Last gasp McDonnagh point gives Swinford victory over Achill

Swinford 0-14

Achill 1-10

Newport

An inspirational point deep in injury time by Swinford defender Seán McDonnagh secured victory for the east Mayo men in a tight and tense battle over Achill in Newport.

With the contest all square and both sides needing a victory to have any chance of making the knock-out stages of the Junior Championship, leaders were needed and McDonnagh was the man who took it upon himself to drag his side over the line.

Three minutes into injury time and with the heavy rain driving into his face, McDonnagh took the ball from deep and drove hard in Achill half. As he brushed aside attempts to stop him, he found himself 25 metres from the Achill goal and with no other thought in his mind, he clipped the ball high over the Achill bar.

Achill had time to force an equaliser or take all three points but the Swinford defence stood resolute and the cheers at Christopher Burke's final whistle could be heard all the way back in east Mayo.

Up to that point, the game was in the melting pot with both sides making the mistakes faced by teams knowing their season was on the line.

Swinford had the aid of a strong wind in the first half and looked to be taking advantage of it when Luke McNicholas and Colin Dempsey kicked two early two-pointers. 

However, the islanders weathered the storm and a goal from Ronan Kilbane in the 27th minute kept Achill in touch and the sides went in level at the break, 1-5 to 0-8 points.

Achill looked to press on in the second half and it looked ominous for Swinford when Brian Lavelle kicked a two-pointer in the 39th minute to put Achill into the lead for the first time.

However, John Reilly's men refused to wilt and points from placed balls by Liam Moran edged Swinford into the lead with time almost up.

A free by Brian Lavelle in the 60th minute to level the game looked to have given Achill the edge but McDonnagh stepped up to clinch the win for Swinford.

Read more in Tuesday’s The Mayo News