Clonguish master Mullinalaghta to keep title hopes alive

08.08.10 | Clonguish 0-13 St Columbas 0- 7

By Deniese O'Flaherty

Six points may have been the difference between these two sides on the football field but when scores difference came into play nothing could separate them and they will have to meet again next weekend to determine who advances to meet Longford Slashers in the Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final.

When the final whistle was blown at Devine Park on Sunday evening last neither side knew their fate after both finished level on points. Killoe topped the group on scores difference but with Clonguish and St. Columba's both having the same scores difference a play-off is required back at the Mostrim grounds on Sunday next.

It is probably the best outcome for both sides. Mullinalaghta played well in their opening two games in the championship but just couldn't repeat those performances against the title holders. As for Clonguish they put in an excellent performance with Paddy Dowd in outstanding form.

It could have been so different for Clonguish if Paul Barden's long range effort hadn't fallen short into Patrick Fox's hands right at the very end; in some ways it would have been rough justice on St. Columba's to exit the championship.

The Mullinalaghta men were dealt a big blow early in this game when influential midfielder John Keegan damaged his hamstring while clearing the ball. Although he tried to run it off it was evident he was in severe pain and he left the field in the 5th minute.

St. Columba's certainly missed Keegan and they struggled in the middle of the park. There was very little separating the sides in the opening exchanges. Mullinalaghta enjoyed the early possession and got the first score in the sixth minute; a point from the boot of Gary Rogers.

Clonguish were on level terms four minutes later when Colin Clarke pointed a free after Anthony Corcoran was fouled. Kevin Mulligan then fired over a cracking score for St. Columba's in the 12th minute but David Barden responded with a point.

Ciaran Williams then fired over a point and that was followed with a point apiece from Joe O'Brien and Clarke (free). St. Columba's were feeling the loss of Keegan in midfield as Clonguish began to exert considerable pressure. They extended their lead to four points six minutes from the break with a great score from Paddy Dowd but as half-time approached Kevin Mulligan and JJ Matthews both pointed to cut the deficit to two points, 0-6 to 0-4.

Clonguish goalkeeper Mikie McGuinness had been struggling with his kick-outs throughout the first half and was replaced by Stephen Watters at the break.

Two minutes after the restart Colin Clarke got his third point of the game but he was guilty of hitting a bad wide minutes later after being played in by Paul Barden.

Although Clonguish were the better side Mullinalaghta weren't out of the game and Donal McElligott hit over a fantastic long range free in the 36th minute after Matthews was fouled.

There was just one between the sides minutes later when McElligott fired over another free. Clonguish responded with two fine points before McElligott got his third point of the game to put two between the sides but that was to be St. Columba's last score.

Clonguish then took a hold of the game and showed just why they are the county champions with key players Paul Barden, Paddy Dowd and David Barden particularly prominent.

Dowd fired over his side's 10th point in the 48th minute and minutes later he was denied a goal after some great work by the St. Columba's defence who blocked his effort on the line.

It was a very tense final five minutes as Clonguish added three more scores to their tally. Right at the end Paul Barden had a chance to extend his sides lead to the required seven points to book their place in the last eight but his long range effort just dropped short.

CLONGUISH: Mikie McGuinness; Anthony Watters, Brendan Burke, Anthony Corcoran; Padraig Cooney, Enda Williams, Brendan Devine; David Barden (0-1), David Faughnan; Joe O'Brien (0-4), Paul Barden (0-1), Darren Quinn; Colin Clarke (0-3, all frees), Paddy Dowd (0-2), Ciaran Williams (0-2).

Sub:- Stephen Watters for M McGuinness (half-time).

MULLINALAGHTA: Patrick Rogers; Bernard Donohoe, Seamus Corcoran, Patrick Fox; Conan Brady, Shane Mulligan, Francis Mulligan; Ruairi McElligott, John Keegan; JJ Matthews (0-1), Donal McElligott (0-3, all frees), Kevin Mulligan (0-2); Gary Rogers (0-1), Conor McElligott, James McGivney.

Subs:- Mel Dermody for J Keegan (injured, 5 mins); Ruairi Mulligan for M Dermody (47 mins).

Referee: Eugene Murtagh (Sean Connolly's).

