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Intermediate Championship Islandeady v Swinford

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In June 2017 these two sides met in round 2 of the championship with Isleadeady winning out easy winners by 3-16 to 0-13.

Ten months later it was a different story as Swinford travelled to Islandeady for the first round of Egan Jewellers Intermediate Championship. Given very little chance by the local papers with one scribe suggesting that we should not be in the Championship Swinford upset all the odds.

After three minutes of play all the doubters were smiling as Isleadeady got off to a great  start with two points and a goal. Swinford then awoke and took the game straight at Isleadeady with a point from James Devaney and a great individual goal from Johnny Burke. Further points from Liam Moran, Michael Walsh, Conor Conway and Liam Moran had Swinford leading by 3 with ten minutes on the clock. It was a lead that they were never going to relinguish.

Both teams shared points with Swinford from Liam Moran, added to by a free from Jason McLoughlin. Both goalkeepers earned their places with the home keeper saving well from James Devaney and Aaron Kinsella making a great save at the other end. Swinford lost their full back Sean Brady to a black card after 20 minutes to be replaced by Sean Prendergast.

Islandeady pulled one back but a number of wides did not assist their cause. Just before the break Jason McLoughlin got his second point of the game with a fine kick from play. At half time Swinford led by 4 points.

It was at this stage last June that the home team took control of the game but this was a different Swinford side. Isleadeady got the opening score that was cancelledout by James Devaney. The next point from Isleadeady could have proved very controversial as the umpire signalled a wide ball, only to be overruled by the linesman and a point awarded.

Both teams shared a number of wides with Swinford kicking a lot of ball short into the goalkeeper hands. Islandeady landed a free and there was two between the teams. Then on the 47th minute the crucial score of the game came Swinford’s way. Their plan of pressing the Islandeady kickouts bore fruit as a poor kick came straight to Jack McDonnell who with a bit of work to do buried it in the net. That was to be Swinford last score of the game as Islandeady threw everything at them. They rattled off four points to leave it a one point game with time up on the clock. 4 and a half minutes of injury time were played with a free to the home team with the last kick of the game, that went of to the right and wide.

Emotional scenes from all the Swinford players, management and supporters as they celebrated their well derserved win.

In the other game in group 2 saw Burrishoole defeat Bonniconlon 2-12 to 0-10.

Swinford: Aaron Kinsella, Alan McLoughlin, Sean Brady, James Lavin, Conor Conway, Mark Forkan, Joshua Smith, Michael Walsh, Johnny Burke, Darren Campbell, Michael Predergast, Liam  Moran, Jason McLoughlin, Jack McDonnell, James Devaney Subs Sean Prendergast, Tom Horkan, James Sweeney, James McNicholas

Scorers: Johnny Burke, Jack McDonnell 1-0, Liam Moran 0-3, James Deveany, Jason McLoughlin 0-2, Michael Walsh, Conor Conway 0-1

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Senior League Div 4 Swinford v Castlebar Mitchells

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Today saw the start of our 2018 league campaigh with a visit by Castlebar Mitchells to Robert McCallion Memorial Park.

Both teams were relegated last year and in the corresponding fixture Mitchells ran out easy winners. It was not to be the same today with a resurgent Swinford team that led for the entire game and should have been more comfortable at the full time whistle.

In the third minute Swinford opened the scoring with a free from Liam Moran that was followed by a second free from Liam. Mitchells pulled one back before a fine point from Kevin McShea, one from play by Liam Moran and a point from Mick Walsh after a 45 dropped short. Swinford were well in control when Johnny Burke took a quick free to find Jason McLoughlin who finished to the net. After 15 minutes Swinford led by 1-5 to 0-1.

Over the next ten minutes Swinford lost to injury Kevin McShea and Jason Carney and Mitchells scored three points, one from a dubious free, a soft free and the third from play. Swinford settled and a free from Liam Moran and a point from Darren Campbell after a great catch by Mick Walsh put 6 between the teams. Just before the interval Swinford lost Michael Prendergast to a black card but were well in control of the game.

It was a slow start to the second half before Mitchells got the first score on the 34th minute. Two points from Liam Moran from a free and from play kept a good distance between the teams. Mitchells pulled one back but Swinford replied with two frees from Liam Moran and Jason McLoughlin. With 15 minutes left another free from Liam Moran put 9 between the teams.

What you want to avoid then happened and Mitchells got a goal that sparked them to life and they scored the next three points. With five minutes to go it was a one score game but some resolute defence and great team work saw Swinford ease the pressure and see out the game to win 1-12 to 1-9.

After a tough 2017 on and off the pitch it was great to get 2018 off to a winning start. Next up on Saturday (7th) is Championship football away to Isleadeady with a next leage game home to Killala on Saturday 14th.

