Mayo Under-21 'A' Championship First Round (Saturday, 27-February-99)

Lahardane.......3-8
Swinford.......0-10

A daunting challenge awaited Lahardane McHales in their first match at U-21 'A' level on Saturday afternoon in the form of last year's beaten finalists, and having cleared this hurdle, Lahardane's reward is a difficult quarter-final clash away to Ballina.

In the opening exchanges at windswept Glenhest, both sides had wides before Brian Rowland opened the scoring. Swinford's deadly accurate Timmy Gallagher replied with a free before Lahardane's equivalent - Cormac Rowland - pointed his first free. His next free caused panic in the Swinford goalmouth and the faintest of touches from Shane Blake saw the net bulging for the first time.

Swinford had just pulled a point back when Brian Rowland grabbed another goal. In an end-to-end affair, the East Mayo side moved straight down the field for a swift point in reply before Declan Leonard and Cormac Rowland pointed for the home side as the tie swayed in favour of the North Mayo club.

Three Swinford points - including two Timmy Gallagher frees - towards the end of the half offered little reflection of their dominance at that stage of the game. With numerous attacks orchestrated by Eoin Gallagher and the lively Enda Murtagh, Swinford had chances and it required a brave save by Mayo U-16 goalkeeper, Daire Nolan, to deny Murtagh in a one-on-one situation.

Driving sleet dictated that there was no change in the half-time score (2-4 to 0-6) for some time after the resumption. It was Swinford who made the bigger impression going forward, however, and they notched up two of the first three points of the half. Indeed, it took further heroics from Nolan in the Lahardane goal to repel them when two further goal chances presented themselves.

However, with Anthony McDermott winning possession at midfield the tide turned and Vinnie Cawley won several frees, two of which were pointed by Mayo U-16, Cormac Rowland, and another which provided a point for Mayo minor, Shane Blake.

The inspirational score, however, came from Mayo U-21 star, Declan Leonard, who sent a trademark bullet to the roof of Nigel Sweeney's net. For good measure, Leonard soon added a point.

Swinford kept battling but the attack was over-reliant on Timmy Gallagher. It required half-back, Dermot Walsh, to kick two great points to keep them in touch.

In addition to the aforementioned, Sean Harte was impressive for Lahardane, in his over lapping from half-back, Mervyn Marley and Damian Kelly also restricted Swinford throughout, while the other wing back, John McDonnell, survived some heavy tackling.

Lahardane: Daire Nolan, Ray McDermott, Damian Kelly, Aidan McDonnell, John McDonnell, Mervyn Marley, Sean Harte, Anthony McDermott, Shane Blake (1-1); Declan Leonard (1-2); Vinnie Cawley, Brian Rowland (1-1); Sean McGreevey, Cormac Rowland (0-4); Ross Nolan.
Subs.: John McAndrew (for Ray McDermott).

Ref.: M. Corcoran.