Rampant Killoe storm into quarter-finals

08.08.10 | Killoe Young Emmets 2-18 Ardagh St Patrick's 0-7

By Liam Cosgrove

Two weeks ago, most football pundits would have all but written off Killoe's chances of Connolly Cup glory for another season.

But after scoring a surprise success over Clonguish the revival continued with a very easy win over Ardagh at the Longford Slashers grounds on Sunday evening last.

All the talk prior to the start of this crucial Group 1 clash was of the need for the Young Emmets to rack up a "cricket score" if their senior championship hopes were to remain intact beyond the weekend.

Clonguish and Mullinalaghta held all the aces or so it seemed with both sides apparently the firm favourites to progress to the quarter- finals. Indeed, the feeling reverberating around Michael Fay Park appeared to reflect that mood. If Killoe were to have any chance, they needed to come out with all guns blazing, or in this case shooting boots firing.

By the eighth minute they had opened up a three point lead with Ronan McGoldrick (2) and Thomas Nolan laying down an early statement of intent. More, much more was needed however. Killoe, perhaps should have got the game's opening goal, but McGoldrick was adjudged to have over-carried the ball after a Joe McCormack pointed effort came back off the upright.

Ardagh gradually crept into the game and by the 13th minute they registered their opening score through a Seamus Shortt effort but Ger Carberry and Ronan McGoldrick stretched the lead to four soon after. But almost as soon as Killoe had resettled, Ardagh were busy eating into the lead as Danny Keenan and then Seamus Shortt via a free brought the gap down to two.

The sense of urgency in the Killoe camp was palpable. A win, and a massive win at that was the order of the day. A minute before the break, that very urgency brought the game's first real breakthrough.

John Kiernan released a rampaging Thomas Nolan and with only substitute keeper, Stephen Farrell to beat, the midfielder made no mistake as he found the bottom corner of the net with the outside of his right foot. Killoe fans and substitutes lining the touchline began to dream and a quick-fire Eugene Clarke free extended the lead to seven points at half-time, 1-8 to 0-4. Was the impossible starting to become a distinct reality?

Whatever was said during those 15 minutes or so by the Killoe management at the break only served to spur on those wearing white and green even further. No sooner had referee Patrick Maguire put his whistle to his lips, the game as a contest was all but over.

Four unanswered points in the space of four minutes edged Killoe on to 1-12 with Ardagh still toiling to add to their solitary four point return. Seamus Shortt, Danny Keenan and Paddy Keenan added some semblance of respectability to the scoreline for a while to leave eight points between the sides.

Although Killoe were well aware the game was theirs, they craved more points. Spurred on by Thomas Nolan and Joe McCormack, both of whom had inspirational games in the centre of midfield, they poured forward time and time again.

Two points apiece from substitute Denis McGoldrick and Ronan McGoldrick widened the gap with four minutes left.

For all their efforts, they were still staring at an early exit from this year's championship such were the events that were playing out a few miles down the road in Edgeworthstown between Clonguish and Mullinalaghta.

Ardagh, were by this stage punch-drunk and Gerard Farrell only added to his side's misery when he received his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card. Another Denis McGoldrick free followed but Killoe desperately needed a goal to make certain of further progress and with the last kick of the game they somehow managed it.

A quickly taken free by Thomas Nolan found Sean McCormack in acres of space down the Ardagh left hand side. And just as cries of "shoot" could be heard amongst the Killoe faithful, McCormack did just that as he unleashed an unstoppable shot beyond the flailing arms of Stephen Farrell.  

The impossible had suddenly become possible.

KILLOE: Stephen Coy; Francis Brady, Peter Maguire, David Kiernan; Shane Dowd, Joe McCormack (0-1) Shane Doherty; Thomas Nolan (1-1) Ronan McGoldrick (0-6); Thomas Reilly, Sean McCormack (1-2), Ger Carberry (0-1); Eugene Clarke (0-3, one free), Sean Maguire, John Kiernan.

Subs:- Denis McGoldrick (0-4, two frees) for S Maguire (25 mins); Bernard O'Connor for J Kiernan (64 mins).

