Longford SFC: Lazarus like Carrickedmond rise from the dead to snatch a draw

Mullinalaghta St Columba’s . . . 2-12   Carrickedmond . . . 2-12 

Carrickedmond came storming back from 8 points down against Longford Slashers in McGann Park a few weeks ago and repeated the trick in even finer fashion to reprieve the 10 point gap between the sides approaching the middle of the second half. 
Mullinalaghta had built up a considerable lead at the break and 4 unanswered points in the early stages of the second half left Ollie Fay’s side in a commanding position heading into the final quarter of the game at Leo Casey Park in Ballymahon on Saturday evening last.
St Columba's up until then had been the far superior team, completely dominating the midfield battle through the outstanding duo of Conor Leonard and Niall Woods.
Mullinalaghta dominated possession through their physical prowess in midfield and they were much sharper in possession than their opponents. Cian Mackey, Shane Mulligan, Donal McElligott and Gary Rogers controlling proceedings and looking to the inside duo with long ball in attack.
Mullinalaghta won the throw-in through Leonard and he launched a high direct ball towards Aidan McElligott who won a free for his partner Jayson Matthews to open the scoring. That was a sign for what was to come throughout their impressive first half performance.
Aidan McElligott raised the first green flag when he turned sharply past Pádraig McGrath after taking a long ball from the returning Shane Mulligan and finished the rebound after his original effort was saved by Higgins.
Cian Mackey didn’t need a second chop at the cherry as he finished expertly to the corner after playing a 1-2 with Jayson Matthews to give his side a 7 point lead inside 7 minutes. They could have put the game to bed just a few minutes later but this time Garret Higgins was successful in preventing Aidan McElligott from scoring another goal.
Eoghán McCormack got Carrick off the mark with two frees in a row and they could’ve had a goal through Kyle Kenny but he shot straight at Patrick Rogers when the goal was at his mercy.
Mullinalaghta got back in control with a brace apiece from Leonard and Matthews. Carrickedmond grew into the game and hit the next three points in response to leave just the goals between the sides. Eoghán McCormack and Brian Mulvey raised white flags from frees while Liam Glennon notched a score from an acute angle.
Cian Mackey hit a superb score and Conor Leonard hit two wonderful points from distance on the resumption of play as Mullinalaghta continued to dominate the midfield battle. Jayson Matthews and Aidan McElligott pointed marks to extend the lead.
Eoghán McCormack finally got Carrickedmond off the mark in the second half after 40 minutes but Jayson Matthews responded with a free for Mullinalaghta.
McCormack slotted next with his sixth free before substitute Fionn Morgan raised Carrickedmond’s first green flag in the 45th minute when his shot for a point fell at an awkward point at the back post for netminder Patrick Rogers.
Carrickedmond changed tact and pushed up on Mullinalaghta and put an aggressive press on high up the field that yielded turnovers.
One of those turnovers resulted in a free for Carrick captain Barry O’Farrell and he chipped a lovely ball over the top to the unmarked Sean Egan who palmed over the onrushing Patrick Rogers.
Egan was only a few minutes on the field when he got the vital touch for the goal. Carrickedmond were now 3 points in arrears after firing 2-1 without reply and could have levelled matters 10 minutes previous to the dramatic finale when Liam Glennon raced through just moments after Egan’s effort.
Quick hands from Sean Kelly and Aidan McGuire put Glennon through who shot low past Rogers but was denied by a last gasp tackle from the excellent Cian Mackey.
Jayson Matthews kicked Mullinalaghta’s final score in the 57th minute with a short range free to take a four point lead. Carrick replied with a point from Aidan McGuire and then a crucial Barry O’ Farrell interception gave Eoghán McCormack a chance in front of goal which allowed him to reduce the gap to two as the clock already edged into additional time.
Aidan McGuire reduced the gap to the minimum with his second free.
Then, the drama peaked as we passed 6 minutes of additional time when Carrick worked the ball inward through Sean Kelly and Jack Dempsey who passed to Eoghán McCormack who shot over the bar despite under fierce pressure to equalise with the final piece of action with both teams progressing to the SFC quarter-finals!

MULLINALAGHTA ST COLUMBA’S: Patrick Rogers; James Rogers, Patrick Fox, Simon Cadam; Tom Meehan, Donal McElligott, Gary Rogers; Niall Woods, Conor Leonard (0-4, 1 ‘45); Shane Mulligan, Cian Mackey (1-1), Michael Cunningham; Jayson Matthews (0-6, 5f, 1m), Aidan McElligott (1-1, 1m), Conor McElligott.

Subs:- Emmet Brady for C McElligott (37 mins); Aron Earley for Cunningham (53 mins).

CARRICKEDMOND: Garret Higgins; Conor Mulvey, Pádraig McGrath, Pauric Dempsey; Kyle Kenny, Dermot Brady, Diarmuid Kelly; Enda Farrell, Barry O’Farrell; Sean Kelly, Eoghán McCormack (0-7 5f), Rioch Farrell; Brian Mulvey (0-1, 1f), Liam Glennon (0-1), Aidan McGuire (0-2, 2f).

Subs:- Ross Doherty for E Farrell (half-time); Fionn Morgan (1-0) for Pádraig McGrath (half-time); Sean Egan (1-0) for K Kenny (45 mins); Jack Dempsey for R Doherty (53 mins); John McCormack for D Brady (injured, 60 mins).

Referee: David Tiernan (Ardagh Moydow).