Longford SFC: Killoe goals shatter Rathcline who are well beaten

With Eamon Keogh scoring the decisive second goal for Killoe in the early stages of the second half to establish a commanding 2-10 to 0-8 lead, there was no way back for Rathcline in the Senior Football Championship semi-final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday last.  

Killoe Emmet Og . . . 2-19   Rathcline . . . 0-14 

Spurred on by their large crowd of vociferous supporters, the Lanesboro outfit were 0-5 to 0-2 ahead midway through the first half but the hot favourites Emmet Og eventually got going and hit the front with a goal from Gavin Farrelly in the 24th minute.
Rathcline ended up trailing by 1-7 to 0-7 at the break and were fortunate not to be further behind with Paddy Moran blasting the ball over the bar with a goal at his mercy in the 21st minute while Killoe also registered a total of six wides in the first half compared to none for the opposition.
The Shannonsiders needed a good start to the second half but it failed to materialise after missing a couple of chances before Killoe extended their advantage with a point apiece from Eamon Keogh and Mark Hughes.
The killer goal from Eamon Keogh in the 37th minute was a shattering blow for gallant Rathcline and the wide margin of 11 points separated the sides in the finish as Killoe proved too strong in moving on to meet Colmcille in the county SFC final on Sunday October 12.
The measure of this vastly experienced Emmet Og outfit (managed by Cavan native Jimmy Higgins) is clearly reflected in the fact that 12 of their players got their names on the scoresheet against Rathcline including substituteS Ronan McGoldrick, Evan Farrelly and Cian Dooner.
It was very cagey in the early stages with the first score coming from Cian Gilmore in the 7th minute, quickly followed by a point from Eamon Keogh, and then came a two-pointer free from Shane Kenny in the 10th minute.
Kenny repeated the feat for Rathcline in first half stoppage time with the other two scores coming from his brother Oran (2 frees) to leave it tight enough at half-time.
The other Killoe points in the first half came from a brace apiece by Paddy Moran (1 free) and influential midfielder Mickey Quinn with Danny Mimnagh and James Moran also on target and Rathcline, to their credit, tried hard to remain in contention on the changeover.
Nine points down after Emmet Og defender Liam Hughes set off on a penetrating run to fist the ball over the bar in the 38th minute, just after the Eaomn Keogh goal, the Lanesboro lads closed the gap with a couple of points from Oran Kenny (free and play) along with a cracking two-pointer (play) from Shane Kenny.
But that was as good as it got for Rathcline as the scores began to flow again for rampant Killoe who clocked up another 8 points through Evan Farrelly, Ronan McGoldrick (3), James Moran, Cian Farrelly, Paddy Moran and Cian Dooner to run out easy winners in the finish.
The stage is now set for a most intriguing first ever meeting between Killoe and Colmcille in the senior football championship final in a game that could go either way.

KILLOE EMMET OG: Micheal Hughes; Ryan Moffett, Darren Moffett, Liam Hughes (0-1); James Moran (0-2), Niall Farrelly, Gavin Farrelly (1-0); Mickey Quinn (0-2), Ronan Keogh; Paddy Kiernan, Danny Mimnagh (0-1), Eamon Keogh (1-2); Cian Farrelly (0-1), Paddy Moran (0-4, 1 free), Mark Hughes (0-1). 

Subs:- Ronan McGoldrick (0-2) for P Kiernan (43 mins); Evan Farrelly (0-1) for E Keogh (46 mins); Conor Mulligan for M Hughes (52 mins); Shane Donohoe for M Quinn (54 mins); Cian Dooner (0-2) for C Farrelly (56 mins). 

RATHCLINE: David Mulvihill; Kevin Tansey, Jakub Kajan, Matthew Heneghan; Oisin Kenny, Shane Donohoe, Harvey Myhill; Iarla O’Sullivan, Misko Kajan; Seadna Ryan, David Rooney, Cian Gilmore (0-1); Bryn Peters, Shane Kenny (0-6, 3 two pointers, 2 frees, 1 play), Oran Kenny (0-7, 6 frees).

Subs:- Blaine Fallon for Oisin Kenny (half-time); Garth O’Reilly for M Kajan (half-time); Chris Brady for B Peters (43 mins); Niall Keane for K Tansey (55 mins); Ben Murphy for S Ryan (56 mins).

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Ballymahon).