Longford SFC: Late Keelan Hudson goal a game clincher for Colmcille

Colmcille . . . 2-16 Longford Slashers . . . 2-12

Keelan Hudson repeated his late heroics from Colmcille’s victory over Carrickedmond as his goal at the end of normal time sealed a hard-earned four-point win over Longford Slashers at Allen Park on Sunday evening.

Introduced from the bench, Hudson supplied the decisive blow at the end of a lively senior championship encounter, finishing off a sweeping counter-attack after Colmcille had again turned over possession deep inside their own half.

It was a fitting final example of what had served the north Longford side so well throughout the second half. Playing with the wind at their backs, Colmcille repeatedly punished Slashers on the transition, with their opponents guilty of coughing up possession while trying to manufacture scores into the breeze.

Conor Clarke’s side had remarkably already qualified for the quarter finals after only playing 1 game and having the bye in the second round with results going their way in the meantime.

Though, Slashers had made much the brighter start with the elements in their favour. Darragh O’Connell and Peter Lynn opened the scoring before Billy Maguire landed a two-pointer, while Vinny Hourican and Barry McKeon replied from distance for Colmcille.

O’Connell’s two-pointer stretched the Slashers advantage, but Colmcille soon found the score which changed the complexion of the first half. Corner-back Conor Grant ventured forward and finished superbly to the net to bring his side right back into contention.

McKeon and Jack Macken followed with frees before Eoin Hawkins passed up a big opportunity for a second Colmcille goal. Cathal Reilly and Hawkins did add points either side of a Ben Lynn effort as Colmcille took a slender 1-6 to 0-7 advantage into the break.

Slashers had enjoyed plenty of good moments in that opening half, with Barry Gilleran influential around midfield and O’Connell and Ronan Sheahan lively inside.

But Colmcille were beginning to find their rhythm, with Dylan McCabe providing a constant attacking outlet from wing-back and captain Reilly increasingly prominent further forward.

Seanie Smith was also carrying out an important assignment on Peter Lynn, curbing the county man’s influence and preventing him from making his customary breaks through the Colmcille defensive structure.

Sheahan reduced the gap after the restart before Hawkins struck an excellent two-pointer for Colmcille. Robbie Clarke converted a free awarded for dissent, while Luke Donnelly responded at the other end.

Slashers then found a route back into the contest through substitute Zach Coyle Clyne. His goal, 10 minutes into the second half, brought the sides level and appeared to leave the game delicately poised.

Colmcille’s response, however, was emphatic.

They rattled off six unanswered scores as their counter-attacking game began to expose Slashers. Barry McKeon landed a two-pointer, McCabe and Reilly added points and Macken punished a Slashers breach by converting the resulting two-point free.

McKeon was central to much of Colmcille’s best work, while Cathal Reilly’s influence continued to grow as the game progressed.

Slashers refused to go quietly and their substitutes provided the spark required to keep them in contention. Davy O’Brien struck for the second goal before Sheahan and Tadhg McNevin followed with important points to reduce the deficit.

It ensured Colmcille still had work to do heading into the closing stages, but Reilly steadied them with another point before Hudson delivered the decisive moment.

After Slashers lost possession while pushing for a score, Colmcille broke at speed and Hudson coolly applied the finish for his second late goal of this championship campaign.

Colm Farrell converted a late Slashers free, but the damage had been done as Colmcille closed out a 4 point victory and collected their second win in Group B to confirm their qualification to the quarter-finals for the 10th season in a row.

COLMCILLE: Noel Farrell; Colin Farley, Eoghan Williams, Conor Grant (1-0); Dylan McCabe (0-1), Vinny Hourican (0-1), Declan Reilly; Aaron Smyth, Cathal Reilly (0-3); Luke Donnelly (0-1), Jack Macken (0-3, 1tpf, 1f), Seanie Smith; Barry McKeon (0-4, 1tp, 1f), Cathal McCabe, Eoin Hawkins (0-3, 1tp).

Subs; Keelan Hudson (1-0) for Eoin Hawkins (50 mins); Paul McKeon for Jack Macken (59 mins); Matthew Farrell for Cathal McCabe (62 mins).

LONGFORD SLASHERS: Eoin McGuinness; Ronan Kenny, Ronan Sheahan Snr, Paddy Duggan; Ben Lynn (0-1), Sean Morgan, Peter Lynn (0-1); Barry Gilleran, Billy Maguire (0-2, 1tp); Sean Clarke, Robbie Clarke (0-1, f), Gareth McQuaid; Darragh O’ Connell (0-3, 1tp), Gerard Flynn, Ronan Sheahan Jnr (0-2).

Subs; Zach Coyle Clyne (1-0) for Gerard Flynn (27 mins); Tadhg McNevin (0-1) for Ronan Sheahan Snr (36 mins); Davy O’ Brien (1-0) for Sean Clarke (46 mins); James Shannon for Gareth McQuaid (56 mins); Colm Farrell (0-1, f) for Ronan Sheahan Jnr (59 mins).

Referee: Francis Kelly (Carrickedmond).