Longford JFC: Carrickedmond and Killoe finish level in the battle for the Seamus Flynn Cup

Carrickedmond were on the brink of scoring a surprise win in the Junior ‘A’ Football Championship semi-final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday evening last but were denied by Killoe who snatched a last gasp draw in this lucky escape.

Carrickedmond . . . 2-12   Killoe Emmet Og . . . 1-15 

Attacking defender Killian Feeney kept his composure to fist the ball over the bar in the fifth minute of stoppage time before referee Joe McDermott eventually blew the final whistle and so the sides must meet again in the battle for the Seamus Flynn Cup.  

Influential substitute Jonathan Keegan pounced on the breaking ball to direct his shot into the net in the 56th minute to leave Carrick in front by a point and David Shannon then had the opportunity to put the issue beyond all doubt but his point-blank shot in a goal attempt was blocked down.

Killoe managed to survive thanks to the saviour Feeney and it remains to be seen which of these senior second strings will make it through to the premier Junior title decider on Sunday October 12. 

The favourites Emmet Og were looking in a strong position when a well-taken goal from Shane Dooner in the 19th minute left them in a comfortable 1-6 to 0-3 lead but Carrickedmond came storming back and ended up on level terms at the break.

A brace of cracking two pointers (play) in quick succession from John McCormack were followed by a brilliant goal from Adam Quinn as the Killoe lead was wiped out and the sides were deadlocked on 1-8 each going into the second half.

 Wing back David Moorhead, midfielder Mark Rowley and attacker Niall Finneran landed a couple of points apiece and while Shannon opened the scoring for Carrick in the early stages of the second half , Killoe replied with a two-pointer from prominent centre-half-back Killian Feeney.

Further scores from Gerard Keogh and substitute Jack Fitzpatrick, who made an immediate impact to kick a two-pointer in the 41st minute, extended the Emmet Og advantage to 1-13 to 1-9 with the aid of the wind.

But gritty Carrickedmond just refused to accept defeat and dominated the remainder of the match in adding another 1-3 to their tally to keep their title hopes alive.

The points were registered by McCormack (free), Keegan and Ross Doherty, the latter on target with an excellent effort, while Killoe replied with a point from Eugene Clarke (free) along with the late, late equaliser from Feeney when a winning goal might well have materialised in a frantic scramble.

Replay details to be confirmed. 

CARRICKEDMOND: Darragh Egan; Peter Dempsey, Niall O’Farrell, Shaun McGrath; Cathal P Belton, Michael Cahill, Cormac Egan; John O’Shea, Sean Mulvey; John McCormack (0-6, a brace of two-pointers from play, 2 frees), David Shannon (0-3, 1 free), Adam Quinn (1-1); Michael Higgins, Ross Doherty (0-1), Liam Kenny.

Subs:- Jonathan Keegan (1-1) for L Kenny (41 mins); Daniel Egan for S Mulvey; Mulvey for P Dempsey (injured).

KILLOE EMMET OG: Oisin McManus; Niall Macken, Gary Connell, Paul Eivers; Shane Clarke, Killian Feeney (0-4, 1 two-pointer from play), David Moorhead (0-2); Mark Rowley (0-2), Paddy Thompson; Enda Quinn, Gerard Keogh (0-1), Cormac Harte; Niall Finneran (0-2), Eugene Clarke (0-2, 1 free), Shane Dooner (1-0).

 Subs:- Jack Fitzpatrick (0-2, two-pointer) for E Quinn (38 mins); Darragh Maguire for S Dooner (47 mins); Daniel Lee for N Macken (47 mins).

Referee: Joe McDermott (Young Grattans).