Longford SFC: Rampant Killoe reach yet another Connolly Cup decider
Peter Hanley Motors Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
Killoe have enjoyed a tremendous record in the Senior Football Championship in recent years and there was just no stopping the title holders in the demolition of Abbeylara in the semi-final clash at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday evening.
The wide margin of 12 points separated the sides in the end as the 2024 county champions were crushed by a rampant Emmet Og machine who are peaking at just the right time in their quest to claim yet another Connolly Cup success.
The highlight of this pulsating performance was the five cracking two-pointers (all from play) aided by the wind in the first half, three from impressive youngster Davin Donnelly and a brace from the vastly experienced Mickey Quinn, and Abbey ended up in big trouble at the break as they trailed by 0-14 to 0-7.
Having said that, the outstanding KIlloe keeper Micheal Hughes produced a string of point-blank saves during the course of the game to prevent Frankie Dolan’s side from scoring a badly needed goal.
Abbeylara never got going in the face of fierce pressure from the highly charged Killoe outfit, inspired by the driving force of rock sold defender Liam Hughes, and whatever chance they had of getting back into contention suffered a killer blow when they conceded a soft goal in the early stages of the second half
James Moran burst his way through and while his rasping shot was well saved by the Abbey keeper Barney Crawford, the ball broke kindly into the path of the alert Mickey Qunn who finished the rebound to the net with six minutes gone on the changeover.
There was no way back for rattled Abbeylara with the prominent pair of Enda Quinn and Daniel Mimnagh registering a couple of points apiece to keep the scoreboard ticking over for Killoe.
Eamon Keogh was also on the mark to land his second score and it was indeed fitting that the netminder Micheal Hughes should bring the Emmet Og scoring to a close when he converted a two-pointer free in the final minute of normal time.
Substitute Mel Brady fired over a consolation two-pointer from play for Abbeylara in stoppage time and they sorely missed his brother Cian with the county defender ruled out due to injury.
Robbie Smyth accounted for five of the Abbey scores (4 frees) while also on target were Ciaran Scanlon (free), Cathal Gilligan (2), Sean Fagan and substitute Jason Kelly.
Killoe manager Paul O’Hara was forced to make two changes from the team that appeared in the programme, notably Paddy Moran and Cian Farrelly who are currently on the casualty list, but the reigning county champions are fortunate to have such a strong squad at their disposal and will be hard beaten.
KILLOE EMMET OG: Micheal Hughes (0-2, two-pointer from free); Ryan Keogh, Darren Moffett, Evan Farrelly; James Moran, Liam Hughes, Eamon Keogh (0-2); Enda Quinn (0-2), Ryan Moffett; Mickey Quinn (1-4, brace of two-pointers from play), Gavin Farrelly, Niall Farrelly; Davin Donnelly (0-6, 3 two-pointers from play), Ronan McGoldrick (0-2, frees), Daniel Mimnagh (0-3).
Subs:- Conor Mulligan for R McGoldrick (49 mins); Gavin Hughes for E Farrelly (injured, 53 mins); Paddy Kiernan for N Farrelly (56 mins); Larry Moran for D Donnelly (59 mins); Shane Donohoe for E Quinn (injured, 59 mins).
ABBEYLARA: Barney Crawford; Bryan Masterson, Fergal Battrim, Colm P Smyth; Michael McHugh, Karl O’Hara, Colin Gilna; Caolan Lynch, Ciaran Scanlon (0-1, free); Matthew Quinn, Sean Fagan (0-1), Dylan Ledwith; Cathal Gilligan (0-2), Robbie Smyth (0-5, 4 frees), Padraig Berry.
Subs:- Reece Reilly for M Quinn (half-time); Cian O'Reilly for M McHugh (38 mins); Jason Kelly (0-1) for P Berry (43 mins); Daniels Mickelson for C Gilna (43 mins); Mel Brady (0-2, two-pointer from play) for K O’Hara (54 mins).
Referee: Francis Kelly (Carrickedmond).