Longford SFC: Abbeylara back on track after scoring a rare win over Mullinalaghta

Abbeylara are back on track in their bid to retain the Connolly Cup following a rare win over St Columba’s on Sunday last in the Group B showdown at the splendid Dromard GAA grounds, complete with a magnificent new playing surface.

Abbeylara . . . 0-18   Mullinalaghta St Columba’s . . . 0-12

Barring a total collapse against Slashers in the final fixture in a couple of weeks time, the title holders will take their place in the quarter-finals with the added bonus of a superior scores difference and will be a tough nut to crack.
Boosting the confidence factor for Abbeylara is the rare win over Mullinalaghta in the Senior Football Championship for the first time since 2013 and Frankie Dolan’s charges were generally in control despite a few anxious moments.
It would have been a tighter contest after Michael Cunningham was denied a badly needed goal for St Columba’s when his shot struck the post in the early stages of the second half.
Soon after it was the turn of Abbey to go close when the clean through Padraig Berry almost found the back of the net in having to settle for a point under pressure,
The reigning champions, hurt by the defeats against Rathcline and Clonguish, got their act together on this occasion and kept the scoreboard ticking over in the second half after leading by 0-10 to 0-5 at the break.
Mullinalaghta, despite this setback, can still reach the last 8 with a win over Fr Manning Gaels in their remaining group game which will probably be enough to make that happen.
St Columba’s ended the game with 14 players on the pristine pitch after Shane Mulligan was sent-off after receiving a second yellow card from referee Patrick Maguire in the final minute of normal time.
While the first quarter of the contest was evenly contested with the sides deadlocked at 0-3 apiece, a brilliant score from corner-back Colin Gilna put Abbeylara ahead and their chief marksman Nigel Rabbitt was then on target from play.
Prominent midfielder Fergal Battrin landed a cracking two-pointer (play) and Rabbitt converted a free before Mullinalaghta got back in contention with a two-pointer free fired over by their top scorer David McGivney.Aided by the considerable breeze, Abbeylara finished the first half strongly with a point apiece from Michael McHugh and Caolan Lynch who was producing a fine performance in winning vital possession around the midfield sector.A third score from Lynch at the start of the second half extended the Abbey advantage, 0-11 to 0-5, but St Columba’s quickly closed the gap with a two-pointer (play) from their main man David McGivney who quickly followed up with a converted free.
That made it very interesting but Abbeylara stepped up another gear during the remainder of the match to register another 7 points through Padraig Berry, Nigel Rabbitt (4 frees) and a brace from the brave Cian Brady.
David McGivney (2 frees), Aidan McElligott and James McGivney (free) replied for Mullinalaghta who are still on course for a return to Glennon Brothers Pearse Park next month.

ABBEYLARA: Barney Crawford; Colin Gilna (0-1), Colm P Smyth, Bryan Masterson; Cian Brady (0-2), P J Masterson, Michael McHugh (0-1); Fergal Battrim (0-2, two-pointer play), Caolan Lynch (0-3); Jason Kelly (0-1), Nigel Rabbitt (0-7, 6 frees), Sean Fagan; Robbie Smyth, Cathal Gilligan, Padraig Berry (0-1).

Subs:- Russell Brady for S Fagan (half-time); Mel Mulligan for M McHugh (injured, 44 mins); Willie Crawford for P Berry (54 mins); Karl O’Hara for R Smyth (54 mins); Reece Reilly for CP Smyth (60 mins).

MULLINALAGHTA ST COLUMBA’S: Luke Meehan; Patrick Fox (0-1), Simon Cadam, James Rogers; Connor Leonard, Niall Woods, Francis Mulligan; David McGivney (0-8, 2 two pointers, free and play, 4 frees), Aidan McElligott (0-2); Cian McElligott, Shane Mulligan, Gary Rogers; Michael Cunningham, Donal McElligott, James McGivney (0-1, free).

Subs:- Emmet Brady for F Mulligan (42 mins); Cian Mackey for Cian McElligott (42 mins); Conan Brady for S Cadam (50 mins); Conor McElligott for M Cunningham (57 mins). 

Referee: Patrick Maguire (St Mary’s Granard).