Longford IFC: Grattans cruise to a comprehensive success against Killoe

Grattan Óg . . . 6-14 Killoe Emmet Óg . . . 1-12

Grattan Óg got their Hennessy Cup campaign off to a perfect start in Michael Fay Park on Saturday evening as they defeated last year’s Junior A Champions Killoe Emmet Óg by 17 points

A brace of goals from Eoin Farrell and Gary Hand plus a goal each from John Hand and Harry Mulvihill sealed victory for the Stonepark side.

Last year, the 2024 Junior A champions Grattans lost all three of their Intermediate Group games by just a single point but victory over St. Brigid’s Killashee on Friday night next will seal a semi-final spot for Ruairí McElligott’s charges.

It was a tight first-half with just three points separating the sides at the interval. Jack Fitzpatrick opened the scoring for Killoe, but John Hand from just inside the arc and Reuben Murray replied for Grattans.

The Emmet Óg second string found the net on seven minutes with a great move. Niall Finneran passed to Paddy Thompson who played the ball into Gerard Keogh and the midfielder fired home for the game’s first goal.

However, two minutes later, Grattans raised their first green flag to lead by a point. Mulvihill’s shot on the turn was brilliantly saved by Killoe keeper Oisin McManus, but the ball eventually reached Gary Hand who superbly threaded his shot past several players to the net.

Fitzpatrick responded immediately for Aiden Keogh’s charges with a sumptuous two-pointer from open play to put them back ahead by a point, 1-03 to 1-02 with ten minutes on the clock.

McManus prevented a second goal for Grattans just a minute later when he produced a magnificent save from Conor McHugh’s low shot after he collected a low precision pass from Mulvihill.

Cian Dooner for Emmet Óg and a point each from Grattan Óg players Mulvihill & John Hand had the sides level after sixteen minutes on 1-4 each.

Colm Coyle put the Killoe men ahead with a fabulous two-pointer which he converted despite slipping as he took his shot, but within two minutes, Grattans regained the lead with their second goal of the match after a brilliant move.

Mulvihill gained the ball just inside the Killoe half and hit a great ball to John Hand on the right, he quickly played a pin-point pass into Murray and he picked out the inrushing Eoin Farrell who palmed the ball into the Emmet Óg net.

A minute later, Eoin Farrell was in on goal again, but the alert McManus produced another top-drawer save to prevent a third goal.

Murray with a free and Mulvihill increased the lead to three points before a Dooner free and Coyle’s second two-pointer of the contest had the sides level going into additional time.

Grattan Óg scored a crucial third goal with the last attack of the half when Mulvihill went on a surging run cutting in from the left and he blasted the ball to the net to give the Stonepark side a three-point interval lead.

The second-half was one way traffic as Grattan Óg completely dominated proceedings to run out comfortable winners. They hit 1-05 without reply in the opening seven minutes of the second period. Peter Farrell added four points including a two-pointer from play and John Hand registered 1-01 with his goal coming from a thirty-yard rocket that whistled past McManus in the Killoe goal.

Dooner replied with two points for Killoe either side of a point from Gary Hand for Grattans to leave the Stonepark side ahead by 4-12 to 1-11 with 49 minutes gone.

Grattans fifth goal arrived on fifty-two minutes when Gary Hand and Mulvihill exchanged rapier passes to prise open the Killoe rearguard and Hand smashed the ball to the net.

Peter Farrell and John Hand added further points for Grattans in the closing stages while Dooner slotted over a free for Emmet Óg.

Grattans sixth goal came on fifty-eight minutes when John Hand’s long-range pass picked out Eoin Farrell and he dispatched his shot to the net.

GRATTAN OG: Dan Devlin; Diarmuid Conlan, James Moran, Niall Nerney; Stephen Oates, Conor McHugh, Jack Finnegan; Beau O’Connor, Peter Farrell (0-5, 1 two-pointer); Rory Howlin, Eoin Farrell (2-0), Gary Hand (2-1); Reuben Murray (0-2, 1 free), Harry Mulvihill (1-2), John Hand (1-4).

Substitutes: Gerard Victory for C McHugh and Tadgh Nerney for R Howlin (both 42nd minute); Niall Hawes for G Hand (50th minute); Willie Stokes for R Murray (53rd minute).

KILLOE EMMET OG: Oisin McManus; David Moorehead, Paul Eivers, Shane Clarke; Colm Coyle (0-4, 2 two-pointers), Killian Feeney, Joe Rowley; Mark Rowley, Gerard Keogh (1-0); Shane McManus, Niall Finneran, Conor Doherty; Jack Fitzpatrick (0-3, 1 two-pointer), Paddy Thompson, Cian Dooner (0-5, 2 frees).

Substitutes: Jake Donnelly for G Keogh (24th minute); Eamon Igoe for S Clarke (35th minute); Dylan O’Neill for J Fitzpatrick (54th minute); Cormac Harte for C Doherty, Darragh Maguire for C Coyle.

Referee: Patrick Cahill (Carrickedmond).