Thanks also to the good support at the game today. See you all again next week.

Swinford: Aaron Kinsella, Alan McLoughlin, Sean Brady, James Lavin, Conor Conway, Kevin McShea, Jason Carney, Michael Walsh, Mark Forkan, Joshua Smith, Michael Prendergast, Liam Moran, Jason McLoughlin, Johnny Burke, Darren Cambell. Subs Cillian O’Donnell, Kevin Doyle, James McNicholas.

Scorers: Liam Moran 0-8, Jason McLoughlin 1-1, Kevin McShea, Michael Walsh, Darren Campbell 0-1

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Senior League Div 1C Bonniconlon v Swinford Match Report

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When the pressure was on the last few weeks this Swinford team stood up and were counted, every man that threw on the jersey, be they on the first fifteen or on the bench. When no-one was giving us a chance, including some of our own we travelled to Bonniconlon and got the win we needed.
Starting the day on 6 points and looking for results to go our way, we first off had to win our own game and that we did. We started the game very nervously and Bonniconlon opened the scoring with a point, before adding a 45. A pointed free from Jack McDonnell got us off the mark but the home team rattled off a free, another 45 and a point from play to take a 4 point lead. A free from Liam Moran kept us ticking over. Despite playing some good football we just could not breach the Bonniconlon defence. A score from play and a free gave Bonni a five point lead but we then found our rhythm and three points from Jack McDonnell, a Mark Forkan point and a free from Jack had us level just before the break. Bonniconlon got one just before the break to lead 0-8 to 0-7.
Jack McDonnell added another free shortly after the restart to levele the game for the second time. Bonniconlon then added three points to take a good lead. Kevin McShea pulled one back before Jack added what appeared to be a fine point but not given by any of the officials. Jack soon added another free followed by a free from Liam Moran as we brought it back to a point. Bonniconlon added their twelfth point. Mark Forkan leveled the game for the third time before Liam Moran put us ahead for the first time with ten minutes left. Then came a crucial moment in the game, a great save by Aaron Kinsella in the Swinford goal kept our lead intact and in the game. Bonniconlon leveled but with his third point of the game Mark Forkan put us back in the lead. There was one more throw of the dice for Bonniconlon with a 45 deep into injury time but thankfully it sailed to the left of the post and wide. A great win on a score of Bonniconlon 0-14 Swinford 0-13 at a ground that it is never easy to come away with the two points.
That win puts us on 8 points level with Bonniconlon, Louisburgh and Castlebar Mitchells. The Mitchells did not field a team a team against Shrule this morning and are relegated as a result and we defeated both Bonniconlon and Louisburgh over the season and surely stay up on the basis of head to head.
The forwards will get the credit (richly deserved) but our defence was outstanding today led by our keeper Aaron Kinsella with two great saves at crucial times during each half. Whatever happens in the coming days in the committee rooms of Mchale Park to decide our fate the team have been outstanding in the last few months, Everyone has given huge commitment over the season and with a bit of luck and fortune in some games would be pushing near the top of the division.

Swinford Aaron Kinsella, Aiden McLoughlin, Sean Brady, Alan McLoughlin, James Lavin, Mark Forkan, Joshua Smith, Johnny Burke, Michael Walsh, Michael Prendergast, James Sweeney, Liam Moran, Kevin McShea, Jack McDonnell, Darren Campbell Subs Kevin Barry, Jason McLoughlin, Tom Horkan, Conor Conway, Anto Friel, Mark McNicholas,

Scorers Jack McDonnell 0-7, Mark Forkan 0-3, Liam Moran 0-3, Kevin McShea 0-1

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Intermediate Championship Swinford v The Neale

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Despite a very courageous display our Intermediate team were beaten by The Neale on a scoreline of Swinford 1-15 Neale 2-16. We now play Tourmakeady in a relegation playoff next weekend.
The Neale got off to the better start and scored the first three points of the game. Jack McDonnell led the Swinford comeback with three points of his own, including two frees. In the 7th minute The Neale got the oepning goal of the game and followed up with a point. Liam Moran then struck with three points, including two frees to put 1 between the teams after 12 minutes. The Neale struck back with four points before Jack McDonnell strick the back of the net in the 23rd minute to bringthe gap back to 2. The neale got the next two points which were soon cancelled out by two points from Liam Moran. Then just before the half time whistle The Neale got the key score of the game with their second goal. At half time it was Swinford 1-8 The Neale 2-10
Swinford started off the second half the better team but a number of chances were not taken and it was the 6th minute before second half substitute James Devaney got the first score. Jack McDonnell quickly followed up with another point to leave the goal between the teams. The Neale got one point back that was immediately wiped out by a point from Kevin McShea. The Neale stretched their lead with the next two points before a free from Jack McDonnell and a point from Mark Forkan brought it back to the goal. Again The Neale got the next two points and with ten minutes left led by 5. Another free from the boot of Jack McDonnell and a point from Michael Prendergast left 3 between the teams as we entered injury time. Up on 6 minutes were played but try as hard as we could we could not breach the Neale defence and they finished the scoring with a free in the 64th minute. Final score Swinford 1-15 The Neale 2-16
A very good match for any nuetrals that were in Bekan and there was a good support for both teams. The Neale survive in Intermediate for 2018 and we play Tourmakeady in the last chance saloon.
Swinford Aaron Kinsella, Aiden McLoughlin, Sean Brady, Alan McLoughlin, James Lavin, Mark McNicholas, Kevin Barry, Mark Forkan, Michael Walsh, Michael Prendergast, Johnny Burke, Liam Moran, Jason McLoughlin, Jack McDonnell, James Sweeney Subs Kevin McShea, James Devaney, Joshua Smith
Scorers: Jack McDonnell 1-6, Liam Moran 0-5, James Devaney, Kevin McShea, Mark Forkan, Michael Prendergast
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Senior League Division 1C Balla v Swinford Match Report

