A general view of Glennon Brothers Pearse Park. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
Longford SFC Final
Abbeylara 0-12 Colmcille 1-9
By Deniese O'Flaherty at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park
A point from the influential Robbie Smyth earned Abbeylara a deserved draw in the Longford Senior Football Final. Entering stoppage time Colmcille were ahead by two, but points from Smyth (one free) means the sides have to do it all again.
Abbeylara started brightly and had early chances but both sides were guilty of making errors. The opening score came in the seventh minute through Abbey’s Caolan Lynch. One minute later they created a goal chance; Cathal Gilligan's delivery found Padraig Berry, who got a slight touch, but the ball went wide.
Colmcille got off the mark in the 11th minute when Cathal McCabe’s ball in, was bundled to the net by Barry McKeon. He followed that up with a neat point before his brother Paul fired over to put four between the sides after 14 minutes of play.
Credit to Abbey they were back in the game in the 25th minute when a point free from Smyth cut the deficit to one point. Jack Macken’s second point of the game edged Colmcille ahead by two in the 27th minute.
A fantastic block from Colmcille full-back Enda Macken denied Connor Berry a goal one minute later to help Ger Carberry’s side to a 1-4 to 0-5 lead going in at the break.
Frankie Dolan’s charges took the game to Colmcille at the start of the second half. Points from Smyth (free) and an excellent effort from Lynch drew them level in the 35th minute. Another free from the boot of Smyth in the 42nd minute to give Abbey the lead for the first time since the seventh minute.
Midway through the second half the game was level for the second time. Barry McKeon and Smyth traded frees as Abbey were on level terms two more times in the space of three minutes.
There was nothing between the sides as the game entered its final five minutes. In the 57th minute Colmcille keeper Noel Farrell got up to kick over the point of the game to give his side the lead again. Cathal Reilly kicked over a neat point minutes later to put two between the sides entering stoppage time.
But Smtyh showed his class in the final two minutes to draw the game level.
Scorers for Abbeylara: Robbie Smyth 0-6 (6fs), Caolan Lynch 0-3, Ciaran Scanlon 0-2 (2fs), Cathal Gilligan 0-1.
Scorers for Colmcille: Barry McKeon 1-3 (2fs), Jack Macken 0-2 (1f), Noel Farrell, Cathal McCabe, Cathal Reilly, Paul McKeon 0-1 each.
Abbeylara: Gavin Kelly; Michael McHugh, PJ Masterson, Russell Brady; Cian Brady, Bryan Masterson, Colm P. Smyth; Fergal Battrim, Ciaran Scanlon; Reece Reilly, Connor Berry, Caolan Lynch; Robbie Smyth, Cathal Gilligan, Padraig Berry.
Subs: Nigel Rabbitt for P Berry (40), Jason Kelly for Reilly (50).
Colmcille: Noel Farrell; Gerard Mulligan, Enda Macken, Conor Grant; Ruairi Harkin, Declan Reilly, Martin Mulligan; Vinny Hourican, Fergal Sheridan; Dylan McCabe, Jack Macken, Cathal McCabe; Cathal Reilly, Paul McKeon, Barry McKeon.
Subs: Eoin Hawkins for M Mulligan (48), Shaun McKeon for D McCabe (50), Shea Farley for B McKeon (60+1).
Referee: Tony Gaffney (Mostrim).
