Inspired Breathnachs pull off shock win over Mountbellew

Date Published: {J}

Mícheál Breathnach 1-11

Mountbellew/ Moylough 0-12

Alan Dooley at Pearse Stadium

MICHEÁL Breathnach pulled off the shock of the weekend in the Galway senior football championship by claiming the scalp of 2010 county finalists Mountbellew/Moylough at Pearse Stadium on Sunday. A game that looked set for extra time with the sides level as four minutes of additional time began was dramatically decided in the Inverin side’s favour by stunning points from Fiach Ó Bearra and Cian Ó Griallais.

Having just levelled matters for the fourth time through Alan Sweeney, Mountbellew/Moylough looked the more likely winners as the clock ticked beyond 60 minutes. With the lion’s share of possession at the death, the north Galway side pressed for a winner but, while trying to work a shooting chance as Mícheál Breathnach pulled 13 men behind the ball, Ó Bearra nipped in to steal possession in midfield.

The young forward darted into open territory and had options to pass but held his nerve superbly to land a critical score. There was still time for more drama as Mountbellew/Moylough were reduced to 13 men by referee James Molloy after an altercation between Seosaimh Ó Connaire and David Hogan saw the Mountbellew attacker rightly dismissed along with team mate Mark Geraghty.

Two minutes yet remained for Mountbellew to rescue their season – extra time would have rendered the red cards meaningless – but they were soon forced to chase a goal when Cian Ó Griallais displayed remarkable stamina so late in the game by galloping forward from corner back to fire over the bar from a tight angle; a raised fist marked the significance of the score.

The final whistle sparked joyous scenes as Mícheál Breathnach, with their first win of the season, held onto their place in senior football for another year while Mountbellew/Moylough’s roadmap for the rest of the year will now revolve around a relegation playoff with St. Michael’s rather than a renewed tilt at capturing the Frank Fox Cup.

They really only had themselves to blame, conceding a soft goal in the early stages while playing with the elements and then failing to engineer a lead to protect by the interval. There were flashes of good football which centred mainly on the efforts of Joe Bergin and Sean Sweeney, but at no point did they ever truly look worthy of their pre-match favourite’s tag.

Breathnach’s win was made all the more noteworthy by the absence of one of their star forwards in the shape of Peadar Óg Ó Gríofa, initially named as a sub but ultimately ruled out entirely. It fell to Sean Denvir to take up the slack and while he was industrious throughout, it was his contribution in the opening five minutes that was most telling.

A second minute point from Denvir into the wind opened the scoring and let Mountbellew/Moylough know they were in for a tough afternoon. Caomhín Mac an tSaoir showed tremendous agility to make a flying stop from David Neary at the other end moments later, but the green flag was soon waving as Denvir weaved past two unimpressive challenges before seeing his low shot saved by Brian Donnellan, but the Breathnach’s man reacted sharpest to rattle the net.

Shaken, Mountbellew hit back with points from Cathal Kenny and Sean Sweeney, before Peadar Ó Cionnaith and David Neary traded scores to make it 1-2 to 0-3 after the opening quarter. Mícheál Breathnach were displaying astute composure in possession and a well worked score from Donal Ó Curraoin followed before Diarmuid Ó Maoileoin wasted a gilt edged opportunity for a second goal for the Connemara men.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.