This must be battle-hardened Breaffy's year

MAYO SFC FINAL PREVIEW

Breaffy v Knockmore

Sunday, September 20, 3.35 p.m.

Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar

THIS must be Breaffy's year. Their mettle has been tested greatly from the very first minute of the senior championship but still they stand proud, just 60 odd minutes away from a very first Mayo senior championship title, Knockmore the only team now standing in their way.

Never again, you feel, will the cards play out so well in their favour.

As unwelcome as the pandemic was, it allowed Breaffy the precious commodity of time to get their many Mayo players solely committed to the club cause for the first time in quite some while.

That has to count for something.

Before a ball was kicked in anger in this year's championship, one colleague in another newspaper plumped for Breaffy when asked who he fancied for the title.

Another, in a different outlet, said he thought Westport would surprise them in their opening group game.

The latter was proved correct as Westport hung on for a one-point win that early August day, but the former could yet be proved right too.

What's that they say about losing the battle but winning the war?

Breaffy's group – the aptly named 'Group of Death' – has certainly left them battle-hardened and in great shape to end the war with victory.

That opening day defeat to Westport left them in need of a victory against neighbours and rivals Castlebar Mitchels in the second group fixture, and in this game they illustrated their title credentials with a two-point victory after a tense encounter.

They still had work to do two weeks later in the final group game against Charlestown but here too, despite a late rally from the Sarsfields, they showed they meant business.

Those three games were to stand to them in the knockout stages.

Knockmore may be underdogs going into Sunday's final at headquarters but Breaffy won't be taking them for granted.

Breaffy's group was arguably the toughest, but Knockmore had choppy waters to cross too before emerging safely.

Like Breaffy, they suffered one defeat – to neighbours and old foes Ballina Stephenites – but the difference here was that they had already qualified from the group at that stage.

All they lost really was bragging rights, and they made up for it a few weeks later (more anon).

Knockmore, inspired by Kevin McLoughlin, had their work done by then, easily accounting for Claremorris and Kiltane in their opening two group games.

That left the match against the Stephenites to see who would top the group, and while they were beaten, the reality was that they had been dominant for long periods but were just caught in a late Ballina rally.

McLoughlin is Knockmore's household name but a number of players are making waves this year, among them Aidan Orme, Darren McHale, Kieran King, Connell Dempsey and Conor Flynn. Ray Dempsey has them playing a fine style of football, and they really stood up to be counted in the quarterfinal against defending champions Ballintubber.

What a game that was, as the young pretenders stunned the kingpins, McHale scoring two excellent goals for the rampaging north Mayo men.

They got revenge on Ballina in the semi-final, a blistering start leaving the Stephenites with too much catching up to do.

There were some tense moments, however, and no doubt Dempsey will be getting his young charges to focus on keeping teams at arm's length when a lead has been built up.

If they open up a lead against Breaffy on Sunday it'll be interesting to see if they can hold on to it.

Breaffy, meanwhile, had a big win over Ballaghaderreen in their quarterfinal but the result was skewed somewhat as Ballagh' played with 14 men for a long time.

While Breaffy turned the screw in the second half, the concession of three first-half goals when the teams were on an even keel must have been a cause of concern for Peter Forde and his management team.

They were tighter in defence against Westport in the semi-final.

They learned a lot from that opening day defeat and always had the upper hand, even though the Covies had some good periods.

Colm Flynn was a real threat, from play as well as frees, while Aidan O'Shea also had a massive game, especially towards the end to keep Westport at bay. And they won the game without the services of Seamus O'Shea, who will be a real addition for Sunday's final.

Robbie Hennelly, Matthew Ruane and Conor O'Shea are other household names in that Breaffy team, and if the county stars fire on all cylinders then Knockmore will have to be at their very best to stay in the game.

This must be Breaffy's year.

Verdict: Breaffy