Longford SFC: Hagan the shooting star as Dromard battle back to beat Ardagh Moydow

Joseph Hagan (who scored 0-12) on the attack for Dromard in evading the challenge of Ardagh Moydow defender Jack Gallagher. Action from the SFC Round 1 clash at the Monaduff grounds Photo: Syl Healy | Syl Healy

placeholder image — Joseph Hagan (who scored 0-12) on the attack for Dromard in evading the challenge of Ardagh Moydow defender Jack Gallagher. Action from the SFC Round 1 clash at the Monaduff grounds Photo: Syl Healy | Syl Healy

Peter Hanley Motors Senior Football Championship Group A - Round 1

Dromard . . . 0-20 Ardagh Moydow . . . 2-12

Six points down at the break (2-7 to 0-7), Dromard eventually got their act together in the second half to get the better of Ardagh Moydow in this entertaining Senior Football Championship Round 1 encounter at the Monaduff grounds, Drumlish on Saturday evening.

It was a gallant display from last year’s Intermediate champions who made it really difficult for the hot favourites and Liam Keenan’s highly charged side looked like springing a shock with Dylan Coady (penalty) and Killian Farrell scoring the goals.

A couple of cracking two-pointers from promising U-18 player Jamie Connor in the closing stages of the first half was a big boost for Ardagh Moydow but they were unable to keep it going on the changeover.

Powered by key players Joseph Hagan, Aaron Farrell, Fionn Hourican and Oisin O’Toole, Dromard gradually closed the gap and ended up winning by the narrow margin of two points.

The deadly accurate Hagan clocked the most impressive total of 0-12 (six frees which included a two-pointer) and there was just no stopping the superb shooting star.

Ardagh Moydow suffered a significant setback when Emmet Donlon received a black card for a foul in the 36th minute and Dromard made the most of the extra man for the10-minute period.

Having said that, it took a fine save by their keeper Sean McNerney to deflect a goal attempt from Jamie Connor out for a ‘45 in the 56th minute and deep into stoppage time (the 9th minute to be precise following the delay for the Dylan Vance injury) there was another two-pointer opportunity for Connor for a draw game but the free drifted wide.

Already without long term casualty Diarmuid Masterson, there was another blow for Dromard when Francis McGee was forced to retire injured midway through the first half but it all worked out for Niall Vance's side in the end as they showed a lot of character to survive this scare.

Ardagh Moydow were outscored by 0-13 to 0-5 in the second half with all the scores (including a two-pointer) for the underdogs coming from the impressive dangerman Daryl Carrigy.

DROMARD: Sean McNerney; Christopher Grimes, Oisin O’Toole, Ronan Corcoran; Ronan Bleakley, Dylan Vance, Peadar Kiernan; Daniel Conboy, William McEntire; Fionn Hourican (0-3), Aaron Farrell (0-4), Conor McGauran (0-1); Joseph Hagan (0-12, two-pointer free, 5 frees), Francis McGee, Ben O’Reilly.

Subs:- Eoghan Palin for F McGee (injured, 16 mins); Cormac Mulligan for C McGauran (half-time); James Mimnagh for P Kiernan (40 mins); Donnacha Reynolds for D Vance (injured, 45 mins); Padraig Mulligan for E Palin (48 mins).

ARDAGH MOYDOW: Cian O’Beirne; Mark McCord, Tommy Powell, Jack Gallagher; Diarmuid Farrell, James McGoey, Conor Carroll; Max Gallagher, Dylan Fay; Emmet Donlon, Dylan Coady (1-0, penalty), Connor Hogan; Jamie Connor (0-5, brace of two-pointer frees), Killian Farrell (1-1), Daryl Carrigy (0-6, 1 two-pointer from play).

Sub:- Eugene Murray for E Donlon (60 mins).

Referee: Mark Glancy (Rathcline).