Longford SFC: Clonguish snatch win against Colmcille to extend unbeaten run

Clonguish . . . 2-14 Colmcille . . . 2-13

Clonguish finally found a way past Colmcille, surviving a gripping finish to record a slender one-point victory in the final Group B game of the Peter Hanley Motors Senior Football Championship at Oliver Lynch Park in Abbeylara on Sunday last.

It was their first win over the Aughnacliffe side since the 2015 quarter-final and, despite both teams already being assured of their place in the last eight, the contest was played with the pace and edge of a knockout encounter.

That was hardly surprising given the recent history between them. Colmcille had unexpectedly ended Clonguish’s championship challenge in each of the previous two seasons, and Ger Carberry’s side again pushed the title favourites to their limit before Dom Corrigan’s charges edged home by the narrowest margin.

Clonguish made the ideal start when Matthew Flynn opened the scoring before bursting through for the first of four goals in a frantic first half.

Jack Macken responded from a two-point free, while Barry McKeon quickly demonstrated his influence by finding the net to bring Colmcille firmly into the contest with a purists goal.

Dylan McCabe kicked a long ball over the top from midfield into the safe hands of McKeon who left two defenders on the grass with a brace of exquisite dummies before rolling the ball into the net.

James Hagan raised a white flag in response before McKeon increased the Colmcille lead with a wonderful two pointer from play.

Clonguish responded with Hagan netting their second goal after finishing off a great team move and further scores followed from Jonathan Burke and a Matthew Carey free, putting them 3 in front.

Colmcille, however, were never going to allow them to pull clear. McKeon struck another point and continued to cause problems for the Clonguish defence, while Macken’s accuracy from placed balls kept the scoreboard ticking.

Matthew Flynn added his second point, but Colmcille hit back through Luke Donnelly.

The fourth goal of the first half arrived through Cathal McCabe and shifted the balance back towards Colmcille.

A point apiece from Ronan Sweeney and Flynn kept Clonguish in touch, but it was Colmcille who carried a slender 2-7 to 2-6 advantage into the break.

Sweeney, the elder of this youthful Clonguish side, was along with Peter Hanley the only players that featured in the 2015 championship win against Colmcille. Though, their supporters will be worried to see Sweeney carried off just before the break.

The intensity showed no sign of dropping after the restart. Jonathan Burke brought Clonguish level, only for Colmcille to answer through Eoin Hawkins and the outstanding Barry McKeon.

McKeon and Macken were central to almost everything good produced by Carberry’s team. Macken remained assured from dead balls, while McKeon’s scoring threat repeatedly tested a Clonguish defence in which Conor Smith delivered an excellent display at centre-half-back.

Declan McKenna’s short kick-outs were executed brilliantly and allowed Clonguish to retain possession under considerable pressure. First half goalscorers Flynn and Hagan also continued to make important contributions as Corrigan’s side worked their way back into the lead.

Carey may have been denied scores from open play with Aaron Smyth sticking to his man marking task well, but his dead-ball kicking was once again invaluable.

As the contest developed into an increasingly tense shoot-out, Carey held his nerve superbly to punish Colmcille and keep Clonguish marginally in front. Influential midfielder Hanley and half-time substitute Jack Duggan also pointed.

Colmcille refused to relent with further scores from Cathal McCabe and then a Jack Macken two pointer free put them into the lead in injury time.

But Clonguish found the crucial scores through a super Carey free and the winner from Cormac Flynn to end a wait of more than a decade for a victory over Colmcille and completing the group stage with four wins.

The Newtownforbes outfit will enter the quarter-finals as the competition’s top seeds but recent experience will ensure there is no complacency.

Clonguish know better than anybody that an unbeaten group campaign counts for little once the championship moves to Glennon Brothers Pearse Park and the knockout stage begins.

CLONGUISH: Declan McKenna; Ronan Sweeney (0-1), Ross Shields, Alan Mimnagh; Kevin Baskett, Conor Smith, Jonathan Burke (0-2); Peter Hanley (0-1), Matthew Carey (0-4, 4f); Jamie Dorr, Michael Flynn, Matthew Flynn (1-2); Cormac Flynn (0-1), Andrew Flynn, James Hagan (1-2).

Subs:- Chris Gordon for Ronan Sweeney (sixth minute of first half stoppage time, injured); Mark Cooney for Kevin Baskett (half-time); Jack Duggan (0-1) for Michael Flynn (half-time); Kevin Baskett for Jonathan Burke (50 mins); Daniel Carey for Jamie Dorr (56 mins).

COLMCILLE: Noel Farrell; Dylan McCabe, Eoghan Williams, Conor Grant; Gerard Mulligan, Vinny Hourican, Sean Smith; Aaron Smyth, Cathal Reilly; Luke Donnelly (0-1), Cathal McCabe (1-1), Declan Reilly; Ciaran McKeon, Jack Macken (0-6, 2tpf, 2f), Barry McKeon (1-4, 1tp).

Subs:- Eoin Hawkins (0-1) for Ciaran McKeon (half-time); Keelan Hudson for Luke Donnelly (42 mins); Philip McKeon for Gerard Mulligan (43 mins); Matthew Farrell for Sean Smith (59 mins), Fergal Sheridan for Cathal Reilly (60 mins).

Referee: David Tiernan (Ardagh Moydow).