ARDAGH: Michael Lenehan; Dessie Murphy, Brian Farrell, Paul Ivel; Derek Farrell, Gerard Farrell, James McGoey; Seamus Shortt (0-3, one free), Philip Gillen; Paddy Ganley, Paddy Keenan (0-1), David Farrell; Danny Keenan (0-3, two frees), Ciaran Kelly, Shane Henry.

Sub:- Stephen Farrell for M Lenehan (injured, 9 mins).

Referee: Patrick Maguire (Granard St. Mary's).

Dromard bouce back to see off Fr. Manning Gaels

08.08.10 | Dromard 0-14 Fr Manning Gaels 1-5

By Liam Cosgrove

Connolly Cup favourites Dromard safely booked their place in the quarter-finals but they had to do it the hard way against a stubborn Fr. Manning Gaels side at Allen Park on Sunday last.

In the end Sean Hagan's charges had to call on the shooting prowess of county star Francis McGee, whose five second half points proved more than enough to see off their near neighbours and in the process send them deeper into relegation trouble.

Having lost out to Rathcline in their opening championship encounter, the Gaels made a number of changes, the most notable of which saw Padraic Davis return to the starting 15 in place of Fergal Reilly who reverted to a more defensive role.

And for the opening half hour it appeared to work a treat. First, the ever dangerous Padraig Gill fashioned an opening in the Dromard left-corner-back position to break the deadlock while a minute later David Cassidy followed suit after collecting an astute pass from Davis.

Dromard appeared distinctly one-paced early on as the Gaels quickly established a foothold in midfield led largely on the back of some excellent foraging by the towering Kieran Gill. Only a Francis McGee free from fully 45 yards was all they had to show for their efforts, such was the extent of the Gaels dominance during the opening 25 minutes.

Scores from Padraig Gill, a David Cassidy free and another sweetly struck effort from Gill compounded that misery as the Gaels raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead. But Dromard are a team full of matchwinners and in Francis McGee they possess arguably the county's most in-form player at present and it was hardly surprising that the talented attacker answered his side's pressing need for points.

After winning what appeared an innocuous looking free which was subsequently dispatched by team-mate Jamsie Martin, McGee still found time to chalk up two quick fire scores deep into first half stoppage time to leave just a point between the sides (0-5 to 0-4) at half-time.

The momentum seemed to have swung in favour of Dromard. Yet, just two minutes into the second half that sentiment vanished as the Gaels ripped through the Dromard defence. Padraig Gill caught Peter Masterson in possession midway inside his own half and rather than aim for the posts, he opted for the unmarked Padraic Davis ten yards out. Still with plenty to do, Davis showed all of his predatory skills to smash the ball past a despairing Dromard keeper Damien Sheridan and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

As those in the Gaels touchline began to sense the possibility of a shock result, the look on the faces on those in the Dromard dugout couldn't have been more unerringly silent. Four points down for the second time in the contest, a team of lesser mental toughness would have struggled to have launched a second fightback.

But that they did and for the remaining 30 odd minutes of football it was all Dromard as they sent out an ominous warning to their closest championship rivals.

Five minutes after the Davis goal, David Pettit raised the white flag, an effort which was followed seconds later by a neatly taken Francis McGee free.

Aaron Quinn, who was assigned the task of keeping McGee quiet, was steadily becoming more and more isolated as Dromard started to find their talismanic forward with ever greater accuracy. Jamsie Martin cut the Gaels lead to one after Quinn fouled McGee close in while McGee did the honours himself in the 44th minute with a super turn and shot from all of 50 yards.

With the scores now level, the Gaels simply had no answer to the Dromard onslaught as wave after wave of blue and gold attacks followed. Francis McGee, Jamsie Martin and Donal Sheridan quickly established a three point cushion and it was a case of how much would Dromard win by?

As it turned out it was six and judging by their imperious second half form, their odds on going one better and lifting this year's senior championship title look very strong indeed.

DROMARD: Damien Sheridan; Kevin Donohoe, Cathal Conefrey, Niall Vance; Padraig Martin, Peter Masterson, Peter Reynolds; Diarmuid Masterson, Noel Reynolds; David Petit (0-2), Francis McGee (0-7, three frees), Donal Sheridan (0-1); Jamsie Martin (0-4, four frees), Ronan McEntire, Cian Mimnagh.