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It was a game that had everything from penalties saved to last minute goals to dodgy points to black card and for the first time in a while we came out on top.

The only thing missing this evening in cold wet Balla was some support for a great bunch of lads. All week people have been looking for tickets for the upcoming All Ireland Final and when the club senior team is out playing there is a distinct lask of support. Most of the year I can count on my two hands our supporters.

Less of that talk though and on to a great spirited team performance against a Balla team that are chasing promotion and would have fancied themselves to steam roll over us. Right from the get go when Liam Moran scored two points in first minute we showed our intent for the game.

It took till the 13th minute for Balla to open their account. Kevin McShea struck immediately back with a great point to put us two ahead again.

Again Balla got one back only for Kevin McShea to again rule it out before Balla scored a free before the break to leave it Balla 0-3 Swinford 0-4 We should have been further ahead but it was a tough game in difficult conditions.

In the second half we faced into a difficult wind but right from the throw in Mark Forkan kicked a simply marvellous point. Balla struck back with two frees which were split by a great save by Aaron Kinsella.

In the 42nd minute Balla went ahead for the first time in the game only for Liam Moran to beautifully strike a 45 over the bar into the wind. Right from the kick out we won possession and Liam popped over another. Balla came back with a point to level the game but up again came Liam Moran to put over a point for his fifth of the game.

There was now ten minutes left and for some bizarre reason the referee awarded Balla a penalty. No bother though to Aaron Kinsella who pulled off another great save.

Then Balla kicked for a point that was for all to see wide of the post but the umpire raised the white flag and the referee chalked it up, the teams were level for the 4th time in the game with seven minutes left.

Balla put another one wide of the upright but again the umpire raised the white flag but this time the referee was having none of it and signalled a wide. Balla went ahead then in the 68th minute from a free and extended it in the 1st minute of injury time to lead by two for the first time in the game.

It looked like another soul destroying end for Swinford but the team took the ball and the game straight at Balla and were awarded a penalty. Bedlam reigned in the penalty area as the referee came under huge pressure but stood his ground and in the 64th minute Liam Moran stood up to take the kick facing a stand in goalkeeper as Balla changed keeper for the kick.

No bother to Liam as the ball hit the back of the net. There was still time for another attack but this was snuffed out by the Swinford defence.

Full time whistle came to jumps of joy by Swinford team and management and shouts of derision from Balla as they surrounded the referee. Full time score Balla 0-10 Swinford 1-8

A very hard win and an important two points in a road to survival.

You cannot pick out any players in particular as the entire team and substitutes played well. From Aaron in goals to Sean Brady in Full back who took no shit from the Balla forwards, to Aiden and Alan in the corners, James Lavin and Kevin Barry and Mark McNicholas who mopped up everything, to big Mick and Wire in the middle who drove the team forward and in attack all six Joshua, Mickey P, Liam Moran, Cillian, Kevin and Daz played their part in attack and as the first line of defence. The subs Tom Horkan who came in the first half and our youngsters Conor Conway and Sean Prendergast all played their part in a great win. There is a lot of pride in that Black and Red Jersey.

Upwards and onwards now to Burrishoole and Bonniconlon.

Swinford: Aaron Kinsella, Aiden McLoughlin, Sean Brady, Alan McLoughlin, James Lavin, Mark McNicholas, Kevin Barry, Michael Walsh, Mark Forkan, Joshua Smith, Michael Prendergast, Liam Moran, Cillian O’Donnell, Kevin McShea, Darren Campbell. Subs Tom Horkan, Conor Conway, Sean Prendergast

Scorers; Liam Moran 1-5, Kevin McShea 0-2, Mark Forkan 0-1