Abbeylara crowned the Longford Junior ‘B’ champions
Junior ‘B’ Football Championship Final
Abbeylara . . . 4-7 Fr Manning Gaels . . . 2-5
Despite kicking several wides in the first half, superior Abbeylara still ended up leading by 2-4 to 1-3 at the break with Eric Hopkins capitalising on a mistake in racing through to score the first goal in the 20th minute.
The Gaels had got off to a great start with a goal from Padraig O’Neill after just three minutes but were second best for the remainder of the first half.
The second Abbeylara goal materialised in stoppage time when Killian Gallagher finished the ball to the net after a speculative shot from Hopkins hit the crossbar.
While the Drumlish/Ballinamuck outfit staged a determined comeback on the changeover to close the gap to just a single point with Gearoid Nertney scoring a cracking goal in the 38th minute following an excellent move, Abbeylara regained the upper hand to come out on top.
The third goal from impressive midfielder Colm E Smyth in the 50th minute was a killer blow for the Gaels and Eric Hopkins brought the scoring to a close when the lively attacker found the back of the net again in the 60th minute.
Abbeylara now qualify for the Junior ‘A’ Championship and will meet Ballymore in the semi-final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday next, throw-in 1pm.
ABBEYLARA: Frank Sheehy; John McHugh, Fintan Creamer, Alan Earley; Padraig Battrim, James McHugh, Michael Lynch; Colm E Smyth (1-0), Killian Gallagher (1-0); Shane Mahon (0-2), James McEntire (0-1), Eric Hopkins (2-0); Kevin Kiernan, Padraig Berry (0-3, 2 frees), Pauric Rabbit (0-1, free).
Subs:- Brian Smyth for P Rabbit (42 mins); John Kiernan for K Kiernan (44 mins); Anthony O’Reilly for M Lynch (52 mins); Michael Battrim for J McHugh (60 mins).
FR MANNING GAELS: Cody Lee; Sean McKenna, Mike Kiernan, Michael Kane; Tom McGee, Declan Donnelly, Nathan Maher; Aaron Crowe, Kevin Whitney; Petie Collum (0-2, 2 frees), Eoin Keane (0-1, free), Rokus Stoskus (0-1); Gearoid Nertney (1-0), James McCann, Padraig O’Neill (1-0).
Subs:- Darren Farrelly for K Whitney (half-time); Podge Gill (0-1) for J McCann (half-time); Eoin Murtagh for P O’Neill (47 mins); Ciaran Cooney for A Crowe (55 mins); Jim Rodgers for G Nertney (60 mins).
Referee: Padraig McKenna (Killoe Emmet Og).