Shock defeat for Mountbellew-Moylough

By NOEL CARNEY Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir .2-14 Mountbellew-Moylough .2-11 MOUNTBELLEW-Moylough created more than enough chances to win this high scoring first round clash at Pearse Stadium last Sunday but fourteen wides, many of them due to wild shooting from far out, hampered their hopes of getting past a spirited Leitir Mór side and the North Galway club must now face into the back door route. Indeed were it not for a wonder goal from their talented young forward Michael Daly in the final minutes this loss would have been more emphatic and it was particularly galling as they seemed to have done all the hard work early in the second half. They went from 1-7 to 0-5 behind to lead by two points thanks to a 1-4 scoring blitz. With the wind behind them and the momentum of that fine spell driving them on they were looking good to complete the job as it appeared that Leitir Mór had given it their best shot and were about to fade. In fairness to the Naomh Anna lads they refused to panic and promptly stormed back, regained the lead at the three-quarter stage and held on for great win. [private] Mountbellew-Moylough are still in the competition of course but they now take a different route and if they can improve on their shooting or more specifically think before unleashing long, high drives from far out they can pose bigger problems for opponents than this result would suggest. They made a slow, sluggish start and were 1-2 in arrears before Barry McHugh notched their first score. The loss of key attacker Cathal Kenny (abroad) is a huge blow and their forward division is much the poorer in his absence but that scenario is being repeated all over the country. Leitir Mór who were also short some players were quickly into their stride and Patrick Mark Ó Fátharta converted a 45. They got a real boost when Cormac Ó Conghaile placed Daithí MacDonnacha for a goal and they were really flying when Ó Fátharta drove over a fine point from out on the left wing. Barry McHughâ€â„¢s point should have settled Mountbellew-Moylough but they went 1-5 to 0-1 behind as the Ó Conghaile-Ó Fátharta combination produced white flags. Val Dalyâ€â„¢s men finally got going and restricted their opponents to a single point â€â€ an Ó Fátharta 45 â€â€ in the second quarter and with Aaron McHugh, Stephen and Barry McHugh (free) all finding the target they were looking better despite trailing 1-6 to 0-4 at the break. The M & Ms brought on James Collevy for the second half and their fortunes improved dramatically as they took over with Joseph Meehan (free), John Kelly, Michael Daly and Collevy (twice) all pointing and with David Neary grabbing a goal they appeared to have weathered the storm as they now held a 1-9 to 1-7 lead. Surprisingly though Leitir Mór, instead of falling away, pulled themselves together and grabbed 1-6 with only a Gary Sweeney point interrupting the sequence. Cormac Ó Conghaile (3), Padraig Bairéad, Aonghus Ó Fátharta and P. M. Ó Fátharta all pointing while the ever dangerous P.M. also rifled a goal at the end of a great passing movement. The men in green instead of their usual black and amber due to a colour clash, were then 2-13 to 1-10 behind as time ran out but a wonderful goal by young Michael Daly who broke through and unleashed a real bullet that curled inside an upright gave them hope but they conceded the â€Å“fourth insurance pointâ€Â to Aonghus Ó Fátharta before Joss Moore closed the scoring. Leitir Mór: P. G. Ó Ceallaigh; S. A. Ó Ceallaigh, T. Ó Gríofa, P. Mac An Rí; P. Seoighe, C. MacDonnacha, C. Bairéad; P Bairéad (0-1), A Oâ€â„¢Gríofa; Cormac Ó Conghaile (0-3), Fiachra Breathnach, Ciarán Ó Conghaile; A. Ó Fátharta (0-3), P. M. Ó Fátharta (1-6, 3fs, 245s), D. MacDonnacha (1-1). Subs: M. Ó Fátharta for Ciarán Ó Conghaile (29 mins), E. Ó Loinsigh for D. MacDonnacha (42 mins), C. Mac Donnacha for Seoighe (54 mins). Mountbellew-Moylough: B. Donnellan; A. McHugh (0-1), R. Murray, T. Sweeney; A. Sweeney, J. Moore (0-1), P. Gardiner; J. Bergin, J. Meehan (0-1, free); J. Kelly (0-1), M. Daly (1-1), D. Neary (1-0); S. Boyle (0-1), B. McHugh (0-2, one free), G Sweeney (0-1). Subs: J. Colleavy (0-2) for Gardiner (31 mins), E. Hogan for Bergin (45 mins), J. Bergin for Meehan (54 mins). Referee: Gearóid Ó Conamha (An Fhairche). Herald Sport Man of the Match: Patrick Mark Ó Fátharta (Leitir Mór). [/private] â€Â¢ In the remaining S.F.C. game of the weekend, An Cheathrú Rua defeated Barna 0-13 to 0-7, with seven points in a row from late in the first half and into the third quarter. Barna failed to score from play as brothers Cillín and Ciarán de Paor and Seán McGabhain were again shooting stars for An Cheathrú Rua.