Longford SFC: Title holders Abbeylara outclass Fr Manning Gaels

In the resplendent surrounds of the redeveloped Pairc na nGael in Dromard, the reigning Longford Senior football champions Abbeylara easily accounted for the 2024 Intermediate champions Fr Manning Gaels on Friday night. 

Abbeylara . . . 3-19  Fr Manning Gaels . . . 0-10  

Frankie Dolan’s far superior side led from start to finish and in doing so displayed that they will not be easy pushovers for rivals in the current Connolly Cup campaign

The opening quarter was comparatively even with both sides adopting a tentative approach and scores hard to come by.

 A serious injury to Mel Brady in the ninth minute saw him leave the field to be replaced by Barry McKiernan who was making a welcome return to the Abbeylara colours.

 The title holders led by 0-5 to 0-2 with Paddy Collum registering a two pointer from a free for Fr Manning Gaels. 

In the second quarter, Abbeylara stepped up the pressure to race into a 1-10 to 0-3 lead at the break with their goal coming from Robbie Smyth who was causing problems for the Gaels defence. 

Goals from Cian Brady and the returning Willie Crawford in the third and sixth minutes of the second half saw them increase their lead to sixteen points, 3-11 to 0-4, despite the fact that Robbie Smyth was forced to retire with an ankle injury. 

To their credit, the Drumlish-Ballinamuck side came more into the game in the final twenty minutes, registering six points to their opponents eight but by then Abbeylara were home and dry.

ABBEYLARA: Benard Crawford; Mel Mulligan, Colm P Smyth, Brian Masterson (0-1); Cian Brady (1-1), PJ Masterson, Mel Brady; Fergal Battrim, Russell Brady; Caolan Lynch (0-1), Nigel Rabbitt (0-4), Sean Fagan (0-3); Robbie Smyth (1-6), Padraig Berry, Karl O’Hara. 

Subs:- Barry McKiernan (0-1) for M Brady (injured); Willie Crawford ( 1-0) for R Smyth (injured); Reece Reilly (0-2) and Cian O’Reilly. 

FR MANNING GAELS: Paddy Collum (0-2, two-pointer free); Paul McGee, JP Farley, Mark Hughes; David Collum, Aaron Quinn, Jamie Nertney; Mark Breslin, Kevin Whelan (0-1); Martin Cassidy (0-4), Pauric Gill (0-1), Darren Farley; Clayton Finn, Dean Cosgrove, Cian Cassidy (0-1). Sub:- Oisin Kane (0-1).

Referee: Gerry Egan (St Mary's Granard)