Longford GAA: Clonguish beat Mullinalaghta to reach another Leader Cup final

Clonguish . . . 3-9 Mullinalaghta St Columba’s . . . 0-16

Clonguish booked their place in a third consecutive Leader Cup final with a hard earned 2 point victory over Mullinalaghta St. Columba’s in the Laurels last Saturday evening.

There was perfect weather conditions and an entertaining game ensued with two evenly matched sides. The home side outscored their visitors 12 to 11 but Dominic Corrigan’s charges struck for three first-quarter goals and kept their net intact to hold off a determined fightback.

Corrigan is now joined by experienced inter county coach Peter Tormey as well as Clonguish legend David Barden as selector. The strong management team have a great panel and welcomed back Conor Smith, Matthew Flynn and Jamie Dorr.

Yet to return for the championship challengers are county regulars Ronan Sweeney, Matthew Carey as well as Roscommon’s Jack Duggan while county U-20 Mark Cooney and long term absentee Michael Flynn didn’t feature also.

County U-20 captain Dorr was superb in the middle alongside Peter Hanley who battled well for midfield supremacy in the tight Laurels cauldron. Dorr’s county U-20 colleague Cormac Flynn was their side's best performer on the 40 proving central to everything positive the Newtownforbes side did.

Mickey Harkin’s home side fielded without many regulars like James McGivney, Aidan McElligott, Simon Cadam and Jayson Matthews but welcomed back county captain Patrick Fox. Though, with David McGivney in inspired form (scoring 0-11), Mullinalaghta almost cancelled out Clonguish’s green flags with two pointers.

The opening score went to Mullinalaghta through a David McGivney free before Emmet Brady added a point. Clonguish then hit back in devastating fashion with Peter Hanley finding the net after excellent approach play from centre-half-forward Cormac Flynn. David McGivney responded with a two pointer free for the hosts before Dorr added Clonguish’s first point.

Clonguish grabbed a second goal when Chris Gordon finished to the net after being set up by Dorr, and moments later they struck again. Cormac Flynn intercepted the resultant short kick-out and was fouled on his advance to goal, allowing Matthew Flynn to convert a penalty. By the end of the first quarter Clonguish were firmly in control, leading 3-1 to 0-4.

Mullinalaghta kept the scoreboard moving through David’s excellent free taking while Michael Cunningham, Emmet Brady and Cian Mackey all chipped in with points. Chris Gordon replied for Clonguish before Andrew Flynn landed an excellent two-point free to leave his side 3-4 to 0-9 ahead at the break.

Cormac Flynn and Andrew Flynn extended the Clonguish lead after the restart, although Mullinalaghta continued to battle with Emmet Brady and McGivney finding the target. James Hagan, introduced at half-time, made an immediate impact with a fine point.

Cormac Flynn was increasingly influential and added two more scores, including a superb effort from an acute angle. McGivney, who was outstanding for Mullinalaghta throughout, responded with a series of frees and then produced an excellent two-point effort from play after a slick move to cut the deficit to just two points.

With momentum seemingly swinging in Mullinalaghta’s favour, Clonguish dug deep. Their defence held firm and the equaliser never arrived as they closed out a well earned victory.

The win sends Clonguish into a third successive Leader Cup final and gives them the opportunity to move clear of Mullinalaghta at the top of the competition’s roll of honour.

Mullinalaghta had been the kingpins of the prestigious tournament, winning the previous five editions before Clonguish won in 2024 and also reached two finals that ultimately went unplayed in 2018 and 2022.

Both clubs currently share the record with 12 titles each, but Clonguish are now just one victory away from standing alone as the most successful club in the history of this prestigious competition.

CLONGUISH: Declan McKenna, Conor Smith, Conor Flynn, Alan Mimnagh, Ross Shields, Johnny Burke, Matthew Flynn (1-0p), Peter Hanley (1-0), Jamie Dorr (0-1), Packie Molloy, Cormac Flynn (0-3), Kevin Baskett, Chris Gordon (1-1), Andrew Flynn (0-3, 1tpf), Niall O’Reilly.

Subs:- James Hagan (0-1) for Niall O’ Reilly (half-time), Daniel Carey for Packie Molloy (43 mins), Michael Glennon for Cormac Flynn (60 mins, injured).

MULLINALAGHTA ST COLUMBA’S: Patrick Rogers, Paddy Fox, Niall Woods, James Rogers, Shane Mulligan, Donal McElligott, Conan Brady, Conor Leonard, Cian McElligott, Emmet Brady (0-3, 1f), Cian Mackey (0-1), David McGivney (0-11, 1tp, 3tpf, 3f), Michael Cunningham (0-1), Conor McElligott, Luke Meehan.

Sub:- Francis Mulligan for Luke Meehan (45 mins).

Referee: Hugh O’Kane (Grattans).