Depleted Abbeylara earn replay

15.08.10 | SFC Quarter-Final | Abbeylara 1-8 Rathcline 1-8 | By Deniese O'Flaherty

Abbeylara and Rathcline will have to do it all again after the first of this year's senior football championship quarter-finals ended in a draw at Pearse Park on Saturday evening.
Overall a draw was a far result in this entertaining clash.

Both sides had opportunities to sneak the win in the last few minutes of the game. Rathcline were guilty of hitting two bad wides, while Abbey were wasteful in attack when they did have the ball.

Despite being without several key players, including Kevin Smyth, Padraig Berry (both long-term absentees), Arthur O'Connor and Shane Mahon, Abbey were favourites to prevail from this game. However, credit to Rathcline, they really put it up to their opponents and played some lovely football over the course of the match.

The Lanesboro side have some very nifty forwards that can cause damage and their defence stood firm on numerous occasions when under pressure. If goalkeeper Declan Feeney had found the net just before half-time from the penalty spot, there could've had been the first major casualty of this year's championship. Feeney blasted his spot-kick over the bar after Kevin Chapman was brought down in the area by Liam Reilly.

Like most of their matches this year, Abbey failed to really sparkle. Although they came through their group unbeaten, they have struggled to exert themselves, which was evident again on Saturday evening. They know they will have to improve if they are to advance to the last four of the championship.

Rathcline started the game brightly and within the opening five minutes had registered two points on the scoreboard; Patrick Mullooly pointed over the opening score in the first minute after Brian McCormack was fouled by Ciaran Drake. James Hanley followed up with another free three minutes later.

Abbey were rather fortunate with their opening score. Full-forward Niall Sheridan appeared to push Rathcline's Kevin Connaughton as they both went up for the ball. Sheridan won the battle and passed to the unmarked Michael O'Connor who made no mistake finding the back of the net.

Enda Ledwith followed up with a nice point before Maurice O'Connor pointed over in the ninth minute to give Abbey a three point lead. One minute after Brian Smith had a chance to score his side's second goal but he blasted his effort wide.

Just when it looked like the north Longford side were about to get a hold on the game, Rathcline hit back in superb fashion in the 18th minute. Midfielders Sean Farrell and Derek Casserly combined well in the forward line before Casserly laid the ball off to David Rooney who curled a beauty of a shot into the top left hand corner of the net.

Points were then exchanged between Hanley and Maurice O'Connor before a free from the boot of Niall Sheridan put Abbey in front. A free from Ryan Fallon levelled up matters minutes later, before Rathcline regained the lead just before half-time when they were awarded a penalty.


Goalkeeper Declan Feeney stepped up to take the spot-kick but blasted his effort high and over the bar for a point.

Three minutes into the second half Abbey found themselves back on level terms when James McEntire pointed over a neat score. Substitute Robbie Smyth then edged them in front before another Hanley free drew the sides level for the fifth time in the 36th minute.

Abbey then went back down the field and a foul on Maurice O'Connor gave Robbie Smyth the opportunity to edge his side in front. Although they had their share of possession, they failed to add to their tally and were guilty of some wayward passing on a number of occasions.

Rathcline fought hard and refused to lie down. As the game progressed they grew with confidence. Two frees from the boot of Mullooly and Hanley (wonderful effort) put them back in front with fourteen minutes of the game to play.

Suddenly Abbey realised they really were in a game. Robbie Smyth fired over their equalising point eight minutes from time after good work from Niall Sheridan. One minute later Rathcline keeper Feeney came to his side's rescue getting the slightest of touches to Smyth's goalbound effort.

As the game entered the final five minutes both sides went in search of the score that could win them the game. Colm P Smyth saw Feeney claim his effort on the line four minutes from time while Rathcline had two wonderful chances near the end but both efforts went wide.

ABBEYLARA: John Joe O'Reilly; Liam Reilly, Donal Ledwith, Ciaran Drake; Colm P Smyth, Willie Crawford, Ferghal Battrim; James McEntire (0-1), Enda Ledwith (0-1); Brian Smyth, Michael O'Connor (1-0), Colm E Smyth; Bernard Crawford, Niall Sheridan (0-1, 1f), Maurice O'Connor (0-2).

Subs used: Robbie Smyth (0-3,1f) for B Crawford 19mins; John Kiernan for Michael O'Connor 50mins; Sean Murphy for B Smyth 60mins.

RATHCLINE: Declan Feeney (0-1, pen); Eamon Farrell, Kevin Connaughton, Michael Hanley; James Carroll, Ronan Clyne, Rory Donnellan; Sean Farrell, Derek Casserly; Ryan Fallon (0-1, 1f), Patrick Mullooly (0-2, 2f), David Rooney (1-0); Kevin Chapman, Brian McCormack, James Hanley (0-4, 3f).

Subs used: Michael Morrisey for E Farrell 21 mins; Padraig Shanley for Rooney 54mins.

Referee: Eugene Murtagh (Sean Connolly's).

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