Clonguish complete fantastic four-in-a-row of Longford Minor Football Championship titles

Clonguish Og . . . 2-11   Killoe Og . . . 2-7

Clonguish made it four in a row of Minor Football Championship titles when they defeated neighbours Killoe by four points in the final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday last. 

It’s certainly a rich bounty of underage success for Clonguish who held a commanding 2-7 to 1-4 lead at half-time. However, they were made to work hard by a resilient Killoe outfit in the second half.
However, two goals from Kevin Baskett proved to be the decisive scores for the boys in green.
While the Sean Connolly Cup remains elusive for Clonguish, this success reaffirms the fact that there is a steady supply of talent coming through to the senior ranks.
Cormac Flynn (who scored 0-4) and Jamie Dorr are already established on the senior team.
Meanwhile, Alan Mimnagh, Cormac Flynn, Mark Cooney, James Hagan and Josh Marsh were all members of the Longford minors that captured the Leinster title this year. It is boom time in Clonguish at underage level.
Killoe fielded one member of that Leinster winning team, Conor Doherty.
The Man of the Match award went to Jamie Dorr while Cormac Flynn (the scorer of 0-4) and Kevin Baskett were also prominent for the winners.
But there was a great team effort apparent from Clonguish and credit to the management team of Terry Flynn, Damien Dorr, Enda McKeon and Kieran Carey.

Peter Toher opened the scoring for Clonguish with a point after six minutes.
The champions were slow to get going. Cormac Flynn was fouled in the 9th minute. He sent over the free himself.
Killoe opened their account with a pointed free from Davin Donnelly in the 10th minute.
Jamie Dorr edged Clonguish further in front with a point in the 14th minute.
Following good build up play, Dorr’s midfield partner Daniel Carey took a well taken point.
Clonguish were upping the gears now and further points followed from Kevin Baskett and Cormac Flynn.
Another foul on the livewire Cormac Flynn yielded a pointed free from the No. 15.
Flynn is one of those sublime talents who plays with a freedom and confidence that reminds us all of the joy of sport at its purest level.
Kevin Baskett took the first of his goals in the 24th minute when he availed of a wayward kick-out.
Killoe’s Davin Donnelly was fouled in the 26th minute and he sent over the subsequent free.
Jack Fitzpatrick notched another point for Killoe, with the lively Dylan O’Neill supplying the pass.

However, Clonguish’s response was swift, with Baskett being on the end of an excellent Daniel Carey ball which broke.
Baskett finished clinically to make it 2-7 to 0-3 in Clonguish’s favour.
Killoe were handed a lifeline when Dylan O’Neill was fouled in the square and a penalty was awarded in stoppage time.
Davin Donnelly cooly slotted his spot kick past the Clonguish ‘keeper James Flynn.
Killoe started the second half with a pointed free from Donnelly.

Clonguish were cruising again, with a Kevin Baskett shot on goal which was saved being followed by a James Hagan point from a free.
Cormac Flynn and Hagan (free) added points, making it 2-10 to 1-4.
However, Killoe began to edge their way back. Gerard Keogh sent over a free in the 48th minute.
This was followed by their second goal.
Paul Eivers ran with purpose through the Clonguish defence and finished to the net.
When Davin Donnelly sent over a free in the 54th minute, there was just four points in the game (2-11 to 2-7).
Dogged Killoe work in defence was thwarting Clonguish and the Killoe midfield, the towering Shane Donohoe and Enda Quinn, were stamping authority on the game.
Killoe worked hard until the final whistle and Clonguish could not be sure of their victory.

However, Killoe were dealt a blow in the closing stages when Enda Quinn was sent-off following a second yellow card.
The celebrations could soon begin for Clonguish. The underage exploits continue to inspire the whole club.

CLONGUISH: James Flynn; Robert Smith, Alan Mimnagh, Cathal Lynch; Cormac Flynn, Mark Cooney, Peter Toher (0-1); Daniel Carey (joint captain, 0-1), Jamie Dorr (joint captain, 0-1); Eanna Madden, Kevin Baskett (2-1), Michael McDonagh; James Hagan (0-3, 3f), Josh Marsh, Cormac Flynn (0-4, 2f).

Subs:- Mikey Glennon for C Lynch (half-time); Senan Buckley for P Toher (39 mins); Eoghan Kiernan for J Marsh (52 mins); Marsh for E Madden (60 mins).

KILLOE OG: James Dooner; Daniel Lee, Paul Eivers (1-0), Joseph Rowley; Paddy Trappe, Ryan Keogh, Cian Gilna; Shane Donohoe (joint captain), Enda Quinn; Davin Donnelly (joint captain, 1-4, 4f), Gerard Keogh (0-1, 1f), Conor Doherty; Conor Mulligan, Dylan O’Neill, Jack Fitzpatrick (0-1).

Subs:- Adam McCarthy (0-1) for C Gilna (half-time); Gavin Donohue for J Fitzpatrick (42 mins), Fitzpatrick for A McCarthy (54 mins).

Referee: Hugh O’Kane (Young Grattans).