'A Bit Like Mayo, It Descends Into Chaos': Lee Keegan Praises Westport After Wild Comeback
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- 'A Bit Like Mayo, It Descends Into Chaos': Lee Keegan Praises Westport After Wild Comeback
Westport pulled off an improbable win over in the Mayo SFC quarterfinal over old rivals Breaffy this evening. Already reduced to 14 men, Westport found themselves trailing by nine points with 20 minutes to go.
However, Westport would finish the game with the final 12 points. A fisted goal from Colm Moran in the 58th minute put Westport in front. The match finished that way: 2-16 to 1-16.
14-man Westport were down 9 points to Breaffy today in their Mayo SFC quarterfinal but won by 3.Colm Moran's fisted goal was the difference. Did Conall Dawson intend this as a shot or a pass?7 seconds in you can see Moran's hand up
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) September 20, 2025
The fixture has a romantic quality to it, with Mayo greats Lee Keegan and Aidan O'Shea going head to head. Last year's game gave us brilliant images of the two former Mayo teammates going head-to-head. Breaffy had defeated Westport at this stage of the competition in two consecutive years.
Yet Westport found a way to win, and club icon Lee Keegan spoke to Midwest Radio after the game to explained how Westport turned it around.
We didn't really have an option. You're staring into your championship season and over, Nothing had gone right for us first half. We're probably terrible if you're gonna call a spade a spade. Our game plan didn't work. Shape, we're giving soft frees away. We're getting caught in the moaniness and all that kind of stuff, and then Paddy gets sent off and you're looking at the 1-16 to 1-7, you're thinking to yourself, how badly can this get?
However Keegan praised a Conal Dawson for sparking the comeback with a two-pointer and said his team 'worked like dogs' to get over the line.
You throw the shackles off, you get a couple of turnovers, and Breaffy probably got a little bit comfortable as well. They were kind of trying to save the game.
They didn't do the things to put them in a really good position and before you know it, a bit like Mayo, it descends into chaos and it suited us down the stretch, and, yeah, we worked like dogs and I'm just very proud of the guys. The response, the way they worked, and that's a huge attribute to a team like ourselves.
I saw earlier, as well, we did the same thing against Knockmore, not playing particularly well, but hung in there, and yet that's a real testament to that young group that that's a lot different to the groups I've had over the last few years.
Keegan is one of the best analysts of the intercounty game and his dissection of how Westport won their quarterfinal was pretty insightful.
Lee Keegan of @westportgaa talking to Stephen following their huge comeback victory to book their place in the @MayoGAA senior football championship semifinals. pic.twitter.com/klA7c64nYL
— Mid West Radio (@radiomidwest) September 20, 2025
The draw from the Mayo SFC semifinals will take place tomorrow. Three-in-a-row chasing Ballina Stephenites defeated Ballaghaderreen tonight to earn their place in the semifinals. Crossmolina Deel Rovers will play Belmullet tomorrow, as will Knockmore and Ballintubber, to determine the other two semifinalists.
SEE ALSO: Surreal Scenes As Bill Murray Chats Sea Swims With Corner Forward After Clare Club Hurling Game
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