Longford SFC: Title holders Killoe make hard work of defeating spirited Dromard

Killoe Emmet Og . . . 2-10    Dromard . . . 1-10

While the title holders Killoe are through to the last four in their quest for another Senior Football Championship success, they made hard work of defeating a spirited Dromard side in the quarter-final clash at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday evening.

Despite squandering a couple of clear-cut goal chances in the first half along with a penalty miss, Emmet Og still ended up in front at the break on a 2-5 to 1-7 scoreline with the prominent Mark Hughes scoring both goals - the first from a penalty with just three minutes gone on the clock.

Dromard replied immediately when Joseph Hagan planted the ball into the net but they suffered a shattering blow when Cian Farrelly put Hughes through for a cracking goal in the 18th minute and the chief marksman then blazed another penalty wide.  

Killoe were sloppy in the second half in making a number of mistakes but they kept the scoreboard ticking over with influential impact substitute Ronan McGoldrick registering three points for the reigning champions.

Inspired by impressive midfielder Diarmuid Masterson who fired over four excellent points during the course of the match, wind assisted Dromard led by 1-5 to 1-1 at one stage in the first half before Emmet Og gradually got their act together.

Both teams had a player sent-off (double yellow card) with Paddy Kiernan first to go midway through the second half and the Killoe player was followed soon after by Dromard defender Fionn Hourican who missed a good chance of a goal with a minute gone on the changeover that might have made a difference to the eventual outcome. 

KILLOE EMMET OG: Micheal Hughes; Gavin Hughes, Ryan Moffett, Niall Farrelly; Shane Clarke (0-1), James Moran, Liam Hughes; Paddy Kiernan, Ronan Keogh (0-1); Daniel Mimnagh (0-2, 1 free), Gavin Farrelly (0-1), Cian Farrelly; Denis McGoldrick, Larry Moran, Mark Hughes (2-2, 1 penalty, 1 free).

Subs:- Evan Farrelly for G Hughes (injured, 8 mins); Ronan McGoldrick (0-3) for L Moran (38 mins); Shane McManus for D McGoldrick (47 mins); Jake Donnelly for C Farrelly (53 mins). 

DROMARD: Oisin Hourican; Eoin Palin, Dylan McCormack, Ronan Corcoran; Peter Reynolds, Ronan Bleakley, Fionn Hourican; Rory O’Toole, Diarmuid Masterson (0-4); Aaron Farrell (0-2), Francis McGee (0-2, frees), Daniel Conboy; Bernard Sheridan, Ronan McEntire (0-1), Joseph Hagan (1-1).

Subs:- Jamsie Martin for R McEntire (injured, half-time); Dylan Vance for D McCormack (53 mins); Christopher Grimes for P Reynolds (blood, 46 mins); Reynolds for Grimes (52 mins); Ben O’Reilly for D Conboy (54 mins). 

Referee: Mark Glancy (Rathcline).