It was an overcast morning in Belmullet but Swinford left the happier team after a tough tight game.
Due to leaving the bag of jerseys at home in the kitchen Swinford togged out in the Belmullet Under 21 colours and got a dream start to the game when an early free from Liam Moran sailed into the Belmullet goal after two minutes. This was followed up by three points from James Devaney, Jason McLoughlin (F) and Michael Predergast to give the travelling team a great lead.
It took till the 14th minute for Belmullet to get off the mark and they settled into the game with two frees over the bar. Swinford did not let that unnerve them and they soon returned the difference to six with points from Jason McLoughlin (F) and Kevin McShea.
Swinford were not going to have it all their own way and in the last ten minutes of the first half Belmullet rattled off four points (3F) to leave it at Belmullet 0-6 Swinford 1-5.
Belmullet kept the scoring up with the opening point of the second half which was soon cancelled out by an excellent point from Darren Campbell. Within minutes the game was level with two home points (1F). This fight back from Belmullet did not unnerve Swinford and points from James Devaney and Jason McLoughlin had the difference at 2 points after 15 minutes.
Again two Belmullet points leveled the game (1F) and with eight minutes left the game was on a knife edge. Swinford finished much the stronger and points from James Devaney, a Liam Moran free fisted over by a defender and another point from James Devaney and a successful free from Liam Moran in injury time left the full time result at Belmullet 0-11 Swinford 1-12.
It was a very good start to the year for Swinford and especially satisfying how the game was finished after been on edge with ten minutes left. Belmullet were missing a few players but it has been many a year since Swinford won up in North West Mayo.
Next game in the Michael Walsh Intermediate League is next Saturday at 4pm at Robert McCallion Memorial Park
Swinford: Gavin Moore, James Lavin, Sean Brady, Kevin Barry, Darren Campbell, Paul McDonagh, Joshua Smith, Johnny Burke, Mark Forkan, David Brady, Kevin McShea, Liam Moran, Jason McLoughlin, Michael Prendergast, James Devaney Subs Sean Prendergast, Sean Kavanagh, Conor Conway, Kevin McDonagh, Caoimghin McLoughlin.
Scores: Liam Moran 1-2, James Devaney 0-4, Jason McLoughlin 0-3, Michael Predergast, Kevin McShea, Darren Campbell