Subs:- Declan Mimnagh for R McEntire (30 mins); John Sheridan for Kevin Donohoe (57 mins).

FR. MANNING GAELS: Aidan Gray; John Paul Farrelly, Aaron Quinn, Cian Brady; Diarmuid Cooney, Fergal Reilly, Sean Diffley; David Collum, Kieran Gill; Emmet Collum, Padraig Gill (0-3), Mickey Kelly; David Cassidy (0-2, one free), Padraic Davis (1-0), Kevin Whelan.

Subs:- Mark Duffy for F Reilly (42 mins); Darren Reilly for C Brady (51 mins); James Noonan for E Collum (59 mins).

Referee: Ned Monaghan (Ballymore).

Impressive Longford Slashers cut Ballymahon down to size

08.08.10 | Longford Slashers 2-12 Ballymahon 0-6

By Padraic O'Brien

It took Longford Slashers quite some time to assert their superiority over Ballymahon but when they eventually stepped up another gear in the final quarter there was just no stopping the townies who cruised to a fairly emphatic win at Allen Park on Sunday last to finish top of Group 3 in the Senior Football Championship.

While Denis Connerton's well drilled side won by the wide margin of 12 points to clinch their place in the quarter-finals with a certain amount of authority, Ballymahon were very much in contention for most of the game and when Mark Connor converted a free in the 44th minute the reds only trailed by 0-8 to 0-6.

Connor was cleared to play after having his red card in the previous round against Granard overturned but he and most of the Ballymahon team struggled to make an impact in a match they had to win and it was mainly down to the tremendous efforts of player-manager Trevor Smullen that kept their hopes alive.

But Slashers went on to completely dominate the remainder of the game and following a fine point from their chief marksman Colin Smith, the killer blow was struck in the 47th minute with a gift goal from substitute Sean Flynn after a shot from another replacement Philip Dobson came back off the upright.

There was no way back for Ballymahon who were rapidly running out of steam against a fitter and slicker Slashers side and another three points followed from Stephen Phillips (2) and Adrian Murphy (all excellent efforts) before Dobson made amends for an earlier miss when shooting to the back of the net off the underside of the crossbar in the final minute of normal time.

While Slashers looked good in the final 15 minutes of what was a tense and tight contest up until then, there is still plenty of room for improvement in their quest to capture the coveted Connolly Cup for the first time since 1994.

Last year's beaten finalists Ballymahon are now out of the Senior Championship and they were left to rue a few costly missed chances in the first half – kicking a total of six wides as compared to three for Slashers who were finding the going tough despite getting off to a flying start when the roving Paul Kelly shot over the bar in the first minute.

Another point followed from Colin Smith (free) before Ballymahon opened their account with a Cian Cooney score in the 5th minute and ended up trailing by the minimum of margins at the break, 0-5 to 0-4, with their other points coming from Mark Connor (free), Colm Flynn and Thomas Lowry.

Colin Smith fired over three more scores (two frees) for Slashers, including a glorious long range strike from play on the stroke of half-time, and the second half was hardly a minute old when the influential Paul Kelly landed his second point.

However, Slashers had a lucky escape when their under pressure goalkeeper Gordon Hourican managed to recover from a mistake to avert a dangerous situation and the sky-blues launched an immediate counter-attack which yielded a vital point from Adrian Murphy in the 36th minute.

That left Slashers 0-7 to 0-4 ahead and after Colm Flynn was unfortunate to hit the upright Ballymahon closed the gap with a cracking point from Ken Cooney in the 38th minute, only for Slashers to hit back immediately with a fisted point from Stephen Phillips when a goal was on.

Philip Dobson then shot straight at Ballymahon keeper Thomas Lennon with the goals at his mercy and the latter also came to the rescue later in the game when keeping out a shot from another Slashers substitute Martin Tarmey.

But Ballymahon were outscored 2-4 to 0-1 from there until the finish as Slashers pulled right away to win with considerable ease even if the final scoreline was rather flattering.

LONGFORD SLASHERS: Gordon Hourican; Dominic Glennon, Barry Gilleran, Gareth Ghee: Ruairi Barrins, Dermot Brady, Brian Farrell; Niall Mulligan, David Sheridan; Trevor Clendenning, Colin Smith (0-5, three frees), Adrian Murphy (0-2); Paul Kelly (0-2), Stephen Phillips (0-3), Mark Smith.

