Longford SFC: Carrickedmond come storming back to earn a draw against Slashers

Carrickedmond . . . 1-11    Longford Slashers . . . 1-11 

Carrickedmond produced a marvellous comeback in the final 20 minutes of this entertaining encounter in the eventual draw against Longford Slashers in the Senior Football Championship Round 3 clash at McGann Park, Kenagh on Friday evening last. 

Eugene McCormack’s men in the end would in fact be disappointed that they didn’t claim a vital victory when Aidan McGuire gave them the lead for the first time in the second minute of stoppage time.
There was time for Slashers’ to retrieve half of what they lost when Ronan Sheahan (snr) equalised with the last kick of the game after his side had let a commanding eight point lead slip from their grasp.
Trailing by 6 at half-time, Carrick got the desired start on the resumption of play with an Aidan McGuire score shortly after the throw-in. However, Slashers pressed their foothold on the game with 3 quick fire points through their most advanced forwards Ronan Sheahan, Robbie Clarke and Darragh O’Connell free to take an 8 point lead by the 37th minute.
Similarly, to the previous two rounds, this put the town side in an enviable position once again. Nonetheless, this is a much more resilient Carrick side and they somehow managed to flick a switch in their performance to shoot the next 1-5 without reply.
Brian Mulvey hit three wonderful frees from distance in this period to keep Carrick ticking but Rioch Farrell finding the net after a terrific team move put them right back in contention.
A point apiece from Eoghán McCormack and Aidan McGuire then fired them level, although they could have taken the lead sooner if Ronan Sheahan (snr) didn’t stop Jack Dempsey’s left footed shot on the line.
Inspirational midfielder Andrew Dalton fielded the next kickout and drove his team out of defence in an attack that yielded a free for Robbie Clarke to retain their slight advantage as we edged towards full-time.
All the momentum though was with the South Longford men and a brace of scores from Aidan McGuire (one free) looked like they were to complete a great comeback.
Slashers thought their ship had sailed when Sean Morgan’s shot went across the goalmouth in the 63rd minute.
However, through Dalton they garnered possession from the next kickout and the substitute Clarke twins used their pace in the flanks to break the swarmed Carrick defence to muster one last chance for full-back Sheahan who swung the ball over the bar for the draw.In the aftermath, both teams were dissatisfied as Slashers’ grasping an eleventh hour saving seemed improbable after a commanding first half performance which saw them lead 1-6 to 0-3 at half time. When they went 8 up after the interval, it seemed the contest was over but they somehow failed to close the game out.Slashers’ performance levels were at a different level in the first half as Carrick dropped off and let them play all the football. Top scorers Clarke and McGuire opened the accounts for their respective sides at the beginning of the game.
Slashers began to control proceedings and Darragh O’Connell kicked a difficult free to take the lead. Outstanding half back Sean Morgan pointed from distance at the end of one of his many piercing first half runs.
The ever influential Andrew Dalton kicked a neat point then to extend the advantage before Slashers’ raised a green flag.
Darragh O’Connell kicked a fantastic pass inward to the onrushing Robbie Clarke who managed to compose himself before coolly slotting past opposing keeper Garret Higgins.Eoghán McCormack responded for Carrick with a solo point. Robbie Clarke hit his second point from play in a terrific performance that earned him Clubber man of the match honour as chief marksman in the tie.
McCormack hit over a brace of frees then to reduce the gap but Carrick were enraged when one of his efforts was waved wide in a contentious decision.
Cian O’Nualláin struck with his left for the final point of the first half as Slashers bounced into the interval with no one expecting what was to come.Carrick maintain they should’ve had an extra notch on the scoreboard and that they should’ve held on for a win late on but the clustered nature of the table means all is still attainable for both these teams.

 CARRICKEDMOND: Garret Higgins; Conor Mulvey, Pádraig McGrath, Fionn Morgan;  Diarmuid Kelly, Dermot Brady, Pauric Dempsey; Barry O’Farrell, Enda Farrell; Brian Mulvey (0-3, 3f), Eoghán McCormack (0-4, 2f), Rioch Farrell (1-0); Liam Glennon, John O’Shea, Aidan McGuire (0-4, 1f). 

Subs:- Sean Kelly for P McGrath (half-time); Jack Dempsey for J O’Shea (half-time); Sean Egan for R Farrell (48 mins); Ross Doherty for L Glennon (58 mins).

LONGFORD SLASHERS:  Eoin McGuinness; Paddy Duggan, Ronan Sheahan (0-1), Shane O’Connell; Sean Morgan (0-1), Conor Clarke, Diarmuid Boylan; Peter Lynn, Andrew Dalton (0-1); Cian O’ Nualláin (0-1), Gerard Flynn, Robert Clarke (1-4, 1f); Ronan Sheahan (0-1), Darragh O’Connell (0-2, 2f), Robbie O’Connell. 

Subs:- Sean Clarke for P Duggan (47 mins); Ruairi Clarke for P Lynn (51 mins, injured);  Sean Tiernan for Cian O’Nualláin (56 mins).

Referee: Mark Glancy (Rathcline).