Breaffy crowned Mayo LGFA Junior (A) champions
Breaffy captured their first ever LGFA adult title in the most dramatic of circumstances at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, on Sunday. Kilmoremoy led 2-14 to 2-12 deep into second half injury-time of what was a pulsating and high scoring encounter. However, in the very last minute of added time Breaffy were awarded a penalty after Katelyn McManamon was fouled inside the area. Vivienne Ward was given the spot-kick responsibility and with virtually the last kick of the game she calmly guided home the match winning goal, much to the delight of the vocal Breaffy supporters, who seconds later were celebrating a famous 3-12 to 2-14 victory.
Kilmoremoy were many people’s pre-match favourites, and the Ballina outfit raced into a 0-5 to no score lead during the opening nine minutes of the first half, thanks to points from Erin Ferguson, Eimer Treacy (3) and Ciara Whyte.
Sophie Moran registered Breaffy’s opening point of the contest on nine minutes, and this inspired her team-mate Vivienne Ward to chip in with two points on 13 and 17 minutes.
Moran was also a lively presence for Breaffy and the wing-forward added two further, white-flagged efforts to reduce the deficit to just two points after 21 minutes, 0-7 to 0-5.
Just when it appeared that Breaffy were about to kick on, the north Mayo side were awarded a penalty on 26 minutes, which was duly dispatched by Treacy and a late first half single from Mary McHale helped garner a 1-9 to 0-6 half-time lead for the blue, white and red.
The opening exchanges of the second half were nip and tuck, with Kilmoremoy’s Whyte and Breaffy’s Ward (free) exchanging points, as did Breaffy’s Golden and her opposite number Treacy (free).
Breaffy were growing in stature, and the west Mayo side netted a major on 39 minutes thanks to a fine finish from Golden.
However, Kilmoremoy, who played at intermediate championship level last year before their relegation, hit back in style and a sublime chipped goal from Whyte on 43 minutes mustered a 2-12 to 1-8 lead for her team-mates.
Most teams may have crumbled, but a gallant Breaffy came storming back once again, and after points from Ward (free) and Niamh Curran on 53 and 54 minutes respectively, there were just five points separating the sides.
Then, on 58 minutes, a raking free from Breaffy’s influential full-forward Ward dropped short and the poaching Curran was on hand to fist the ball to the back of the net to reduce the arrears to just two points (2-14 to 2-12).
A resolute Breaffy poured forward, and their heroic efforts were rewarded when Ward’s inch perfect penalty secured a cherished Junior (A) county title.