Subs:- Philip Dobson (1-0) for B Farrell (injured, 25 mins); Sean Flynn (1-0) for R Barrins (half-time); Martin Tarmey for M Smith (52 mins).

BALLYMAHON: Thomas Lennon; Justin Nally, James Kenny, Diarmuid Fallon; Kevin Diffley, Ken Cooney (0-1), Ken Lovell; Mark Lennon, Alan Hudson; Trevor Smullen, Thomas Lowry (0-1), Cian Cooney (0-1); Mark Connor (0-2, frees), Colm Flynn (0-1), Andy Mullen.

Subs:- Kyle Fitzmaurice for C Cooney (39 mins); Feidhlim McGivney for A Mullen (47 mins); Edwin Nally for M Connor (52 mins).

Referee: Frank Toher (Killoe Young Emmets).

Mostrim brush aside poor Granard side

08.08.10 | Mostrim 2-15 St. Mary’s 0-7

By Deniese O'Flaherty

Mostrim booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Senior Championship with a comprehensive win over Granard at Maguire Park on Sunday last.

With places in the knock-out stages going down to the final games in the group Mostrim knew a good result against St. Mary's would almost certainly see them through.

Following their 23 point trouncing by Ballymahon in the previous round St. Mary's had a chance to restore some pride but instead offered very little to the game. It was another dismal performance from the Granard side and they will have to rally the troops for three tricky games in the relegation battle.

In a first half that Mostrim dominated it was St. Mary's that registered the first score; a free from Declan Hynes in the third minute. Mostrim responded two minutes later with Brian Farrell pointing after Paul Smyth fouled Michael Hussey.

Hussey was a real threat throughout and the St. Mary's defence just couldn't contain him. He created the first goal chance in the 9th minute; he laid the ball off to David Morgan and the corner-forward brought a very good save out of St. Mary's keeper James Hynes.

It was all Mostrim at this stage and in the 12th minute Gerard Smith got on the scoresheet to put his side ahead. Mostrim squandered a number of good chances in the opening quarter and although the Granard men had their share of the ball the delivery into the forwards was poor.

Michael Hussey got his first point in the 16th minute and followed it with two excellent scores. Morgan extended Mostrim's lead to five in the 26th minute with a fine point.

Just before the break Mostrim got their first goal of the game and at the stage it seemed game over for the Granard side; Hussey firing home after some work from David Morgan.

Trailing by seven points St. Mary's made a few personnel and positional changes at half-time. Mostrim registered their seventh point of the game one minute after the restart with a fine effort from Shane Kiernan.

St. Mary's hit back with three unanswered scores from Cliff Sheridan (two frees) and David Blessington. Three more points were traded before Mostrim took a hold on the game and St. Mary's just couldn't compete with them.

Brian Farrell scored a fantastic point from the sideline midway through the second half before they had goal chance number two; Seamus Hannon was instrumental in the move that eventually ended with him through on goals but instead of shooting low for a goal he opted to go for his point. Michael Kenny followed with a fine score to extend Mostrim's lead to eight points.

It was a case of damage limitation for St. Mary's but they couldn't stop the Mostrim men who added three more points to their score as the game entered the final three minutes. One minute from the end of normal time Mostrim got their second goal; Michael Hussey capitalised on a bad kick-out and he played the ball to Brian Farrell who made no mistake.

Cliff Sheridan grabbed St. Mary's last point with a free right before the end before Mostrim corner-back Aaron Gallagher got on the scoresheet.

MOSTRIM: Ciaran Garvey; Michael Victory, Martin Coyle, Aaron Gallagher (0-1); Paddy Smith, Ciaran Gallagher, Seamus Hannon (0-1); Michael Kenny (0-1), Fintan Coyle; Gerard Smith (0-2), Shane Kiernan, Thomas Gallagher; Brian Farrell (1-5, three frees), Michael Hussey (1-3), David Morgan (0-1)

Subs:- Alan O'Hara (0-1) for S Kiernan (39 mins); Benny Dempsey for T Gallagher and Joe Dempsey for M Kenny (43 mins).

