Breaffy lose the battle to Charlestown

Charlestown win Breaffy battle


SFC Section 3
Charlestown 1-8
Breaffy 1-7

SeΡn Rice
Breaffy

THE gale that spoiled this game as a spectacle at Breaffy was nothing to the storm that blew up between the sides near the end which tarnished its standing in terms of sportsmanship.
Only minutes were left in a difficult encounter when simmering tempers finally boiled over and fists flew in an almighty scrap that brought no credit to either side.
When, with the help of officials calm was eventually restored, referee Liam Devenney flashed straight red cards to Mayo stars Aidan O’Shea and Tom Parsons. But in truth neither was more to blame than any one of a bunch of some twenty players who could have suffered a similar fate.
Seconds before that outbreak of violence Breaffy’s wing-back Gerry Jennings was sidelined for a second yellow card offence. But it’s difficult to say if that had any bearing on the row.
Breaffy, who had made poor use of the gale in the second half, had been trailing by three points when the row broke out. In the eight minutes of injury time that followed, corner forward Alan Durcan cut their deficit to a single point from two frees. But time ran out, and in the end victory lay where it belonged.
Having trailed by only two points — 1-5 to 1-3 — at the interval after facing a storm that played tricks with the ball, Breaffy’s expectations of victory were high.
But all the experience they have gathered down the years came shining through Charlestown’s battling defence of their lead in the second half and, although missing some old hands, in the end their coolness and clever use of the ball was rewarded.
The conditions were difficult for both sides and the tough exchanges left little room for fancy football. But sterling work by the experienced Aidan Higgins and Enda Casey in the half-back line and a man of the match performance by Sean Morris in the middle of the field were decisive factors in their vital win.
Breaffy were unfortunate to lose Seamus O’Shea through injury shortly after the break. The midfielder was their best player and at the centre of his team’s resurgence after Charlestown threatened to engulf them early on. His absence was a blow from which Breaffy never recovered.
Within three minutes of the throw-in Paul Mulligan had the Charlestown goal, when he got his fist to a dipping bullet from Aidan Higgins.
It came shortly after he had grabbed the opening point from a free. And the Charlestown marksman added another before Alan Durcan cut through the heart of their defence to register the opener for the home side.
That blistering start by the East Mayo side was not maintained — although Ollie Conway came close to a second goal with a fisted effort. And when Breaffy settled and came to terms with the whims of the wind they looked dangerous.
Seamus O’Shea gave them reason to hope when he knifed through the right flank of the defence and set up Colm Lyons for what looked a certain goal. But the full-forward was fouled in the rectangle.
Durcan was fortunate to get a second chance to convert the penalty after blazing the first attempt over the bar. The referee deemed, however, that encroaching players hindered his attempt and the corner forward made sure the second time.
With a lead of two at the interval, and the storm at their back, the chance of Charlestown holding out were slim. But Breaffy’s persistence in overusing the ball when it should have been pumped into the full forward line was a gift for which Charlestown could only be grateful.
Suddenly they were full of vigour. Paddy Walsh and David Caffrey defended grittily and with Morris dominating midfield, Aidan Higgins directing the play intelligently, and Enda Casey making deep telling runs, they took control and held out until that ugly outbreak of temper spoiled everything.

Charlestown
D Sloyan; P Walsh, D McMeel. D Caffrey; D Higgins (0-1), A Higgins, E Casey (0-1); S Morris, T Parsons; J Owens, B Quinn, C Maye; O Conway, A Mulligan P Mulligan (1-5, 4fs). Subs used: S Moran for Conway (0-1); D Tiernan for Owens; J McBrien for Maye.

Breaffy
R Hennelly; K Scahill, B Jordan, D Gavin; G Jennings, D Cusack, E Conroy; S O’Shea, A O’Shea; R Martyn, F Canavan, M Conroy (0-1); R Conway, C Lyons, A Durcan (1-6, 1-0pen, 5fs).
Subs used: T Canavan for S O’Shea; M McNicholas for Lyons; D Jennings or Conway.

Referee: L Devenney (Ballina)