Longford SFC: Lucky escape for Killoe as Carrickedmond gain deserved draw

While Killoe came from five points down at the break (0-9 to 0-4) in the eventual draw against Carrickedmond, this was a lucky escape for the 2023 county title winners in the Senior Football Championship Group A Round 2 clash at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Thursday night.

Carrickedmond . . . 1-14    Killoe Emmet Og . . . 2-11

In bouncing back from the opening round defeat against Colmcille to gain a positive result on this occasion, Carrick overcame the significant setback of having a goal disallowed approaching half-time in this entertaining encounter.

Liam Glennon finished the ball to the net in the 28th minute and while the green flag was raised by the umpire, referee Mark Glancy overturned the decision after consulting with the linesman Hugh O’Kane for what was deemed a square ball infringement. 

After playing poorly in the first half, the new Killoe management of Jimmy Higgins (Crosserlough) and Abbeylara clubman Donal Ledwith brought on no less than four key substitutes at the start of the second  half as the Moffett brothers Ryan and Darren were introduced along with Mark Hughes and Larry Moran.

With a cracking goal from Eamon Keogh direct from the throw-in providing the inspiration, Emmet Og finally woke up to register a total of 2-3 in the space of 7 minutes with Ronan Keogh scoring the second goal and all of a sudden Carrick were four points adrift.

But Eugene McCornack’s highly charged side showed a lot of character to close the gap and looked like winning the match with ironically a goal from Liam Glennon in the 55th minute. 

Back came Killoe with a superb ‘skyscraper’ two-pointer (play) from another substitute Paddy Kiernan in the 58th minute and hit the front with a fisted point from Larry Moran deep into stoppage time. 

Carrickedmond launched a last gasp attack and their resilience was rewarded with a composed equalising point from Kyle Kenny to keep alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals. 

CARRICKEDMOND: Garret Higgins; Rioch Farrell, Padraig McGrath, Conor Mulvey; Diarmuid Kelly, Barry O’Farrell, Sean Egan; Sean Kelly (0-2, two pointer), Enda Farrell; Pauric Dempsey (0-1), Eoghan McCormack (0-4, 3 frees), Kyle Kenny (0-1); Brian Mulvey (0-1), Liam Glennon (1-0), Aidan McGuire (0-5, 4 frees).

Subs:- Darragh Mulligan for P McGrath (15 mins); Cormac Mulvey for B Mulvey (56 mins); Paddy Farrell for L Glennon (58 mins). 

KILLOE EMMET OG: Michael Hughes; Gavin Hughes, Liam Hughes, Shane McManus; James Moran, Niall Farrelly, Evan Farrelly; Shane Donohoe, Ronan Keogh (1-0); Eamon Keogh (1-1), Cian Farrelly, Ciaran Donohoe; Gavin Farrelly (0-2), Paddy Moran (0-5, 2 frees), Ronan McGoldrick.

Subs:- Ryan Moffett, Darren Moffett, Mark Hughes and Larry Moran (0-1) for S McManus, G Hughes, C Donohoe and R McGoldrick (half-time); Paddy Kiernan (0-2, two-pointer) for G Farrelly (49 mins). 

Referee: Mark Glancy (Rathcline).