Longford SFC: Inspired Colmcille spring surprise to knock Clonguish out

Inspired by the outstanding Cathal Reilly and his trademark penetrating runs with the remarkable Declan Reilly also standing out, Colmcille sprang a surprise to knock the firm favourites Clonguish out of the Senior Football Championship in a most entertaining semi-final clash at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday evening. 

Colmcille . . . 2-11    Clonguish . . . 1-10

Showing a fierce desire to make amends for the bitter disappointment of their failure against Abbeylara in last year’s title decider, Ger Carberry’s charges are now just one step away from regaining the Connolly Cup they last captured in 2022.

Colmcille survived a few anxious moments as the young Clonguish side went in search of killer goals after Jack Duggan weaved his way through to plant the ball in the corner of the net with just three minutes gone on the clock while a James Hagan snap shot hit the post late in the first half.  

Colmcille were four points behind at one stage but they got right back into contention with a cracking goal from Cathal McCabe before the break to trail by 1-8 to 1-6 at half-time. 

Utilising their greater physical strength to fine effect, the 2024 beaten finalists dominated the second half in adding another 1-5 to their tally whereas Clonguish faded right out of the picture and were restricted to just a couple of scores from frees on the changeover.  

Losing big Fergal Sheridan (injured) was a significant blow for Colmcille in the early stages of  the second half but they were still relentless in the pursuit of a final spot and the turning point materialised when substitute Eoin Hawkins blasted the ball to the roof of the net in the 54th minute.

That decisive score left Clonguish (now trailing by five points) in a state of panic and there was no way back for the boys in green who also lost against Colmcille at the quarter-final stage last year.

COLMCILLE: Noel Farrell; Martin Mulligan, Eoghan Williams, Conor Grant; Seanie Smith, Declan Reilly, Ruairi Harkin; Gerard Mulligan, Vinny Hourican; Fergal Sheridan, Cathal Reilly (0-1), Cathal McCabe (1-1); Ciaran McKeon (0-1), Jack Macken (0-3, 2 frees), Barry McKeon (0-5, 1 two-pointer free, 3 frees).

Subs:- Paul McKeon for F Sheridan (injured, 36 mins); Eoin Hawkins (1-0) for C McKeon (42 mins); Dylan McCabe for J Macken (stoppage time).

CLONGUISH: Liam Casey; Ross Shields, Ronan Sweeney, Mark Cooney; Jonathan Burke, Andrew Flynn, Matthew Flynn (0-1); Peter Hanley, Jack Duggan (1-0); Chris Gordon (0-1), Matthew Carey (0-2, frees), Jamie Dorr (0-1); James Hagan, Michael Flynn (0-4, 1 two pointer free, 1 free), Cormac Flynn (0-1).

Sub:- Kevin Baskett for C Flynn (53 mins). 

Referee: Tony Gaffney (Mostrim).