Longford SFC: Oisin Kenny goal the decisive score as Rathcline surprise Mullinalaghta

Always capable of springing a surprise in the recent past, Rathcline struck again in the opening round of the Senior Football Championship when they scored a great victory over Mullinalaghta at Michael Fay Park on Saturday evening last. 

Rathcline . . . 1-11    Mullinalaghta St Columba’s . . . 0-12

Oisin Kenny got the decisive only goal in the 22nd minute of the first half, planting the ball in the back of the St Columba’s net after receiving the perfect pass from his brother Oran, and that left the highly charged Lanesboro outfit in a comfortable 1-6 to 0-3 lead.

It took the stunned Mullinalaghta side (minus the suspended Aidan McElligott) quite some time to recover from this significant setback in gradually closing the gap with David McGivney shooting a couple of two-pointers (free and play) but Rathcline held out for a sweet success in a frantic finish.

The former kings of Longford and Leinster are now under pressure to qualify for the quarter-finals but it would have been a different story but for a brace of point blank saves from the Rathcline keeper David Mulvihill who denied substitute Aron Earley and Emmet Brady in the closing stages of this tight contest.

The main man for the delighted winners was Longford attacker Oran Kenny who fired over a total of 8 points (7 frees) while his brother Shane (free and play) along with very prominent wing back Seadna Ryan also got on the scoresheet for the underdogs who were a very generous 4/1 shot with the bookies for a win in this match.

Rathcline got off to a flying start to lead by 0-4 to 0-0 with just nine minutes gone in the first half with all the scores coming from frees converted by Oran (3) and Shane Kenny.

That was really putting it up to Dromard who opened their account moments later with Jayson Matthews (free) on target and there were further scores from Oran Kenny (2 frees), Jayson Matthews (free) and James McGivney (free) before Oisin Kenny pounced for the precious goal.

St Columba’s got back in contention with a two-pointer free from David McGivney and a score apiece were exchanged before the break through Oran Kenny (free) and McGivney (a lovely strike from play).

Rathcline were 1-7 to 0-6 ahead at half-time and the Group B clash developed into a ding-dong battle on the changeover with Gareth Johnston’s side adding another 4 points to their tally.

Mullinalagha closed the gap to the minimum of margins with scores from Jayson Matthews (free), Connor Leonard and Patrick Fox in the early stages of the second half before Rathcline got going again with a fine point (play) from the under pressure Oran Kenny in the 42nd minute.

Seadna Ryan, Shane Kenny and Oran Kenny (free) completed the scoring for the shannonsiders while St Columba’s were confined to a ‘45 converted by Niall Woods along with a two-pointer from David McGivney in the 56th minute and will be hard pressed to reach the last eight after this disappointing defeat.

RATHCLINE: David Mulvihill; Harvey Myhill, Jakub Kajan, Blaine Fallon; Seadna Ryan (0-1), David Rooney, Matthew Heneghan; Michael Morrissey, Bryn Peters; Kian Gilmore, Iarla O’Sullivan, Gareth O’Reilly; Oisin Kenny (1-0), Shane Kenny (0-2, 1 free), Oran Kenny (0-8, 7 frees). 

Subs:- Shane Donohoe for H Myhill (half-time); Myhill for M Heneghan (39 mins); Kevin Tansey for B Peters (42 mins); Cronan Flood for K Gilmore (52 mins); Derek Casserly for G O’Reilly (stoppage time).  

MULLINALAGHTA ST COLUMBA’S: Luke Meehan; Patrick Fox (0-1), Niall Woods (0-1, ‘45), Francis Mulligan; Shane Mulligan, Donal McElligott, James Rogers; David McGivney (0-5, 2 two-pointers - free and play), Connor Leonard (0-1); Emmet Brady, Cian Mackey, Cian McElligott; Jayson Mattnews (0-3, all frees), Conor McElligott, James McGivney (0-1, free).

Subs:- Michael Cunningham for Conor McElligott (injured, 24 mins); Aron Earley for Cian McElligott (46 mins); Conan Brady for C Mackey (57 mins). 

Referee: Hugh O’Kane (Young Grattans).