Longford GAA: Fr Manning Gaels win the Junior ‘C’ title

Fr Manning Gaels . . . 0-10 Cashel . . . 0-7

Fr Manning Gaels were crowned the Junior C Champions with a narrow victory over Cashel in the final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday.

A strong second half display from the Drumlish/Ballinamuck side saw them outscore their opponents on a scoreline of six points to two, four of which coming from impressive wing back Nathan Maher as his side came out on top.

Cashel got off to a good start as Lucas Moynihan pointed with less than a minute played. The Gaels’ midfield duo of Mark Duffy and Orrin Greene then replied with a point apiece to put their side in the lead by the minimum on a scoreline of 0-2 to 0-1.

Dean Farrell was on target for Cashel before Gerard Dennigan converted an impressive two pointer free against the wind which was cancelled out by a Fr Manning Gaels two pointer through the boot of Caelum McGee to level matters at 4 points apiece.

The experienced Dennigan converted a single point free for the Newtowncashel men to leave them leading by a solitary point at half-time on a scoreline of 0-5 to 0-4.

It was all Fr Manning Gaels in the second half as Nathan Maher converted 3 points in a row to put his side in front. Conor Farrell pointed for Cashel in the 48th minute which was their first score of the second half to close the gap back to a point.

The Gaels then made sure of the success as substitute Conor McKeon, Petie Collum (free) and Nathan Maher all landed scores in the last 10 minutes.

A Dean Farrell free was all Cashel could manage in the closing stages of the encounter as Fr Manning Gaels ran out winners of the Junior ‘C’ title.

Fr Manning Gaels: Cody Lee, Rejus Raisys, Cian Brady, Declan Donnelly, Nathan Maher (0-4), Caelum McGee (0-2, two pointer from play), Ciaran Cooney, Mark Duffy (0-1), Orrin Greene (0-1), Dean Cosgrove, Petie Collum (0-1, free), Christopher Crowe, Dawid Kallina, Jim Rodgers, Padraig O’Neill

Subs used: Darren Farrelly for C Crowe and James Breslin for J Rogers (half-time); Podge Gill for P O’Neill and Conor McKeon (0-1) for D Kallina (43 mins).

Cashel: Conor Skelly, Jack Brogan, Ronan Muldoon, Conor Farrell (0-1), James Skelly, Padraig Farrell, Chris Martin, Gerard Dennigan (0-3, 1 free, 1 two pointer free), Dean Farrell (0-2, 1 free), Ronan O’Halloran, Emmet Murtagh, Lucas Moynihan (0-1), Patrick Farrell, Fergal Murtagh, Daniel Casey.

Subs used: Paddy Dowd for D Casey (half-time); Thomas Delaney for Patrick Farrell (35 mins); Seosamh Sheedy for J Kelly (43 mins); Daniel Farrell for G Dennigan (57 mins); Fergal Casserly for C Farrell (stoppage time).

Referee: Frank Toher (Killoe Emmet Óg).