Mayo SFC: Breaffy power past Westport to make semi-final

There was never any danger of Breaffy allowing lightening to strike the same venue for a second time in as many years as they held their nerve and deservedly booked their place in the Mayo GAA Connacht Gold Senior Football Championship semi-final at the expense of Westport, winning by 2-18 to 0-18, writes John Melvin.

It was no less than Breaffy deserved as this victory, in front of a huge crowd on as sun-baked day, was based on a lot of hard grafting all over the field, but it was around the middle area that Breaffy established the platform for this win, Aidan O’Shea, Matthew Ruane (who really came alive in the second half), Niall Carter (who had a fine game) and O’Shea brinigng power and composure to this area at a vital stage in the second half.

Westport went for broke, bringing on Lee Keegan, Colm Moran and Mark Moran, but there was no way Breaffy were going to wander off course, as happened last year when they lost a nine-point lead to the same visitors at the quarterfinal stage.

Westport did create a few chances and missed some big scoring opportunities but Breaffy’s defence really stepped up to the challenge, Mark Dervan, Conor Coghill, Daire Morrin, Robbie Fadden and Conor Beirne cutting out a lot of the long ball as the Covies went looking for a goal to get them back into the game in the last 10 minutes.

Just a point separated the sides at half-time, Breaffy in front by 1-10 to 0-12, Joe O’Grady's two-pointer just before half-time reducing Breaffy’s three-point lead to a single point.

However, a cracking goal from Gareth Dunne on 20 minutes, which was set up by the impressive Davitt Neary, was a huge score in that first half as the sides were trading points in what was developing into an entertaining game.

Breaffy had established a three-point lead 16 minutes into the second half, Conor O’Shea on target from play and from a free, but the superb Brian Kilkelly was keeping Westport ticking over, substitute Mark Moran also hitting the target as Westport were beginning to struggle to keep in touch.

With seven minutes left on the clock it was still a three-point game in favour of Breaffy but the decisive blow was struck when Neary went on a scorching run only to be taken down in the penalty area. Robbie Fadden remained ice cool as he fired low past Westport ‘keeper Paddy O’Malley to seal the deal from the spot.

Jack O’Malley came back with a late point for Westport but it was marauding Conor O’Shea who had the final say with an excellent point to propel his side into the county semi-final in two weeks' time.

*Read the full report in Tuesday's print edition of The Connaught Telegraph