Belmullet then extended their lead to six points before we took control of the game and rattled off the next four points much to the anger of the home team and sideline. As that period saw two black cards for two substitutes and a member of their management team sent to watch the remainder of the game from the stands.
As Belmullet tried to play the ball out Darren Campbell put the ball carrier under great pressure and from a quick free centre back Conor Horan put over a fine kick. Stephen Henry then added another point before Joe Kelly won a great ball in the middle of the park and played the ball to Eoin Gallagher who slotted the ball over the bar. There was now a goal between the teams and Jack McDonnell added his second free of the game.
Belmullet got their last point of the game before Kevin McShea scored two frees to leave the minimum between the teams with injury time approaching. Earlier in the half there was a lengthy stoppage to the game to deal with an injury to a Belmullet player but the referee must not have not stopped his stopwatch as he only added three minutes to what was a six/seven minute stoppage. The game finished with a missed opportunity to level the game and the long road home beckoned.
It was a game that we grew into and should have come home with a share of the points but we now look forward to another trip west next weekend to Louisburgh.
Swinford: Conor Campbell, Jason Carney, Mark Forkan, Paul McNicholas, Fergal Harte, Conor Horan, Dermot Keane, Eoin Gallagher, Joe Kelly, Stephen Henry, Kevin McShea, Tom Horkan, Darren Campbell, Michael Walsh, Jack McDonnell.
Scorers: Jack McDonnell & Kevin McShea 0-2, Fergal Harte, Conor Horan, Stephen Henry 0-1