Towey kicks Charlestown to vital league win over Breaffy

SENIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1A

Breaffy 1-11

Charlestown 2-10

Breaffy

THE pride of the club, the love of place and the desire to represent one's people was clearly evident in the Breaffy sunshine today when the home side hosted Charlestown in a basement battle.

Amazingly, just 16 hours after leaving everything on the line for Mayo in front of the nation, Aidan O'Shea and Matthew Ruane lined out for Breaffy and Paul Towey played for Charlestown. To even think about playing football after losing to Derry in such a devastating manner was hard to fathom, but the trio showed a huge level of dedication to their home clubs.

In the end, Towey and Charlestown, emerged victorious on a 2-10 to 1-11 scoreline after a well-contested battle. A fine total of 1-7 from the Mayo attacker proved to be decisive.

Charlestown looked winners for long periods and were three points up going down the pipe but Breaffy closed in and but for a fantastic double save from Patrick Walsh in injury time the men in blue and white would have secured the badly-needed league points.

The guests were 2-5 to 1-5 clear at half time and, in truth, the gap could have been much wider with a number of scores being left behind them. Towey kicked a goal from a free, and even he will admit it was a lucky finish.

Niall Fleming drilled home another after the guests cut through the home defence while David Caffrey and Kiefer Craig also had glorious goal chances.

At the other end, Davitt Neary crashed home a goal, Pierce Deane landed two frees and other scores arrived from Conor O'Shea, Ben Murphy and Tommy O'Reilly.

The second half began with Breaffy three points down and Aidan O'Shea sprung from the bench.

At the other end, Towey kicked two fine points but Breaffy stayed in the game and it took a great save from Walsh to deny Keith Mulchrone a goal as things heated up.

Aidan O'Shea was giving it everything at full-forward and with Matthew Ruane also on the pitch for the final quarter, they threw everything at the guests, but Charlestown were winning the important battles and their ability to win the vast majority of breaking ball proved decisive.

Ruane closed the gap to a single point with four minutes left and the game was there for the taking. Towey stepped forward and kicked two crucial points for the guests to leave a goal in it.

Once again Breaffy went forward but all they could find was a pointed free from Deane.

However, with time almost up, a long ball sent Aidan O'Shea through on goal. He flicked the ball across the goal to Jude Lavin but Walsh somehow kept out the young forward's shot.

O'Shea grabbed the rebound amid a sea of bodies and shot for the net, but Walsh saved again and Charlestown went home with two vital league points.

A full match report will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News