O’Shea wins it at the deathSFC Section 3
Breaffy 0-11
Westport1-7Daniel Carey
WestportA MONSTER 55-yard free by Aidan O’Shea gave Breaffy an unlikely victory in St Patrick’s Park, Westport on Sunday.
With four minutes remaining, the Covies were two points up and seemed to have weathered a Breaffy comeback. Then Alan Durcan landed two points and a draw looked on the cards. O’Shea had other ideas, and the result gives Breaffy a huge boost in the ultra-competitive Section 3.
For those who spent the weekend watching the World Cup, the Newport Road offered a change of scene: one goal (scored by the losing team), wind and rain, and – mercifully – not a vuvuzela in sight.
The cheers which substituted for the South African trumpets came mainly from Westport people early on. After four minutes, Stephen Broderick collected Kevin Keane’s long ball, side-stepped his man and fired into the Breaffy net. It was a good start for the wind-assisted locals, after Damien Keane and Alan Durcan had swapped frees early on.
Two further points from Durcan (one a free) and a fisted effort from Aidan O’Shea had cut the gap to two by the 16th minute, Damien Keane having punished a foul on Stephen Broderick at the other end. Then Martin Connolly’s side got into their groove, as Broderick, Keane (free) and Ronan Gibbons each landed points in a six-minute spell. The gap was four (1-5 to 0-4) after 30 minutes. Little wonder Westport got a rousing reception on their way into the dressing room.
“We were very happy at half time,” said Martin Connolly afterwards. “Even against that breeze, four points looked like a decent lead. But that was gone inside five minutes.” For the second half, Westport’s Kevin Keane was redeployed at full-back, with Lee Keegan brought to midfield. But with the elements in their favour, Breaffy sprinted out of the blocks. Rory Martyn pointed from the right within 30 seconds of the restart, and although three successive wides followed, Jim O’Shea’s side were level by the 36th minute. The O’Shea brothers got one apiece, sandwiched either side of Durcan’s fourth score.
It took ten minutes for Westport to register a shot in the second half, and 16 to get a score, but Ryan Cafferkey’s free brought relief. The rain was pelting down and tempers were rising before Damien Keane converted a self-earned free, leaving two between them.
“It was looking like we might hang on, but five minutes is a long time, especially against that breeze,” Martin Connolly reflected. “Once they got the first point [back], it was always going to be dodgy” – a reference to Durcan’s ’45, Breaffy’s first point for 20 minutes. The same player then took a pass from Martyn, shipped a tackle and restored parity. We had played over a minute of injury time when Aidan O’Shea landed that long-range free. It was the only time in the entire game that Breaffy had led, but crucially, they were still in front at the finish.
“It could have gone either way,” said Jim O’Shea. “Westport had us under the cosh for long stages and it’s not every day you get a free from that distance to claim victory … Our next focus is Charlestown at home, and we would like to think that we would play a lot better than we did today.”
AUDIO After Breaffy’s win over Westport we caught up with winning manager Jim O’SheaBreaffyR Hennelly; K Scahill, B Jordan, D Gavin; G Jennings, M Jenninhs, E Conroy; S O’Shea (0-1), F Canavan; R Martyn (0-1), A O’Shea (0-3, 2f), P Dravins; R Conway, C Lyons, A Durcan (0-6, 3f, 1 ’45).
Subs used: M Conroy for Dravins (49 mins); D Jennings for Lyons (54 mins).
WestportT Higgins; B Higgins, T Gavin, Dessie Keane; E Walsh, L Keegan, N O’Malley; K Keane, B McCarthy; R Cafferkey (0-1, 1f), R Gibbons (0-1), D O’Connor; S Broderick (1-1), P Keegan, Damien Keane (0-4, 4f).
Subs used: E O’Toole for McCarthy (38 mins); K O’Malley for Walsh (45 mins).
Referee: M Daly (Ballyhaunis)
