Longford SFC: Killoe come out on top but missed chances costly for Colmcille

While Killoe came out on top to clinch pole position in Group A of the Senior Football Championship and a meeting with old rivals Mullinalaghta in the quarter-finals, many missed chances in the second half were costly for Colmcille at the Higginstown grounds in Granard on Saturday evening last. 

Killoe Emmet Og . . . 2-10   Colmcille . . . 0-12

With the advantage of the stiff wind and the boost of a cracking early goal from the impressive Paddy Moran with just 6 minutes gone on the clock, Killoe held a fairly comfortable 1-7 to 0-4 lead at the break but it was a different story in the second half of the refixed Round 5 match.
Colmcille enjoyed plenty of possession but poor finishing led to their eventual downfall with the opposition in the last 8 in the current campaign a repeat of the 2024 county title decider against Abbeylara which was eventually resolved after a replay and extra-time.
A well-worked move yielded the crucial second goal from defender Niall Farrelly in the 47th minute to leave Emmet Og in a commanding 2-9 to 0-6 lead and while Colmcille tried hard to close the gap they were fighting a losing battle.

With Michael Quinn making his first appearance in this year’s championship, Killoe deserved the victory but will have to do without experienced defender Liam Hughes for the quarter-final on Sunday next after he received a straight red card during the course of the lengthy stoppage time that lasted a total of 7 minutes.
Killoe got off to a flying start and proceeded to dominate the first quarter of the contest to lead by 1-5 to 0-0 with Paddy Moran scoring (1-2, 1 free) while Eamon Keogh (2) and Cian Farrelly were also on target.
Minus the versatile Vinny Hourican, Colmcille eventually opened their account from a free converted by Jack Macken in the 22nd minute and three more points followed from Macken (free), Cathal McCabe and Barry McKeon (free) before the break.
Mark Hughes and Eamon Keogh replied for Emmet Og but Colmcille made a bright start to the second half with Barry McKeon landing a two-pointer free with the aid of the wind.

Michael Quinn had a goal attempt blocked in the 40th minute but a brace of points from Paddy Moran, along with the Niall Farrelly goal in quick succession, secured the victory for Killoe with Danny Mimnagh getting the other score late in the game.

The McKeon brothers Paul and Barry converted a trio of two-pointers between them in a fight to the finish and Colmcille almost got a badly needed goal in the 59th minute, only for the excellent Emmet Og full-back Darren Moffett to produce a brave block.

KILLOE EMMET OG: Micheal Hughes; Evan Farrelly, Darren Moffet, Liam Hughes; Gavin Farrelly, Michael Quinn, Niall Farrelly (1-0); Ronan Keogh, Ryan Moffett; Eamon Keogh (0-3), Cian Farrelly (0-1), James Moran; Danny Mimnagh (0-1), Paddy Moran (1-4, 1 free), Mark Hughes (0-1).

Subs:- Larry Moran for Mark Hughes (43 mins); Ryan Keogh for E Farrelly (49 mins); Ciaran Mulligan for E Keogh (55 mins); Paddy Kiernan for J Moran (58 mins); Gavin Hughes for M Quinn (first minute of stoppage time). 

COLMCILLE: Noel Farrell; Colin Farley, Eoghan Williams, Conor Grant; Dylan McCabe, Declan Reilly, Martin Mulligan; Ruairi Harkin, Fergal Sheridan; Luke Donnelly, Jack Macken (0-2, frees), Gerard Mulligan; Cathal McCabe (0-1), Ciaran McKeon, Barry McKeon (0-5, all frees including a couple of two-pointers).

Subs:- Paul Farley for D McCabe (injured, 19 mins); Paul McKeon (0-4, 2 two-pointers) for L Donnelly (half-time); Cathal Reilly for C McKeon (38 mins); Keelan Hudson (51 mins) for F Sheridan (51 mins); Matthew Farrell for J Macken (59 mins). 

Referee: Joe McDermott (Young Grattans). 

SFC Quarter-Finals 

Saturday 13 September

Clonguish v Dromard, 4.30pm  

Rathcline v Carrickedmond, 6.15pm 

Sunday 14 September

Killoe Emmet Og v Mullinaghta St Columba’s, 2.30pm 

 Colmcille v Abbeylara, 4.15pm 

All games at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park

Semi-Final Pairings

Killoe or Mullinalaghta v Rathcline or Carrickedmond

Clonguish or Dromard v Colmcille or Abbeylara