Longford SFC: Kenny brothers second half goals get Rathcline through to the last four

Rathcline recovered from a horrendous penalty miss in the early stages of the game to eventually come out on top against Carrickedmond in the Senior Football Championship quarter-final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday evening with brothers Shane and Oran Kenny the saviours, scoring 3-7 between them. 

Rathcline . . . 3-9   Carrickedmond . . . 1-13

When David Rooney completely miskicked at the beginning of their quest to reach the last four for the first time in over 20 years, it was not looking good for the Lanesboro outfit who trailed by 1-3 to 0-0 after Aidan McGuire made no mistake to convert a penalty goal in the 8th minute.

A cracking two-pointer (play) from Sean Kelly, along with another score from McGuire, put Carrick in a comfortable lead and rattled Rathcline had to wait until the 13th minute to get their name on the scoresheet with Shane Kenny shooting over the bar.

Slowly but surely the Shannonsiders battled their way back into contention and while Carrickedmond were 1-4 to 0-4 ahead at the break the course of the game gradually turned in Rathcline’s favour. 

The first of the crucial goals materialised when Shane Kenny planted a sweetly struck shot into the back of the net with three minutes gone on the changeover and Rathcline raised another green flag when Oran Kenny hit the target midway through the second half.

That left them leading by 2-5 to 1-5 but Carrick fought back and a ding-dong battle materialised in the final quarter of this tight contest with a draw and a replay looking the likely outcome.

Rathcline had a lucky escape when a point-blank goal attempt from Eoghan McCormack was well saved by opposing keeper David Mulvihill in the 55th minute and the sides were all square after Sean Kelly landed his second two-pointer. 

Substitute Cronan Flood then shot over the bar to regain the lead for Rathcline who scored a killer third goal in stoppage time when Oran Kenny scrambled the ball into the net.

Carrick were now four points behind (3-8 to 1-10) and while a  two-pointer free converted by Eoghan McCormack provided a glimmer of hope, Shane Kenny eased the Rathcline nerves when he fired over a free.

There was one last chance for Carrickedmond to snatch a draw when Cormac Mulvey raced through  but he blasted his shot over the bar in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

The final whistle sounded seconds later and a place in the SFC semi-finals after such a long absence is a great achievement for the Rathcline manager Gareth Johnston and his fellow mentors.  

RATHCLINE: David Mulvihill; Matthew Heneghan, Blaine Fallon, Harvey Myhill; Kevin Tansey, Iarla O’Sullivan, Seadna Ryan; Michael Morrissey, Garth O’Reilly; Oisin Kenny, David Rooney, Cian Gilmore; Bryn Peters, Shane Kenny (1-5, 1 two-pointer free, 2 frees), Oran Kenny (2-2, 1 free).

Subs:- Shane Donoghue for M Morrissey (17 mins); Chris Brady (0-1) for G O’Reilly (30 mins); Jakub Kajan for B Fallon (36 mins); Cronan Flood (0-1) for S Ryan (54 mins); Misko Kajan for C Gilmore (stoppage time). 

CARRICKEDMOND: Garret Higgins; Dermot Brady, Rioch Farrell, Conor Mulvey; Diarmuid Kelly, Barry O’Farrell, Brian Mulvey; Sean Kelly (0-4, brace of two-pointers play), Enda Farrell; Pauric Dempsey, Eoghan McCormack (0-4, 1 two-pointer free, 2 frees),  Kyle Kenny; Cormac Mulvey (0-1), Liam Glennon, Aidan McGuire (1-4, goal from penalty, 3 frees). 

Subs:- Marty Mulvey for K Kenny (injured, 7 mins); Sean Egan for B Mulvey (47 mins). 

Referee: Hugh O’Kane (Young Grattans).