Longford IFC Final: Ballymahon snatch the Intermediate title in dramatic finish

Delighted Ballymahon joint captains Kevin Diffley and Emmet Finn raise the Hennessy Cup with long serving clubman Albert Fallon also in the picture Pic: Syl Healy

placeholder image — Delighted Ballymahon joint captains Kevin Diffley and Emmet Finn raise the Hennessy Cup with long serving clubman Albert Fallon also in the picture Pic: Syl Healy

Mulleady Group Intermediate Football Championship Final

Ballymahon . . . 3-4 Fr Manning Gaels . . . 1-9

A terrific point from Martin Cassidy in the 60th minute looked to have claimed the Hennessy Cup for the second time in the space of four years for the Drumlish/Ballinamuck outfit but gutsy Ballymahon just refused to accept defeat and their perseverance was rewarded when the alert Mulvihill finished the breaking ball to the net in the third additional minute.

That left Alan Hudson’s side leading by a couple of points (3-4 to 1-8) and while there was still time for Fr Manning Gaels to salvage the situation with substitute Mark Breslin flicking the ball wide in a goal attempt, the best they could manage was a fisted point from Pauric Gill approaching the sixth minute of stoppage time.

The final whistle sounded moments later much to the sheer delight of the Ballymahon supporters as the south Longford club now look forward to the Leinster Intermediate Club Championship first round game at home to the Louth champions on Saturday October 22.

BALLYMAHON: Keith Manley; Darragh Finlass, Ros Claffey, James Kenny; Kevin Diffley, Emmet Finn, Mark McCormack; Shane Bawle, John Nevin; Thomas Mulvihill (2-0), Eddie Noonan, Danny Ryan; Matthew Daly, Trevor Smullen, Jack Walsh (1-4, 3f).

Subs:- Shane Quinn for D Ryan (45 mins); Harvey Townsend for E Noonan (49 mins); Kyle Fitzmaurice for J Kenny (54 mins); Declan McGuinness for T Smullen (57 mins).

FR MANNING GAELS: Paddy Collum; Stephen Cosgrove, Cian Brady, Paul McGee; Emmet Noonan, Gary Connell, JP Farley; Liam Lynch (0-2), David Collum; Pauric Gill (1-2), Conor Keenan, Sean Whelan; Mark Hughes (0-2), Martin Cassidy (0-3, 1f), Cian Cassidy.

Subs:- Kaelum Gill for C Brady (injured, 9 mins); Mark Breslin for D Collum (48 mins); Jamie Nertney for S Whelan (50 mins); Aiden Gray for C Cassidy (55 mins).

Blood sub:- Podge Gill for Pauric Gill (60 mins); Pauric back on for Podge in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Referee: Hugh O’Kane (Young Grattans).