MFC Semi-Final Replay
Northern Gaels see off Longford Slashers at
the second attempt
18.09.10 | MFC Semi-Final Replay | Northern
Gaels 1-9 Longford Slashers 0-7 | By Liam Cosgrove
Longford might just have found itself one
of the stars of the future in the shape of Northern Gaels sharpshooter Robbie
Smyth after his impressive second half performance sent Slashers spinning out
of this year's Minor Football Championship race at a rain-sodden Devine Park in
Edgeworthstown last Saturday.
County Minor Smyth, who helped himself to
six points during the previous week's semi-final drawn encounter at Emmet Park,
posted no less than 1-6 of his side's 1-9 total in a devastating display of
shooting in the semi-final replay.
It means Northern Gaels can now look
forward to a date at Pearse Park this Sunday against St. Vincent's in the
curtain-raiser to the senior championship final between Dromard and Longford
Slashers.
The result, though entirely deserved, was
somewhat cruel on Slashers who in the first of this two-game marathon more than
played their part in what was a tense, and at times rugged affair.
Conditions certainly didn't help both sets
of players early on with possession proving particularly arduous to come by.
The deadlock was eventually broken six minutes in by Longford Slashers forward
Kieran Farrell following a neat pass from Andrew Dalton.
As the rain continued to lash down,
mistakes and more specifically indiscipline inevitably began to creep in.
Evidence of this soon emerged in the 10th minute when Conor Clarke
unceremoniously hauled down James McGivney 35 yards out and Robbie Smyth fired
over the free with his left boot.
That was as good as it got for the next
quarter of an hour as players increasingly began to struggle with conditions
underfoot. Smyth finished off a fine Northern Gaels move in the 22nd minute to
sneak his side ahead, only for Morgan Kelly to cancel that effort out two
minutes later.
And that was the story for much of the
remainder of the first half with Enda Rabbitte striking first for Northern
Gaels and Brian Walsh doing likewise for Longford Slashers.
Deadlocked at the break, the possibility of
extra-time loomed large and was no doubt in the minds of around 150 umbrella
wielding supporters looking on from the touchline. That was until Robbie Smyth
suddenly sprang to life.
After slotting over a free three minutes
in, Smyth quickly racked up two further scores, the first of which was a
splendid turn and shot from fully 40 yards out. Not finished, Smyth went one
better in the 39th minute and in so doing all but extinguished whatever faint
hopes Longford Slashers had of reaching this year's minor final.
Good work from the tireless James McGivney
eventually saw the ball end up in the clutches of Smyth 20 yards out. Still
with plenty to do and despite a posse of sky-blue shirts surrounding him, Smyth
unleashed a venomous shot beyond the despairing dive of Slashers keeper Colm
Farrell for the decisive only goal.
It was no more than Smyth and Northern
Gaels deserved for their splendid start to the second half. With a six point
deficit facing them, Slashers were shell-shocked and an inexplicable miss from
Kieran Farrell soon after only served to compound their misery.
Des Guihan was introduced in a bid to pep
up what was a shot shy Slashers attack, but Northern Gaels were in no mood to
relinquish their vice-like grip on the contest as it entered its closing
stages. Robbie Smyth crashed over yet another point, this time from a free
while Brendan Fox also got his name on the scoresheet after incisive approach
play from substitute, David O'Rourke.
As time started to wind down, so too did
the Longford Slashers challenge. A speculative attempt at goal from Morgan
Kelly was tipped round the post by the Northern Gaels defence.
Kelly, to his credit, did send over two
late frees, but it was too little too late as the Robbie Smyth inspired
Northern Gaels team advanced to this weekend's Minor Championship decider safe
in the knowledge that further glory could be just 60 minutes away.
NORTHERN GAELS: Gavin Kelly; Larry McHugh,
Jason Earley, Shaun Rafferty; Shane McKeon, Michael McHugh, Myles Matthews;
James McGivney, James McHugh (0-1); James Rogers, Enda Rabbitte (0-1) Colin
Sheridan; Anthony McBrien, Robbie Smyth (1-6, three frees), Brendan Fox (0-1).
Subs:- Alan Earley for S McKeon (47 mins),
Anthony Reilly for J Rogers (47 mins).
LONGFORD SLASHERS: Colm Farrell; Lee
Shields, Sean Campbell, Fergal Reilly; Adrian Duffy, Morgan Kelly (0-4, two
frees), David Birmingham; Sean Goldrick, Brian Walsh (0-1); Ryan Hewitt, Conor
Clarke, Andrew Dalton; Niall Kelly, Kieran Farrell (0-2), Dylan Quinn.
Subs:- Tadhg Maher for D Quinn (25 mins);
Des Guihan for R Hewitt (47 mins).
Referee: Eugene Murtagh (Sean Connolly's).
Copyright Longford Leader
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