Longford SFC: Paddy Moran scores 1-9 for Killoe in the narrow victory over Granard

There was a terrific start to the Senior Football Championship at McGee Park as Granard nearly upset the odds in an enjoyable encounter with Killoe on Saturday evening last. 

Killoe Emmet Og . . . 1-17   St Mary’s Granard . . . 1-15

The 2023 county champions arrived at Aughnacliffe as strong favourites but were brought to the wire by a motivated and well drilled St. Mary’s side.

The game was played at a good pace with great kick passing being exercised by both sides. The management of Jimmy Higgins and Donal Ledwith undoubtedly had the Killoe side playing with a bite and edge displayed by their ferocious tackling. 

Granard were useful in possession, shifting the balls through the channels with cousins Micheal Hynes and Jamie Brady Hynes coming into the half forward line to win ball and looking into the excellent Jordan Martin and Ruairi Corcoran to get inside.

Both sides were trying to move the ball fast and do the right thing but inevitably relied on frees with Darren Gallagher and Paddy Moran top scoring with 1-7 and 1-9 respectively.

Jamie Brady Hynes kicked two fine points in the opening period for Granard in response to Paddy Moran and Eamon Keogh points. Paddy Moran then hit 1-3 on the bounce as the young attacker back from injury showed his threat inside.

Darren Gallagher pulled Granard back into the game with a brace of two pointer frees and a goal from a penalty won by debutant Ben Blessington. 

Killoe responded with scores from Gavin Farrelly and a two pointer free from the deck by James Moran leaving the sides deadlocked at 1-9 apiece at the break. 

Micheal Hynes opened the second half with a neat point before Jamie Brady Hynes and Paddy Moran exchanged frees. Brady Hynes then hit a wonderful two pointer from play with the outside of his boot to send Granard 3 clear. 

Moran brought the gap back to 2 with a free before a crucial moment midway through the second half. Ben Blessington was denied a goal by a super Micheal Hughes save which would have put St Mary’s in a strong position but instead Killoe reduced the gap to one through a Ryan Keogh breakaway point.

James Moran hit his second two pointer from the deck to leapfrog Killoe into the lead then as Granard became the chasers instead of the leaders. Gallagher did level it with a super ‘45 but Paddy Moran retook the lead for Killoe with another free.

Brady Hynes fetched an unbelievable kickout which looked beyond his reach to set up a Granard attack but as the play developed further up the field, the young attacker's crossfield pass was intercepted for a quick Killoe counter attack. Aaron Smyth had no choice to foul Paddy Moran to quench the goal threat and the place kicker tallied his 9th and final point to take a two point lead.

Brady Hynes did reduce the gap to one with a free but Ronan Keogh caught a wonderful Hughes kickout and got on the end of the move to fist the ball over the bar for a two point win.

The experienced Killoe subs brought on were a big boost which helped them over the line and with Danny Mimnagh and Ryan Moffet to return who would rule them out in 2025.

KILLOE EMMET OG: Micheal Hughes; Ryan Keogh (0-1), Gavin Hughes, Shane McManus; James Moran (0-4, 2 two pointer frees), Niall Farrelly, Evan Farrelly; Shane Donohoe, Ronan Keogh (0-1);  Eamon Keogh (0-1), Cian Farrelly, Ciaran Donohoe; Gavin Farrelly (0-1), Paddy Moran (1-9, 7f), Ronan McGoldrick. 

Subs:- Mark Hughes for C Donohoe (37 mins); Darren Moffett for G Hughes (44 mins);  Larry Moran for R McGoldrick (46 mins); Michael Quinn for E Farrelly (51 mins); Conor Mulligan for E Keogh (54 mins).

ST MARY’S GRANARD: Killian McGivney; Liam Sullivan, Tom Kearney, Aaron Smyth; Harry Kiernan, Dylan Reilly, James Kiernan; Darren Gallagher (1-7, 1 ‘45, 2f, 2 two pointer frees), Charlie Martin; Oisin O’Hara, Ruairi Corcoran, Ben Blessington; Micheál Hynes (0-1), Jamie Brady Hynes (0-7, 3f, 1 two pointer from play), Jordan Martin. 

Sub: (second half) - Paul Smyth.

Referee: Tony Gaffney (Mostrim).