Longford SFC: Carrickedmond let victory slip as Abbeylara snatch a last gasp draw

Abbeylara . . . 0-11    Carrickedmond . . . 1-8

Inspired by a well-taken goal from Eoghan McCormack against the wind in the first half and who held what appeared to be a comfortable 1-7 to 0-6 lead entering the final quarter of this tight contest, Carrickedmond let a vital victory slip from their grasp in the Senior Football Championship Round 4 clash at Keenan Park in Ardagh on Sunday.

Showing a lot of character, Abbeylara (without the injured key players Bryan Masterson and Colm P Smyth) came storming back to level matters with time running out but looked to have lost the match when Aidan McGuire put Carrick back in front in the 59th minute.

A black card followed for Brian Mulvey as the South Longford surprise-packets were reduced to 14 players and the equaliser eventually materialised when Robbie Smyth kept his composure to fire over a pressure free in the third minute of stoppage time.

A draw was good enough to guarantee the Frankie Dolan managed Abbeylara a place in the quarter-finals while Carrickedmond will need to get something from their remaining fixture in the group stage against Mullinalaghta to make further progress. 

ABBEYLARA: Gavin Kelly; Colin Gilna, Michael McHugh, Matthew Quinn; Russell Brady (0-1), PJ Masterson, Cian Brady (0-1); Fergal Battrim, Ciaran Scanlon (0-2, 1 free); Reece Reilly (0-1), Jason Kelly, Caolan Lynch; Robbie Smyth (0-4, 3 frees), Cathal Gilligan, Padraig Berry.

Subs:- Nigel Rabbitt (0-2, 1 free) for M Quinn (22 mins); Bernard Crawford for J Kelly (44 mins); Conor Berry for P Berry (injured, 56 mins).

CARRICKEDMOND: Garret Higgins; Fionn Morgan, Padraig McGrath, Conor Mulvey; Pauric Dempsey, Dermot Brady, Diarmuid Kelly; Barry O’Farrell, Enda Farrell; Rioch Farrell, Eoghan McCormack (1-2, 1 free), Sean Kelly; Brian Mulvey (0-3, 2 frees), Aidan McGuire (0-2, 1 free), Liam Glennon (0-1).

Subs:- Kyle Kenny for E Farrell (48 mins); Paddy Farrell for R Farrell (54 mins); Jack Dempsey for L Glennon (59 mins); Sean Egan for S Kelly (stoppage time). 

Referee: Hugh O’Kane (Young Grattans).