Longford SFC: Mullinalaghta stage terrific comeback in second half goal rush to shatter Clonguish in thriller

Mullinalaghta St Columba’s . . . 3-10  Clonguish . . . 0-18

Predicted by many as probable title contenders, last year’s beaten finalists Clonguish are in grave danger of missing out on a place in the Senior Football Championship quarter-finals after letting a badly needed victory slip from their grasp in a thrilling Round 3 clash at the Monaduff grounds in Drumlish on Saturday evening last. 

When Matthew Flynn fired over the first of his three excellent points with eight minutes gone in the second half, Clonguish were in a commanding 0-12 to 0-6 lead but gutsy Mullinalaghta (minus the suspended duo Shane Mulligan and James McGivney) never know when they are beaten and were thrown a lifeline when Aidan McElligott converted a penalty in the 40th minute following a foul on Jayson Matthews.

Gaps were starting to appear in the opposing defence after Clonguish centre-half-back Andrew Flynn was forced to retire injured at the break but St Columba’s had a very lucky escape moments later when Jack Duggan raced through to blast a cracking shot against the crossbar.
The Mullinalaghta dangerman Matthews was proving to be a real menace in the full-forward-line and when he scored the second goal in the 44th minute (created by influential substitute Cian Mackey), the former Leinster club champions were remarkably ahead by a point, 2-7 to 0-12.
The highly entertaining ding-dong battle continued for the remainder of the match and the terrific St Columba’s comeback was complete when Connor Leonard set up Jayson Matthews (who clocked up the tremendous total of 2-4) for the matchwinning goal in the 58th minute.
The second half goal rush completely changed the course of what was unquestionably the best game in the championship so far and while Mullinalaghta are looking good to reach the last eight, the ‘group of death’ could well kill off Clonguish who must now win their remaining two fixtures against Abbeylara and Dromard in the scramble to avoid a surprise exit.
The most disappointed Clonguish player on the pitch when the final whistle was eventually blown must have been their excellent attacker Matthew Carey who fired over 9 points (6 frees) and who also had a goal disallowed midway through the first half.
After catching a centre from Jack Duggan in front of the posts, the lethal Carey blasted the ball to the back of the net but the umpires in consultation with the referee Fergal Kelly deemed that a foul had occurred.
Clonguish still managed to hold a comfortable 0-9 to 0-4 lead at half-time with the accurate Carey accounting for five of the points while Cormac Flynn (a constant threat), Jason Glancy, Jack Duggan and Josh Sorohan also got their names on the scoresheet.
Jayson Matthews (two frees), Aron Earley and Donal McElligott replied for Mullinalaghta who appeared to be in serious trouble but like Lazarus they rose from the dead to somehow survive in the second half.
Clonguish were outscored on the changeover as revitalised St Columba’s began to enjoy much greater possession in adding 3-6 to their tally with the points coming from Matthews (2), Michael Cunninham, a brace from Niall Woods who really began to make his presence felt at midfield while Cian Mackey also on the mark.
Nine more points were registered by Clonguish in the tense and exciting second half and they still managed to lose the match which will remain a bit of a mystery.
Four more scores from Matthew Carey, three from Matthew Flynn along with a point apiece from Jack Duggan and substitute Michael Flynn accounted for the tally but it was the crucial goals that swung the issue in favour of so resilient Mullinalaghta who overcame the setback of playing the final quarter of this pulsating game without the injured Donal McElligott.

MULLINALAGHTA ST COLUMBA’S: Patrick Rogers; Simon Cadam, Patrick Fox, James Rogers; Gary Rogers, Connor Leonard, Donal McElligott (0-1); Niall Woods (0-2), Aidan McElligott (1-0, penalty); Cian McElligott, Aron Earley (0-1), Michael Cunningham (0-1); Emmet Brady, Conor McElligott, Jayson Matthews (2-4, 3 frees).

Subs:- Cian Mackey (0-1) for M Cunningham (19 mins); M Cunningham for J Rogers (25 mins); Tom Meehan for D McElligott (injured, 43 mins). 

CLONGUISH: Joe O’Brien; Cian Sutton, Gerard Moore, Conor Smith; Josh Sorohan (0-1), Andrew Flynn, Ronan Sweeney; Jamie Dorr, Jack Duggan (0-2); Matthew Flynn (0-3), Conor Shields, Chris Gordon; Cormac Flynn (0-1), Matthew Carey (0-9, 6 frees), Jason Glancy (0-1).

Subs:- Ross Shields for A Flynn (injured, half-time); David Barden for J Glancy (42 mins); Michael Flynn (0-1) for G Moore (54 mins).  

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Ballymahon).