Longford Senior Football Championship: Robbie Smyth the shooting star in giving Abbeylara the edge over Colmcille
Peter Hanley Motors Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final
Abbeylara . . . 0-15 Colmcille . . . 0-14
It was a close call for Abbeylara who held out for a slender one point win over Colmcille and ace marksman Smyth, converting nine frees along with four exceptional scores from play, ended up getting sent-off after he received a second yellow card in the first minute of stoppage time.
Colmcille had possession near the end to draw the game and force a replay but they could not get that equalising score as Abbeylara advanced to meet Mostrim in the semi-final.
ABBEYLARA: Gavin Kelly; Cian Brady, James McEntire, Barry Smyth; Cormac Smyth, Colm P Smyth, PJ Masterson; Russell Brady, Fergal Battrim; Nigel Rabbitte, Jason Kelly (0-1), Kieran Mulvihill; Robbie Smyth (0-13, nine frees), Padraig Berry (0-1), Conor Berry.
Subs:- Brian Smyth for K Mulvihill (half-time); Kevin Smyth for N Rabbitte (47 mins); Aaron Dalton for J McEntire (55 mins); Bernard Crawford for P Berry (injured, 57 mins); Michael Battrim for Barry Smyth (black card, 58 mins).
COLMCILLE: Mark Kiernan; Niall Farley, Ciaran Brady, Enda Macken; Martin Mulligan, Vinny Hourican, Gerry Mulligan (0-1,’45); Paul McKeon, Declan Farrell; Noel Farrell, Rory Hawkins (0-6, three frees), Barry McKeon (0-4, two frees); Darren Mulligan, Cathal Reilly (0-2), Declan Reilly (0-1).
Subs:- Cormac Hughes for N Farrell (half-time); Alan McKeon for D Mulligan (42 mins); Padraig Murtagh for G Mulligan (47 mins); Fergal Sheridan for D Farrell (57 mins).
Referee: Donal Kane (Young Grattans).
Full match report in the Longford Leader, on sale on Wednesday