Longford GAA: Clonguish overcome Abbeylara to earn another crack at Killoe

Clonguish . . . 2-7   Abbeylara . . . 0-11

Clonguish returned to their first Leader Cup Final in 8 years with a 2 point victory over Abbeylara in the semi-final of the senior football league competition played at Oliver Lynch Park last Saturday evening.
With a new manager in former Roscommon star Frankie Dolan, it was Abbey who led for much of the encounter but the dismissal of centre-half-back Bryan Masterson for a red card midway through the second half was the catalyst for the crucial Clonguish goals from Kevin Burke and Conor Smith that led last year’s county SFC finalists to victory.
Thus the boys in green have earned another crack at the current Connolly Cup champions Killoe in the Leader Cup title decider at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday evening, throw-in 7pm.
Abbeylara, with the benefit of home advantage due to finishing second in the league, opened the scoring directly from the throw-in through the commanding Ciaran Scanlon. Bryan Masterson then linked well with Robbie Smyth who slapped the ball over the bar when a goal was there for the taking.
Clonguish, playing against the breeze, replied with a Liam Sheridan free. Matthew Carey came out from full forward to help spread the ball in the pursuit of pockets of space and it was his marauding run through the centre that left space in the channel for Jonathan Burke to level matters.
Goalkeeper Joe O’Brien is the additional arsenal in the art of exploiting these avenues for Clonguish and the No. 1 nudged his team ahead with a fine score from the outside of his boot.
When Abbey did turnover Clonguish, fast, diagonal and over the top balls to Robbie Smyth was the primary path to attack and he landed the next two points. Nigel Rabbitt then converted 3 frees before the break to leave his side leading by 0-7 to 0-3.
A Robbie Smyth free on the resumption of play stretched the lead to a comfortable 5. Carey responded with his first free but Clonguish looked to the bench and brought on Kevin Burke who gave them a foothold in possession and steadying influence. The all action half forward kicked a point after a wonderful Carey effort as youth and experience combined to close the gap.
Rabbitt and Carey then traded white flags before the decisive moment when Bryan Masterson received his marching orders for an off the ball incident in the 47th minute.
Just moments later, O’Brien floated a ball goalbound into the hands of Kevin Burke who coolly finished the ball to the net to put Clonguish ahead. However, Abbey responded well with a swift attack that resulted in a levelling Rabbitt free.
Gooch’s 1-1 haul was significant but it was Conor Smith’s goal in the 55th minute that gave Clonguish some breathing space in the closing stages.
Abbeylara were pushing for a point to take the lead but were turned over in attack as a break materialised for Clonguish. The pacy Conor Smith found himself on the end of the move to score the second goal in chipping the ball past the opposing keeper Gavin Kelly.
Smyth converted a final free for his side but the required goal eluded them. Abbeylara must turn their focus to their opening Championship fixture against neighbours Mullinalaghta after a most encouraging league campaign.
Clonguish have welcomed back Ronan Sweeney and Conor Shields to the side in recent weeks to bolster the experience in what is certainly the youngest side in the county.
From last year’s county final team, Josh Sorohan, Michael Flynn and Jack Duggan were unavailable at the weekend while David Barden and Darran Quinn have yet to return to the fold.
Clonguish were minus much of their team throughout the league campaign and did well to reach the Top 4 with the help of the supporting cast in last year’s county minors Jamie Dorr, Daniel Carey, Cormac Flynn and Kevin Baskett.Clonguish’s last Leader Cup triumph was in 2011 and Saturday’s eagerly awaited final against Killoe may be the first of their next batch of senior success!

ABBEYLARA: Gavin Kelly; Michael McHugh, PJ Masterson, Shane Mahon; Cian Brady, Bryan Masterson (0-1), Colm P Smyth; Fergal Battrim, Ciaran Scanlon (0-1); Reece Reilly, Bernard Crawford, Jason Kelly; Robbie Smyth (0-4, 3f), Nigel Rabbitt (0-5, all frees), Mel Brady. 

Subs:- Caolan Lynch for M Brady (41 mins); Matthew Quinn for S Mahon (56 mins).

CLONGUISH: Joe O’Brien (0-1); Cian Sutton, Gerard Moore, Conor Smith (1-0); Ronan Sweeney, Andrew Flynn, Ross Shields; Peter Hanley, Jonathan Burke (0-1); Matthew Flynn, Conor Shields, Chris Gordon; Liam Sheridan (0-1, f), Matthew Carey (0-3, 1f), Jason Glancy. 

Subs:- Conor Flynn for L Sheridan (injured, 21 mins); Kevin Burke (1-1) for C Shields (injured, 34 mins).

Referee: Tony Gaffney (Mostrim).