Swinford vs Ballyastle (MN)

 Swinford 0-15

Ballycastle 1-8

Swinford 

Eoin Horkan

A late comeback from Ballycastle wasn't enough as the home side registered their first win in their final game of the Junior championship.

For the home side it was a great start going two points up early on with efforts from Mark Forkan before a deadball off Kevin McDonagh.

The north Mayo men responded when Finn McDermott Cox powered through the middle before the ten minute mark.

By the quarter hour mark there was a goal between the sides as Evan Rowley and Jack Ferguson had raised white flag.

With ten minutes left the visitors had the gap down to the minimum with Sam Kelly and McDermott Cox slotting over.

The final few minutes of the half belonged to the home side with a trio of scores, Forkan and McDonagh added to their tally along with a final effort before the break from substitute Michael Daly.

With the final kick of the half Kelly managed to narrow the gap to a goal with a dead ball.

Once the game restarted the home side pushed forward and added to their advantage as a forty-five from Dylan Toner along with efforts from Gavin Tuffy and captain Jack Ferguson.

Ballycastle were finding it hard to break down a resolute Swinford defence but they eventually narrowed the gap as they made a number of positional changes. One of these was moving Lorcan O’Donnell into the full forward line this pivotal as he raised two white flags in quick succession.

In the final quarter Swinford proved that they  would be a match for any team in the junior b competition as they extended the gap as Sean McDongagh along with Toner Fergus and Thomas Tuffy.

Just as it looked like the game was over the visitors had other ideas, a goal from Anthony Tighe reignited the contest.

They would rue a couple of missed frees during the game and towards the end.

They will host Tourmakeady in the final game of the group in two weeks time.

Swinford:Emmet Peyton;James Lavin,Alan McLoughlin,Enda Lavin;Gavin Tuffy(0-1),Josh Smith,David Taylor;Dylan Toner(0-3 45),Jack Ferguson(0-3);Kevin McDonagh(0-2 fs),Mark Forkan(0-2),Sean McDonagh(0-1);Darren Campbell,Thomas Tufffy(0-1),Evan Rowley(0-1).

Subs Used:M Daly(0-1) for Lavin (25), B Lord for Smith (40),D Molloy for Rowley (53),M Prendergast for Tuffy.

Ballycastle:Jason O’Neill;Keith Carden,John Carey,Dean Kelly;Fionnan Mac Conghamhna,Kevin Healy,Michael Tighe;Shane Grier,Finn McDermott Cox(0-2);Shane Maughan,Fergal Forde,Lorcan O’Donnell(0-2);Tom Tomas,Eoin McDonell,Sam Kelly(0-4 1f 1 2ptf).

Subs Used: M Forde for Carey (54), A Tighe(1--0) for McDonnell (55)

Referee Declan Leonard.

Motm:Jack Ferguson

The captain led by example from the start lording the midfield while adding scores and also defending quite well at times.

Other nominations 

Dylan Toner : Similar to Ferguson probable didnt ignite as much until the second half.

Sam Kelly: The late replacement for Michael Forde produced some fine scores and was definitely worth his place in the starting team and could be in with a shout for starting in two weeks time.