GRANARD: James Hynes; Paul Smith, Thomas Gallagher, Gene Kearney; Sean Duggan, David Blessington (0-1), Kevin McGauran; Glen Kelly (0-1), Jim Bob Reilly; Michael Murray, Alan Neilon, Darren Gallagher (0-1); Declan Hynes (0-1, free), Cliff Sheridan (0-3, all frees), Liam O'Rourke.

Subs:- David Hynes for L O'Rourke (25 mins); L O'Rourke for David Hynes and Thomas Devaney for Declan Hynes (half-time); Fergus Kelly for JB Reilly (42 mins).

Referee: John Bannon (Legan Sarsfields).

Cashel produce tremendous display to conquer Colmcille

08.08.10 | Cashel 2-11 Colmcille 0-9

By Deniese O'Flaherty

Last year's Intermediate title winners Cashel, currently coached by former county footballer Gerry Lynn, dumped Colmcille out of the Senior Championship with a tremendous display at Devine Park on Sunday evening last.

It was a deserved win for Cashel and sets them up for a quarter-final meeting with Dromard this weekend. After running Abbeylara so close the last day out Cashel knew they had the capabilities of winning this game. They knew they had to build up a good score if they were to advance at the expense of Colmcille and that's exactly what they did.

The damage was done in the first half as Cashel swept away the weak Colmcille challenge. Although the North Longford side battled hard in the second half Cashel held firm.

Colmcille were hit with injuries coming into this game. Declan Farrell, Declan C Reilly and Anthony Gormley didn't make the starting 15 but were sprung from the bench as Colmcille struggled to get scores.

Cashel had to field without Peter Foy and then lost Mark Egan early in the first half through injury. Despite the death of his grandfather the night before Gary Kenny lined out at full-forward such is his dedication to the club.

It was Kenny that opened the scoring for Cashel in the 4th minute from a free and from there on they just tore Colmcille apart and built up an eight point lead inside the opening quarter. Padraig Farrell grabbed their first goal in the 6th minute after receiving the ball from Colm O'Shea. Derek Farrell then pointed a free before Padraig Farrell got goal number two in the 15th minute.

Colmcille were stunned and lacked any real urgency or scoring threat. They decided to bring on Declan Farrell in the 20th minute to have a target man in the forward line.

Farrell made a difference and within minutes of coming on he could have found the back of the net but he blasted his effort wide after a good move involving his brother Noel and Paul Treacy. He eventually got on the scoresheet two minutes later to register Colmcille's first score.

The Farrell brothers tagged on two more points to leave the two goals between the sides as half-time approached. Derek Farrell pointed another free for Cashel to give them a seven point advantage going in at the break, 2-4 to 0-3.

Colmcille knew their championship hopes were hanging by a thread and staged a comeback in the second half. Two Padraig Murtagh frees and a Declan Farrell point inside the opening ten minutes cut Cashel's lead to just four points.

Although they were under the cosh a little Cashel didn't panic and hit back with a free from Gary Kenny and a fine score from Shane Merrigan. Colmcille had a chance of a goal minutes later but Barry McKeon put his effort wide.

With so much at stake in this game and with scores difference coming into play both sides knew what was required of them. But credit to Cashel, anytime Colmcille appeared to be getting back into the game they replied with a score.

Entering the final 10 minutes of this cracking game Cashel held a commanding eight point advantage.

With three minutes to go that lead was down to seven and that was the last Colmcille score as Cashel got the final point of the game in the final minute and booked their place in the last eight of the championship by virtue of their superior scores difference to clinch the runners-up spot in Group 2.

CASHEL: Blaine Carberry; Paul Egan, John Hopkins, Mark Egan; Ronan Farrell, Luke Casey, Conan Casey; Niall Donlon, Ger Dennigan; Colm O'Shea, James Rowan (0-1), Padraig Farrell (2-2); Derek Farrell (0-4, three frees), Gary Kenny (0-2, frees), Shane Merrigan (0-2).

Sub:- Kevin Farrell for M Egan (injured, 14 mins).

