Longford IFC Final: Glorious Kenagh win the Intermediate title for the first time in 40 years

Kenagh . . . 2-9   Sean Connolly’s . . . 0-13

Just when it appeared as if a replay would be required to decide the destination of the Hennessy Cup with the sides all square approaching the full-time whistle, up stepped the composed Darren Carberry to land a brilliantly struck ‘45 over the bar to put Eugene McCormack’s charges ahead. 

Carberry, who won back-to-back Intermediate medals with Killashee (2020 & 2021), then sent Cormac McGann clean through for a great chance of a third goal for Kenagh but he elected to take his point to clinch the victory in a dramatic finish to this very entertaining encounter at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday evening. 

Dessie Reynolds was back from his travels abroad to take his place on the Connolly’s team and the Ballinalee outfit looked in control after establishing a comfortable 0-8 to 0-2 advantage.

Kenagh were then thrown a lifeline in the 26th minute with a goal from Josh Kelly at the second attempt after his initial effort was saved by the opposing keeper John McKenna and the gutsy south Longford side were level when Cormac McGann found the back of the net with three minutes gone on the changeover.

After McGann hit the post, the ball broke to Darren Carberry whose shot was saved by McKenna but the alert Cormac pounced on the breaking ball to hit the target for such a crucial score.

It was a real ding-dong battle for there until the end with Keelin McGann making a big impact to shoot four points in the second half while most impressive for Kenagh throughout this cracking contest was the player of the match award winner Shane Farrell who created many of the scores. 

Particularly prominent for gallant Connolly’s was accurate attacker Daniel Reynolds who clocked up a total of seven points (5 frees). 

Winners of the Intermediate Championship title for the third time in their proud history, Kenagh can now look forward to a home game against the Meath or Wexford champions in the Leinster Club IFC quarter-final on Saturday November 4th. 

KENAGH: Damien Higgins; John Gill, James Higgins, Gavin Bawle (0-1); Shea Carberry, Lee Ross Gill, Aidan Carberry; Alan Jones, Andrew Dalton; Keelin McGann (0-4, 1 free), Shane Farrell (0-1), Cormac McGann (1-1); Darren Carberry (0-2, 1 ’45), Thomas McGann, Josh Kelly (1-0).

Subs:- Oliver Manser for S Carberry (half-time); Shane Doyle for A Jones (half-time); Ronan Hughes for S Doyle (injured, 47 mins); 

Blood sub:- O Manser for S Farrell (8 mins); Farrell for Manser (16 mins). 

SEAN CONNOLLY’S: John McKenna; John Rawle, Ciaran Mac Eoin, Michael Murphy; Sean Kenny, Sean O’Sullivan, Ronan McGreal (0-1); John Doris, Daire Duggan (0-2); Trevor Murtagh (0-1), Dylan Lynch (0-1), Dessie Reynolds; Dan Farrell (0-1), Joe Heaney, Daniel Reynolds (0-7, 5 frees).

Subs:- Darragh Earlie for M Murphy (35 mins); Paddy O’Neill for J Heaney (35 mins); Evan Tully for T Murtagh (44 mins); Mick Devaney for D Farrell (56 mins); Stephen Lynch for J Rawle (59 mins).

Referee: John Cullen (Mostrim).