Longford SFC: Still in contention Slashers spring surprise to master Mullinalaghta

Longford Slashers . . . 0-10   Mullinalaghta St Columba’s . . . 0-7

Longford Slashers kept alive their hopes of a spot in the Senior Football Championship quarter-finals with a terrific three point victory over Mullinalaghta at C&D Devine Park in Edgeworthstown on Sunday evening last. 

Slashers seized control of the game with the aid of the wind in the first half to take a two point lead at the break (0-6 to 0-4) and unlike the previous three games where the town side let it slip in the closing stages, they protected their slender advantage until the glorious end.
Tommy Donohoe’s highly charged team continued to control possession in the second half despite being against the elements. Slashers showed no fear against St Columba’s who never managed to find fluency.
Mullinalaghta were effectively prevented from gaining any momentum by a well organised Slashers outfit orchestrated by clever footballers that can hold the ball comfortably for long periods.
Slashers somewhat surprising victory throws another spanner in the works in this terrifically tight championship group where only 3 points separate the 6 teams with qualification going right down to the wire.
Slashers success against St Columba’s was forged with a solid start with the wind and they got the first three points with Gerard Flynn, Eoin McGuinness (‘45) and Ronan Sheahan getting the scores.
Emmet Brady got Mullinalaghta off the mark with a point from play but they would rely on Jayson Matthews’ dead ball accuracy as they struggled against the elements in the first half.
Matthews kept his side in touch with frees in response to the next three Slashers scores. Sean Morgan surged forward for one of his trademark scores throughout this championship.
Darragh O’Connell sandwiched a short range free between the Matthews kicks before Robbie Clarke superbly pointed after a slick pick up. Matthews closed out the first half with his third free that left his side only two behind at the break.
The force of the wind would have suggested that a two point lead might not have been enough to hold out but Slashers game management on the changeover was terrific.

Cian Mackey used the wind to float a free over the bar to reduce the gap to the minimum but Robbie Clarke replied for the sky-blues.
Aron Earley did respond for Mullinalaghta but the game was being played at Slashers’ pace and Eoin McGuinness took his time to convert a couple of frees that left 3 between the sides.

Emmet Brady got his second point and St Columba’s third of the second half but it turned out to be their last score which was an extremely poor return with the wind in their favour.

Ruairi Clarke could have wrapped up the game with a huge goal chance that went wide of the post but Mullinalaghta struggled to create the openings to get back into contention.

Darragh O’Connell produced the moment of the match when he looked to be cornered by Patrick Fox but he magically flicked the ball over the bewildered county defender from a solo run and created the opening for Cian O’Nualláin to fist the insurance point.

All still remains to be played for in what has been the most competitive and exciting group since the introduction of this championship format in 2021.

LONGFORD SLASHERS: Eoin McGuinness (0-3, 1 ‘45, 2f); Paddy Duggan, Ronan Sheahan snr, Shane O’Connell; Sean Morgan (0-1), Conor Clarke, Peter Lynn; Andrew Dalton, Gerard Flynn (0-1); Diarmuid Boylan, Ronan Sheahan (0-1), Cian O’Nualláin (0-1); Robbie O’Connell, Robbie Clarke (0-2), Darragh O’Connell (0-1, f). 

Subs:- Ruairi Clarke for D Boylan (injured, 37 mins); Sean Clarke for Robbie Clarke (injured, 44 mins); Cian McGuinness for P Duggan (injured, 48 mins).

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

Sub:- Tom Meehan for Cian McElligott (50 mins).

Referee: Michael Farrell (Ballymahon).