Last gasp Abbeylara clinch Junior 'B' title

JFC ‘B’ Final | 12.09.10 | Abbeylara 2-8 Mostrim 2-7 | By Liam Cosgrove

They say you make your own luck in football and at Pearse Park last Sunday that saying rang true as Abbeylara snatched the Junior B Championship title from the jaws of defeat against an unlucky Mostrim side.

In what was one of the most dramatic finishes to a county final in Longford in recent years, supporters were treated to not one but two injury time goals as the fate of this year's title changed hands in the space of a few minutes.

First, James Farrell looked to have won the game for Mostrim when capitalising on a mix up between Abbeylara goalkeeper Shane Gallagher and defender Fintan Creamer.

That left two points between the sides, but with over four minutes of injury time added on, a Padraig Battrim shot found the back of the net despite strong protests from Mostrim that a square ball should have been given.

In the ensuing melee that followed, those in the Abbeylara dugout were adamant the final touch came off substitute Colin Dalton.

Whether it did or not was irrelevant to the many jubilant sets of fans wearing the white and red of Abbeylara as Patsy Lynch and David Sheridan's men emerged victorious.

Truth be told however, Mostrim could and possibly should have put the game to bed in the opening half hour with a host of chances going awry and the Edgeworthstown side posted just one point during a wretched opening 28 minutes.

In what was arguably a belated contender for miss of the season, the unfortunate Andy Kelly somehow blazed his shot wide of the posts after Shane Gallagher saved well from Michael O'Hara.

If that was hard enough to take for Mostrim, O'Hara was arguably more of a guilty party five minutes later when referee Joe McDermott awarded a penalty when James Farrell was adjudged to have been upended by opposing defender Cormac Smyth.

But O'Hara dragged his scuffed effort against the post with Abbeylara keeper Shane Gallagher rooted to his spot. By that stage, Abbeylara were well in the ascendancy as scores from Kevin Kiernan and two Eugene Lynch points left three points between the sides after 15 minutes.

Worse was to come for Mostrim seconds later when a high, looping Padraig Rabbitte attempt at goal from all of 25 yards sailed over goalkeeper Kevin Murphy's head and into the back of the net.

Captain Darren Bloomer eventually raised the white flag for Mostrim following Rabbitte's miss and Andy Kelly would have reduced those arrears even further had he not skewed his shot horribly wide of the posts after a delightful through ball from James Farrell.

Then in first half stoppage time, Mostrim earned themselves a potential lifeline when a long punt downfield found the unmarked John Cullen who made no mistake in hitting the back of the net from 12 yards.

Four points off the pace at the interval, Mostrim came roaring back during the opening exchanges of the second half. A well struck James Farrell '45' and two further points from Michael O'Hara and Andy Kelly left just a single point between the sides five minutes in.

Abbeylara appeared shell-shocked and badly needed a score.

As was the case in their semi-final victory over Killoe, Kevin Kiernan was the man to answer that call courtesy of a 30 yard free.

Back came Mostrim however and in a marked contrast to his opening 30 minute spell, it was Andy Kelly who led the charge, this time shooting over the bar.

Eugene Lynch re-opened Abbeylara's two point cushion with ten minutes to go as the game started to seemingly slip away from Mostrim

Three minutes later, Mostrim and Kelly's cards appeared numbered as the half forward was given his marching orders for a lunge on Jason Kelly.

But Mostrim responded. First, James Farrell crashed over a free with his right boot before going one better with a superb score this time from fully 45 yards.

With the scores tied at 1-7 apiece, Kevin Kiernan edged Abbeylara a point ahead as the game entered its final stages. But those cries of delight in the Abbeylara dugout soon turned to ones of anguish seconds later as James Farrell scored a goal to give Mostrim what looked like a winning lead two minutes into injury time. But Colin Dalton etched his name into Abbeylara folklore with his last ditch goal at the death.

ABBEYLARA: Shane Gallagher; James McHugh, Fintan Creamer, Michael McHugh; Stephen McHugh Cormac Smyth, Niall Flynn; Eamon Gallagher, Padraig Battrim; Jason Kelly (0-1), Mark Sheridan (0-1), Padraig Rabbitte (1-0); Barry Cunningham, Kevin Kiernan (0-3, two frees), Eugene Lynch (0-3).

Subs:- Michael Battrim for P Rabbitte (47 mins); Adrian Kelly for B Cunningham (53 mins); Colin Dalton (1-0) for J Kelly (60 mins).

MOSTRIM: Kevin Murphy; Damien Moran, Niall Quinn, Cathal Smith; Brian McLoughlin, John Lynam, Adrian McLoughlin; Jack Lynn, Ray Hussey; Darren Bloomer (0-1), John Cullen (1-0), Andy Kelly (0-2); Michael O'Hara (0-1, free), James Farrell (1-3, one 45', one free), Sean Noone.

Sub:- Niall Sheridan for Sean Noone (49 mins).

Referee: Joe McDermott (Young Grattans).

Pat Donnelly presents the Junior 'B' Football Championship Cup to Abbeylara captain Mark Sheridan with Sponsor Pat Corrigan & Pat Cahill also in the picture. 

Copyright Longford Leader
You can read the Longford Leader every Wednesday or check it out online at www.longfordleader.ie