On a wet and windy evening at Robert McCallion Memorial Park Swinford met Ballyhaunis in a mid table clash with both teams looking for the two points to safeguard their status for another year.
Swinford started off the better team and got the opening two points from Kevin McShea and Darren Campbell. Ballyhaunis came back into the game and after a goal line clearance by Sean Brady their goalkeeper put over the resulting 45. After a few wides they leveled the gale at two apiece.
Darren Campbell put Swinford back in the lead but Ballyhaunis leveled from a free and so midway through the half it was all level. Liam Moran gave the lead back to Swinford with a great run but Ballyhaunis leveled for the third time.
James Devaney had a great chance for a goal but for a rasper of a shot to come back off the butt of the post. Ballyhaunis then got the next two points and for another goal line clearance by Sean Brady could have gone further ahead.
Points from Liam Moran and James Devaney before the break left the teams level at 0-6 apiece. Swinford enjoyed the wind in the half and needed to be ahead at the interval.
Two points from Ballyhaunis gave them the upper hand early in the second half before great link up between Kevin McShea and Liam Moran saw Liam get one back. Ballyhaunis with two points extended the lead to three.
More fine work by Kevin McShea led to a goal for Kevin McDonagh and Swinford were right back in the game. This was the last action by Kevin McShea as he was replaced by Barry Brennan and Gerry Callaghan came on for Mark McNicholas.
Liam Moran put Swinford back into the lead with his fourth point of the game. Unfortunately Ballyhaunis got the next three points of the game including two frees to put them in a two point lead entering the last five minutes. Gavin Moore pulled off a great save to keep Swinford in the game.
Liam Moran pulled one back with a free but again Ballyhaunis came and got the next two points for a three point lead. Swinford had one last chance which did not come off and the game finished 1-9 to 0-15.
It was a game that Swinford well could have got something out of but were also fortunate to lose by only three points. Two goal line clearances and a great save kept the game alive for Swinford, yet if they had got the goal in the first half a different score could well have been the outcome.
Swinford: Gavin Moore, Aidan McLoughlin, Sean Brady, Kevin Barry, Mark McNicholas, Mark Forkan, James Lavin, Joe Kelly, Kevin McShea, Johnny Burke, Kevin McDonagh, Liam Moran, Darren Campbell, James Sweeney, James Devaney. Subs Barry Brennan, Gerry Callaghan, Darrgh McIntyre.
Scorers: Liam Moran 0-5, James Devaney 1-1, Darren Campbell 0-2, Kevin McShea 0-1
There are two interesting games at the bottom of the table tomorrow with Tourmakeady home to Louisburgh and Cill Chomain home to Ardagh.
We still have two away games left against Louisburgh and Castlebar Mitchels.
League Table Mayo Senior League 2016 – Group 1C
| Team | Pld | Won | Lost | Draw | For | Agst | Diff | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayo Gaels | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 131 | 87 | 44 | 16 |
| The Neale | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 137 | 120 | 17 | 15 |
| Bonniconlon | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 105 | 89 | 16 | 12 |
| Parke/Keelogues /Crimlin | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 154 | 140 | 14 | 11 |
| Achill | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 91 | 84 | 7 | 9 |
| Ballyhaunis | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 102 | 130 | -28 | 9 |
| Swinford | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 101 | 97 | 4 | 8 |
| Castlebar Mitchels | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 119 | 120 | -1 | 8 |
| Louisburgh | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 87 | 81 | 6 | 7 |
| Cill Chomain | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 87 | 93 | -6 | 5 |
| Ardagh | 9 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 104 | 134 | -30 | 5 |
| Tuar Mhic Éadaigh | 9 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 80 | 123 | -43 | 3 |