Mountbellew-Moylough get back up on the horse

By NOEL CARNEY Mountbellew-Moylough ................................0-10 Mícheál Breathnachs .....................................0-8 A LONG-RUNNING saga played mainly off the field finally came to a conclusion on it at Pearse Stadium, Salthill last Sunday when Mountbellew-Moylough eventually wore down a game and spirited Micheál Breathnachs to qualify for a tilt at Cortoon Shamrocks in the next round of the County Senior Football Championship. The winners of that game meet Tuam Stars with a place in the semi-finals at stake. Anybody expecting fireworks in this game were sorely disappointed as it turned out to be a very tame affair, one of the least controversial of the championship so far. Conditions were tough with strong winds and intermittent showers spoiling the efforts of the players but to the credit of both teams they treated the fair sized crowd to a real battle of wills with plenty of effort even though the standard never set the pulses racing. That will not worry the North Galway club. They finally made use of their superior footballing craft although they were pushed all the way by their opponents. The winners could now use this second chance to launch a real bid for honours after going very close in recent years although improvement is required. The victory was gained more through collective determination and desire than through brilliant individual performances but that is no bad thing in unfavourable conditions. This win is a great boost, the vigorous contest will have sharpened them up a lot and, consequently, they will be at an advantage next time out against Cortoon Shamrocks who have been held up for over four months without a championship game through no fault of their own. The Gaeltacht side won the previous encounter between these teams but were forced to replay it after a well publicised objection as they fielded a player who was deemed ineligible. Forced to line out without one of their star players, Peadar Óg Ó Griofa, who has a long-term injury, they will be frustrated at the way they kicked several wides from distance when they were aided by a very strong wind early in the second half. At that stage they were doing all the attacking but driving the ball long and high was not the way to go as five wides and no score in the opening ten minutes of the half would testify. Mind you Mountbellew-Moylough were also guilty of carelessness when they had the benefit of the elements in the opening period, kicking four wides before Joe Meehan gave them their first score with a fine left-footed effort from play. They then conceded scores to Peadar Ó Cionnaith who drove over two frees in quick succession and considering that they were playing against the wind they could be well satisfied with that situation after ten minutes. Joe Bergin, now at full-forward after swapping places with the hard-working David Hogan, levelled matters and Colm Colleran gave the Black and Amber men the lead but again Peadar Ó Cionnaith replied with points from play and from a free that he himself won and with twenty minutes gone his side were 0-4 to 0-3 ahead and very much on course for a place in the next round. Mountbellew-Moylough however were getting into their stride and they put in an efficient finish to the half. Goalkeeper Brian Donnellan converted a 45, Cathal Kenny scored from a free and then kicked one from play and even though Peadar Ó Cionnaith got one from a free at the other end the M-Ms were shading it at the break, 0-6 to 0-5. With the gale behind them the Connemara men began to apply tremendous pressure but their wastefulness in attack was to prove costly. Corner-forward Peadar Ó Cionnaith was in effect waging a one-man campaign as far as scoring was concerned although his colleagues played their hearts out with spirit and commitment from start to finish. After ten scoreless minutes the drought finally ended when Paul Donnellan broke through for a fine point that put Mountbellew-Moylough two clear and even then you wondered if Breathnachs would be able to regain the lead without a goal. When Joe Meehan made it 0-8 to 0-5 from a free awarded where the ball landed after a late tackle on Gary Sweeney they were in deeper trouble. Another late tackle and a heavy one too, on Alan Sweeney earned Breathnachs sub Eanna Ó Conghaile a deserved yellow card but their fortunes took a turn for the better when Peadar Ó Cionnaith pointed two frees in as many minutes- the first a massive kick from over fifty metres- and suddenly they were only a point adrift, 0-8 to 0-7, with ten minutes remaining. Diarmuid Ó Maoileoin went close to an equaliser for them but his shot faded to the right of goal and they twice went close to a score in a goalmouth melee after a Padraig Ó Conghaile run at the defence. However Mountbellew-Moylough weathered the storm and a Joe Meehan free sailed over to give them breathing space. Once again the irrepressible Peadar Ó Cionnaith led the fight-back with a great point from play only for Meehan to wrap it up with another converted free. Job done for the winners. Mountbellew-Moylough: B. Donnellan (0-1, 45); L. Kenny, A. McHugh, C. Duffy; G. Sweeney, J. Moore, R. Murray; C. Colleran (0-1), J. Bergin (0-1); J. Meehan (0-4, three frees), C. Kenny (0-2, one free), P. Donnellan (0-1); J. Collevy, D. Hogan, A. Sweeney. Sub: D. Neary for Colleavy. Micheál Breathnachs: C. Mac an tSaoir; C. Ó Cuiv, P. Ó Conghaile, C. Ó Griallais; B. Ó Conghaile, M.Ó Maoileoin, A. Ó Tuaithail; A. Ó Feinneadha, F. Ó Curraoin; D. Ó Maoileoin, S. Denvir, K. Ó Donnchu; S. Ó Conaire, F. Ó Bearra, P. Ó Cionnaith (0-8, six frees). Subs: D. Ó Curraoin for Ó Donnchu, S. Ó Conghaile for Ó Conaire, E. Ó Conghaile for Ó Bearra. Referee: Gearóid Ó Conamha (An Fhairche). Herald Sport Man of the Match: Peadar Ó Cionnaith (Mícheál Breathnachs).