Longford SFC: Clonguish snatch draw against Dromard in dramatic finish
Peter Hanley Motors Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
Just when it looked like Dromard had done enough to emerge victorious in a very scrappy encounter that failed to live up to expectations, Clonguish snatched a draw in a dramatic finish to the Senior Football Championship semi-final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday.
Trailing by three points (0-10 to 1-4) with ten minutes of normal time remaining, Dromard looked in trouble but the gap was gradually closed with the influential Joseph Hagan converting a couple of frees.
Then came a fine goal from substitute Cormac Mulligan in the 57th minute with the promising minor player keeping his composure to blast the ball past the opposing keeper Declan McKenna and all of a sudden the pressure was on Clonguish to salvage the situation.
Dromard were now in front by a couple of points (2-6 to 0-10) and when the prominent chief marksman Hagan (who clocked up a total of 0-6) fired over another free to extend the advantage to three points, the favourites Clonguish appeared to be on the way out of the championship.
But there was still time for Dom Corrigan’s charges to survive and that they did when the saviour Cormac Flynn finished the ball to the net from point-blank range in the 60th minute after a speculative shot from substitute Daniel Carey had dropped short.
Aaron Farrell then missed a good chance of landing a last gasp winning point for Dromard in stoppage time with Michael Flynn also shooting wide at the other end of the pitch.
A big crowd witnessed a poor game littered with turnovers and with just over six minutes gone on the clock the north Longford outfit had established a healthy 1-3 to 0-1 lead with the impressive Ronan Corcoran opening their account in the 4th minute.
Joseph Hagan then kicked a terrific two-pointer from play before Aaron Farrell raced through to score a cracking goal but that was remarkably Dromard’s last score in the first half.
Inspired by the classy Matthew Carey who fired over three points (all from play) and four more from the dependable Michael Flynn (two frees) with his brother Cormac also on target, Clonguish ended up leading by 0-8 to 1-3 at the break.
Jack Duggan was forced to retire after sustaining a hamstring injury in the 22nd minute and that was a big blow for Clonguish.
A well struck point from play by Joseph Hagan in the 39th minute was the first score in the second half but back came Clonguish with two more scores (play) from Matthew Carey who was proving to be the main difference between the sides.
Carey’s final point came in the 46th minute to leave his side 0-10 to 1-4 ahead and the Dromard cause was hampered by the withdrawal of the injured Francis McGee in the 44th minute.
But Niall Vance’s determined side enjoyed a new lease of life in the final quarter to survive (outscoring Clonguish by 1-3 to 1-0) and the sides will meet again in the semi-final replay on Saturday evening, throw-in 5pm.
CLONGUISH: Declan McKenna; Alan Mimnagh, Ronan Sweeney, Chris Gordon; Jonathan Burke, Conor Smith, Andrew Flynn; Peter Hanley, Jack Duggan; Kevin Baskett, Matthew Carey (0-5), Matthew Flynn; Cormac Flynn (1-1), Michael Flynn (0-4, 2 frees), James Hagan.
Subs:- Jamie Dorr for J Duggan (injured, 22 mins); Mark Cooney for K Baskett (48 mins); Daniel Carey for J Hagan (59 mins).
DROMARD: Ollie Duffy; Ruairi O’Toole, Ronan Bleakley, Chris Grimes; Fionn Hourican, Oisin O’Toole, Dylan Vance; Daniel Conboy, Ronan Corcoran (0-1); Conor McGauran, Aaron Farrell (1-0), William McEntire; Francis McGee, Matt Duffy, Joseph Hagan (0-6, 1 two-pointer from play, 3 frees).
Subs:- Cormac Mulligan (1-0) for C McGauran (half-time); Eoghan Palin for F McGee (injured, 44 mins).
Temporary: Peadar Kiernan for F Hourican (47 mins); Hourican for Kiernan (55 mins).
Referee: David Donohoe (Mullinalaghta St Columba’s).
Who will win the replay on Saturday evening?
Throw-in 5pm at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park
Prediction: Clonguish