COLMCILLE: Mark Kiernan; Ollie McGivney, Mattie Kavanagh, Paul Kennedy; Brian Brady, Gary Murtagh, Joseph Kelleher (0-1); Francis Kavanagh, Noel Farrell (0-1); Ciaran Brady, Paul Treacy, Padraig Murtagh (0-3, all frees); Barry McKeon, Paul Murtagh, Niall Brady.

Subs:- Declan Farrell (0-3) for Paul Murtagh (20 mins); John Paul Reilly for P Treacy (half-time); Anthony Gormley for P Kennedy (36 mins); Kevin Farrell for N Brady and Declan C Reilly (0-1) for G Murtagh (44 mins).

Referee: Aidan Dowler (Moydow Harpers).

Classy Abbeylara ease to win over Sean Connolly's

Abbeylara 2-10 Sean Connollys 1- 7

By Padraic O'Brien

First half goals from Niall Sheridan and Colm P Smith proved decisive as Group 2 table toppers Abbeylara overcame the determined challenge of Sean Connolly's in the Senior Football Championship clash at the Longford Slashers grounds on Sunday evening last.

While Abbeylara advance to the Connolly Cup quarter-final after winning all three games in the group stages, Connolly's are now facing a relegation battle after losing out on the scores difference rule to Cashel and Colmcille with all three clubs ending up level on two points each.

A very thin line indeed between success and failure and the Ballinalee side never really recovered from the two goals they conceded. The gallant losers got the opening score when Stephen Lynch converted a free in the 3rd minute but Abbeylara – after missing a few chances - got back on level terms when Maurice O'Connor shot over the bar in the 7th minute.

Abbey were guilty of kicking a total of seven wides in the first half but the goals greatly improved the situation for them, the first of which materialised in the 12th minute when Niall Sheridan found the back of the net from close range after a shot from wing back Colm P Smith rebounded off the upright.

Four minutes later Sheridan turned provider and despite losing his footing in front of the posts he was still able to create the perfect pass for the inrushing Colm P Smith who was left with the simple task of finishing the ball into the empty net after the Connolly's keeper James McKenna had advanced off his line in a bid to clear the danger.

Although Connolly's midfielder Martin Brady (free) closed the gap, Abbeylara finished the first half strongly with three further points through Brian Smyth, Colm P Smith (a terrific effort) and James McEntire to establish a commanding 2-4 to 0-2 lead at the break.

That advantage was extended with another score from Brian Smyth direct from the throw-in at the start of the second half but Connolly's showed a lot of character in storming back to fire over four points on the trot through Shane Carrigy (2), Enda Dalton and Eugene Murtagh with the second Carrigy strike a real gem from long range.

In between Niall Sheridan missed a goal chance for Abbeylara who eventually got their first score of the second half when Maurice O'Connor converted a free in the 37th minute.

A point apiece were then exchanged between Martin Brady (free) and the impressive attacking Abbey defender Colm P Smith before Connolly's were thrown a lifeline with a cracking goal from Stephen Lynch with nine minutes of normal time remaining.

That left Abbeylara in a slender 2-7 to 1-7 lead but a point from James McEntire in the 53rd minute eased the pressure and they made certain of the victory with a brace of late scores (play and free) from substitute Bernard Crawford.

ABBEYLARA: John Joe Reilly; Liam Reilly, Donal Ledwith, Ciaran Drake; Colm P Smith (1-2), Shane Mahon, Fergal Battrim; Arthur O'Connor, Enda Ledwith; James McEntire (0-2), Michael O'Connor, Brian Smyth (0-2); Maurice O'Connor (0-2, one free), Niall Sheridan (1-0), William Crawford.

Subs:- Colm E Smyth for A O'Connor (injured, half-time); Barry Smyth for S Mahon (injured, 44 mins); Bernard Crawford (0-2, one free) for F Battrim (53 mins).

SEAN CONNOLLY'S: James McKenna; Brendan Treacy, Paddy McDonnell, Andy McNamee; Thomas Keogh, Padraig Brady, Eamon McEvoy; Martin Brady (0-2, frees), Michael McGlynn; Trevor Murtagh, Shane Carrigy (0-2), Ciaran McEoin; Stephen Lynch (1-1, point from free), Eugene Murtagh (0-1), Enda Dalton (0-1).

Referee: Derek Fahy (Ballymahon).

Reports Copyright Longford Leader