Longford SFC: Mullinalaghta outclass Fr Manning Gaels to remain in contention for the title

Mullinalaghta St. Columba’s cruised to their expected victory over Fr. Manning Gaels at Páirc na nGael in Dromard on Sunday to reach a 14th successive senior football championship quarter-final.

Mullinalaghta St Columba’s . . . 3-18   Fr Manning Gaels . . . 0-8

Mullinalaghta’s main men stood up in this must win clash with their experience and class all too much for the 2024 Intermediate champions.

Pat Cadden had to face into the task without a number of regulars including Niall Woods, Emmet Brady, James McGivney and Conor McElligott but did welcome back Jayson Matthews who was a serious outlet inside. 

Goalkeeper Patrick Rogers also made his return in his first championship start of the season while Cian Mackey returned to the starting 15 in a very impressive performance.

Trevor Clendenning’s side were also without a few usual starters including the still injured Martin Cassidy, captain JP Farrelly, Jamie Nertney and dangerman Pauric Gill who did not start.

Jayson Matthews opened the scoring with a free before David McGivney fired over a two pointer from play to treble the advantage early on.

Cian Cassidy registered the Gaels first score with a fine effort from play. Cian Mackey kicked his first off the left but Cassidy responded with a well taken free.

Matthews replied with his second free and Cian Mackey doubled his tally before Cassidy hit his and the Gaels final score of the first half to leave the score 6 points to 3.

David McGivney kicked inside to Jason who offloaded to the onrushing Mackey and the former Cavan ace showcased great speed of hands to reverse the ball to Mick Cunningham, though his shot was denied by the outstretched Gaels keeper Paddy Collum.

Gary Rogers fired over his sole point of the afternoon before Mackey was on the ball again, breaking lines and cushioning a pass across the goal for captain Aidan McElligott to slap home for the opening goal just before the break.

Donal McElligott, after a stint at full forward in the previous rounds, was back to his more familiar position in the back line and he pointed well on the restart. Shane Mulligan then sidestepped through to set up  David McGivney who passed across for an easy goal for Jayson Matthews.

David McGivney followed up with a free to extend the lead to 15 points after his team fired 2-6 without reply either side of the break to finish the game as a contest.

Mark Hughes fired over his third two pointer from play in the championship and Mark Breslin pointed either side of a Jayson Matthews white flag.

Cian Mackey then raised the third green flag when he timed his run to perfection and then arrowed his shot to the top corner of the net in the finest moment of the game.

Defenders Shane Mulligan, Donal McElligott, Paddy Fox as well as a brace of scores from Mick Cunningham added to the onslaught in the closing stages.

Pauric Gill made an instant impact on his late introduction when he shot over a fine point and then assisted minor Oisin Kane for the final score of the evening. 

The Gaels will now battle it out in a relegation group with 3 tough games against Slashers, Mostrim and Granard. The round robin relegation was last in place in 2019 when two teams were also due to be relegated but the decision was reneged and no team was demoted.

Mullinalaghta remain in the dark on who they face in the quarter-final as we wait for the final clash of Group B in which they will face the winners of Group A - Killoe or Colmcille. Two sides they will be more than familiar with and share a lot of history with but as fourth seeds Mullinalaghta will go into the last 8 in the unfamiliar guise of underdogs.

MULLINALAGHTA ST COLUMBA’S: Patrick Rogers, James Rogers, Patrick Fox (0-1), Conan Brady, Donal McElligott (0-2), Shane Mulligan (0-1), Francis Mulligan, David McGivney (0-4, 1 two pointer, 1f), Connor Leonard, Mick Cunningham (0-2), Cian Mackey (1-2), Cian McElligott, Jayson Matthews (1-4, 2f), Aidan McElligott (1-1), Gary Rogers (0-1). 

Subs:- Simon Cadam for Connor Leonard (36 mins), Paul Leonard for Cian Mackey (50 mins), Colm Faughnan for Patrick Fox (54 mins, injured), Eric Sullivan for David McGivney (56 mins), James Dalton for Cian Mackey (58 mins).

FR MANNING GAELS: Paddy Collum, Paul McGee, Cian Murphy, Caelum McGee, Kaelum Gill, Aaron Quinn, Sean Gibbons, Mark Breslin (0-1), Kevin Whelan, David Collum, Mark Hughes (0-2,  two pointer), Darren Farley, Oisin Kane (0-1), Dean Cosgrove, Cian Cassidy (0-3, 2f).

 Sub:- Pauric Gill (0-1) for Mark Breslin (52 mins).

Referee: Francis Kelly (Carrickedmond).