The Mayo News

FOOTBALL Leitir Mór left Tuam Stadium with the cup last Sunday while Westport went home empty-handed after a cracker. Westport fall at final fence


Mayo champions beaten after extra-time thriller

Final
Leitir Mór 2-14
Westport 2-13
(After Extra Time)

Mike Finnerty
Tuam stadium

THE bottom line is that Leitir Mór left Tuam Stadium with the Gene Byrne Memorial Cup last Sunday afternoon while Westport went home empty-handed, albeit in the knowledge that they had played their part in as good a game of Intermediate championship football that this famous old ground has seen in quite some time. But there is so much more to the story of this captivating Connacht Final.
In truth, there is no easy, straightforward analysis of yet another cracking provincial fixture that went the distance (and then some) before being decided by some individual brilliance and no small amount of collective endeavour from a hardy bunch of footballers from Connemara.
This time it was the Intermediate final that produced a rip-roaring match of high intensity, great drama, excitement, and, of course, an action-packed period of extra-time. No provincial club game worth its salt this month has been settled in normal time and this helter-skelter finale was no exception.
Westport could, and probably should, have won their first provincial title at this grade last weekend. That they didn’t is due to their own shortcomings in front of goal and sheer misfortune as much as Leitir Mór’s dogged refusal to wilt when the pressure was applied.
A grand total of fifteen wides over the course of ninety minutes (including seven during extra-time) proved costly in the end for the Mayo representatives. The winners were much more economical, clocking up only five wides in all, and in Patrick Mark Ó Fatharta they also possessed the game’s stand-out player.
The corner-forward from Doirín Darach contributed a phenomenal 1-8 (all but one point coming from play) during the course of an incredible tour de force. His first half points set the tone, his second half scores kept Leitir Mór in touch, and his 1-3 in extra-time effectively tipped the balance away from Westport.
Ó Fatharta (who only started because of an injury to the regular corner-forward) enjoyed one of those days when everything he touched turned to gold and his name will resonate with Westport for many years to come.
In truth, the beaten finalists could have done little more in terms of application, effort, desire and commitment to the cause. The likes of Kevin Keane, Lee Keegan, Niall O’Malley, Dermot O’Connor, Stephen Broderick and Damien Keane played with the kind of spirit and passion that we have come to expect from teams prepared by Martin Connolly and Shane Conway.
All that was missing was a little bit of luck, a small bit of composure in front of goal, and a smidgen of experience that might have prevented Leitir Mór from plundering a last-gasp equaliser three minutes into stoppage-time at the end of normal time.
The day looked to be Westport’s when corner-back Liam Joyce managed to squeeze his shot past the outstanding Leitir Mór goalkeeper, Eoghan Ó Conghaile, two minutes into injury-time to give the West Mayo lads a 2-8 to 1-10 lead.
Joyce’s goal sparked great scenes of celebration among the Westport supporters (who were greatly outnumbered in the old stand) and while nobody seemed too sure who got the final touch in the goalmouth scramble, the die looked to have been cast.
Instead, Naomh Anna came back down the field and, one quick free later, Ferdia Breathnach had drilled the equalising score and we were heading for extra time.
Ten minutes later, as the teams changed ends, Westport led by 2-11 to 1-13 after a string of well-taken points from play by the impressive Damien Keane (2) and Stephen Broderick. However, Leitir Mór had managed to hang on to the leader’s coat-tails thanks to some poor shooting and a couple of outrageous scores at the other end from Patrick Mark Ó Fatharta.
When Ryan Cafferkey clipped an inspirational point a minute into the second period of extra-time, Westport looked to be turning the screw. Instead, the unstoppable machine that was PM Ó Fatharta nailed another audacious point before rifling in a brilliant goal to complete his ‘Roy of the Rovers’ afternoon.
The Gaeltacht men didn’t score for the final eight minutes of an energy-sapping match but Westport only added one further point in the same period, a free from Damien Keane. There were plenty of near-misses, including a goal chance for Keane that was well saved by Ó Conghaile, but Leitir Mór held on to fall over the line in front.
There was very little between the teams all through; the Galway champions took an early lead before being reeled back in by Westport’s Lewis Cawley and Philip Keegan (2), and a 29th minute Lee Keegan goal was enough to put the Mayo standard-bearers in front at half-time (1-5 to 0-7).
The status quo continued for most of the second half as Daithí Mac Donnchadha and Patrick Mark Ó Fatharta (2) traded points with Damien Keane (2 frees) and Dermot O’Connor, as the teams matched each other stride for stride.
Leitir Mór made a decisive breakthough on 54 minutes when substitute Eamonn Ó Loinsigh side-footed a goal from close-range to nudge the West Galway club into a 1-10 to 1-8 lead.
At that moment, it looked like a score that would settle the argument. In fact, the fun was only starting and it took another forty minutes of football before a winner emerged. The only pity was that we didn’t get a chance to see these two teams do it all over again.

Leitir Mór
E Ó Conghaile; C Ó Hogáin, S Seoige, C MacDonnchadha; MP Ó Ceallaigh, C Bairéad, T Ó Gríofa; A Ó Gríofa (0-1), C Ó Flatharta; C Ó Conghaile, Fiachra Breathnach, D Mac Donnchadha (0-3, 1f); PM Ó Fatharta (1-8, 1f), Ferdia Breathnach (0-2), P Seoighe.
Subs used: E Ó Cathain, P Ó Ceallaigh, P Bairéad, E Ó Loinsigh (1-0), C Ó Conghaile.

Westport
G Keane; L Joyce (1-0), K Keane, Dessie Keane; B Higgins, L Keegan (1-0), N O’Malley; E O’Toole, D O’Connor (0-1); P Keegan (0-2), S Broderick (0-1), E Walsh; L Cawley (0-1), Damien Keane (0-6, 4fs), R Connolly (0-1).
Subs used: R Cafferkey (0-1), K O’Malley, M Gill, S Scott.

Referee: O Kelly (Roscommon)

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