Wide open

Breaffy blow group wide open

SFC Section C
Shrule/G’corrib    0-11
Breaffy                0-11

Mike Finnerty
Shrule

WE travelled to Shrule last Sunday expecting to see two of the darkhorses for this year’s county senior football championship and we weren’t disappointed. There were thrills and spills, shapes thrown and comments made, and no shortage of good football and hard knocks. And when the dust settled there was just no separating them.
There literally was dust rising just after Peter Geraghty blew for full time as irate Shrule/Glencorrib players and officials argued vehemently that they had been denied a match-winning opportunity. Trevor Mortimer had gone to ground about 30 yards from the Breaffy goal under a challenge but the referee waved away claims for a free and instead blew the final whistle seconds later.
There would have been little argument from Breaffy had the free been given against them but, in truth, neither team deserved to lose the match and both had chances to win it long before the injury-time dramatics.
Stephen Joyce will have left the Dalgan Road having seen the best and worst of his team. They played some exciting football in the first half and led by 0-6 to 0-3 at the break.  The ball was moved at pace and they looked particularly dangerous when they attacked down the right wing where Brian Murphy and Conor Mortimer linked up brilliantly.
Early in the second half they were 0-8 to 0-4 up and looking good, Mortimer buzzing around and clipping points for fun despite being severely hampered by a quad muscle injury. 
But Breaffy have not won six of their seven league games this year without showing some backbone and Jim O’Shea’s team came roaring back into contention. They reeled off five points without reply in the space of seven minutes to go in front for the first time and left Shrule’s heads spinning in the process.
Seamus O’Shea kickstarted the purple patch before Alan Durcan started shooting with customary style and accuracy. He swung over a huge free, watched Marty McNicholas sneak in for another score, and then smacked over a couple of inspirational points that were as incredible as they were important.
There were 45 minutes gone when Breaffy took the lead. It lasted only four minutes as Shrule moved Mark Ronaldson closer to goal and the likes of Trevor Mortimer and Kieran Walsh started to deliver ball to their dangerous attack. Points from Conor Mortimer (free), Mark Ronaldson and Trevor Mortimer (a stunning effort from the left wing that looked a little like a pass gone wrong) eased them back in front by 0-11 to 0-9 after 52 minutes.
It was at this stage that we wondered aloud about the homeside’s nerve and Breaffy’s stomach for another comeback. The visitors gave us their answer during the next two minutes as the likes of David Cusack, Barry Jordan and Seamus and Aidan O’Shea dragged their team back into the match.
The wily Marty McNicholas used all his strength and cunning to fist a crucial score before the fleet-footed Alan Durcan curled over the equaliser after Cusack, Eddie Conroy and substitute Colum Lyons were involved in the build-up. 
It was no more than Breaffy deserved after their second half efforts. They are a harder team to beat this year than in the recent past and in the likes of Aidan O’Shea possess players who make things happen.
Shrule/Glencorrib will also return to training this week with plenty to be positive about. Kieran Conroy gave a polished display at full-back while Dermot Geraghty seems to be enjoying his football again. The Mortimer brothers were also ably supported offensively by Brian Murphy and Mark Ronaldson who needs to play close to goal.
However, they will be disappointed that they weren’t further in front at half-time as the likes of David Geraghty and Ronan Warde missed chances. It remains to be seen if this was a point gained or lost.

Shrule/Glencorrib
D Craddock; N Sullivan, K Conroy, Dermot Geraghty; L Garvey, R Walsh, K Duffy; K Walsh, T Mortimer (0-1); B Murphy (0-1), M Ronaldson (0-2), R Warde; C Mortimer (0-5, 2fs), David Geraghty (0-1), E Ronaldson (0-1).
Subs used: J Martyn for Garvey (inj); D Walsh for Sullivan.
Breaffy
R Hennelly; K Scahill, B Jordan, D Cusack; G Jennings, C Jordan, E Conroy; S O’Shea (0-1), G Hughes; T Canavan, A O’Shea (0-1), R Martyn; M McNicholas (0-3, 1f), F Canavan, A Durcan (0-6, 3fs).
Subs used: E Carney for T Canavan; C Lyons for F Canavan; M Jennings for Martyn.

Referee: P Geraghty (Swinford)