Longford SFC: St Mary’s Granard defeat Mostrim to reach the knockout stage

St Mary’s Granard . . . 0-16   Mostrim . . . 0-11

While St Mary’s produced a strong second half display to defeat Mostrim in the crunch final round clash in Group A of the Senior Football Championship at Emmet Park on Sunday last, it might have been a different story but for a couple of excellent penalty saves by the Granard keeper Thomas Gallagher. 

Edgeworthstown attacker Darragh Doherty was denied on both occasions and particularly crucial was the first spot kick stop in the 50th minute, at a stage when St Mary’s were leading by 0-14 to 0-10.

The introduction of Seamus Hannon in the target man role at full-forward was posing problems for the under pressure Granard defence and the Mostrim substitute was fouled again in the 60th minute as referee Hugh O’Kane awarded another penalty.
But Thomas Gallagher came to the rescue yet again in keeping out the kick from Darragh Doherty as St Mary’s came out on top to reach the knockout stage and a quarter-final showdown against neighbours Abbeylara at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park in a couple of weeks time.
Wind assisted Edgeworthstown held a slender 0-9 to 0-8 lead at the break with Doherty and Tiarnan Hussey accounting for all but one of the points - the other score coming from James Connell.

Ruairi Corcoran and Jamie Brady Hynes shared six points between them in the first half with David Callaghan and Jordan Shiels also on target for the blues who enjoyed much the better of the exchanges in the second half in adding another eight points to their tally on the way to a deserved victory.
Mostrim were restricted to just two more scores on the changeover, both from Tiarnan Hussey (free and play), in making their exit from the championship and now meet Longford Slashers in the relegation play-off with the losers dropping down into the Intermediate grade.

Both Granard and Edgeworthstown were reduced to 14 players during the course of the second half with black cards for Jack Belton (a significant setback in the 42nd minute) and St Mary’s substitute Micheal Hynes in the 55th minute with his side holding a fairly comfortable 0-15 to 0-11 lead.

Mostrim got off to a flying start in this must win match to lead by 0-3 to 0-0 with Tiarnan Hussey converting a mark for the opening score with less than a minute gone on the clock.

Further points followed from Darragh Doherty and Hussey in quick succession before Granard registered their first score when troublesome full-forward Ruairi Corcoran was on target from a mark in the 4th minute.
A ding-dong battle developed in this entertaining encounter with just the minimum of margins separating the sides at the interval but St Mary’s had the advantage of the wind on the changeover with half-time substitute Micheal Hynes (unable to start due to a recurring injury) making an immediate impact to land a point.

Further scores followed from David Callaghan and Sean Corcoran to extend the advantage before Tiarnan Hussey converted a free for Mostrim in the 39th minute.

Granard quickly regained control in firing over five more points - three from the impressive Jamie Brady Hynes with Darren Gallagher (free) and Liam Sullivan also getting their names on the scoresheet.

Mostrim’s solitary reply in the final quarter of the game was a goal attempt from Hussey that flew over the bar and they were left to rue the brace of missed penalties in the exit from the Connolly Cup.

ST MARY’S GRANARD: Thomas Gallagher; Dylan Reilly, Mark Tully, Aaron Smyth; Mark O’Neill, James Kiernan, Jordan Shiels (0-1); Darren Gallagher (0-1, free), Charlie Martin; Harry Kiernan, Liam Sullivan (0-1), Sean Corcoran (0-1); Jamie Brady Hynes (0-6, 2f), Ruairi Corcoran (0-3, 1m), David Callaghan (0-2).

Subs:- Micheal Hynes (0-1) for C Martin (half-time); Paul Smyth for S Corcoran (51 mins). 

MOSTRIM: Caolan Hussey; Alex Nugent, Shane Campbell, Shane Sheridan; Ronan Courtney, Shane Kiernan, Jack Belton; Martin Coyle, James Connell (0-1); Dylan Hutchinson, Padraig Joyce, Niall Quinn; Tiarnan Hussey (0-5, 2f, 1m), Maitiu O’Donohoe, Darragh Doherty (0-5, 2f, 1m).

Subs:- Seamus Hannon for M O’Donohoe (40 mins); Fintan Coyle for D Hutchinson (56 mins).

Referee: Hugh O’Kane (Young Grattans). 

The other Group A Round 5 Results

Colmcille 2-13 Rathcline 0-8  

Killoe Emmet Og 4-19  Kenagh 0-3  

Qualifiers from Group A for the SFC quarter-finals

1. Killoe 
2. Colmcille
3. Rathcline
4. Granard