Longford SFC: Resilient Abbeylara pip Killoe in dramatic finish

Abbeylara . . . 1-19 Killoe Emmet Og . . . 3-11

A stoppage time two pointer from county U-20 player Sean Fagan was the matchwinner for Abbeylara in this exciting encounter against the title holders Killoe in Fr McGee Park on Friday night.

Despite the absence of Cian Brady and Nigel Rabbitt, the 2024 Connolly Cup winners managed to claim a crucial victory and they now move into pole position in Group A of the Senior Football Championship.

Frankie Dolan’s charges got out of the traps very early on as Caolan Lynch opened the scoring with a point with less than a minute gone.

Moments later Abbey struck for a goal as Jason Kelly palmed the ball to the net before captain Robbie Smyth added a free to give them a lead of 1-3 to 0-0 with just 5 minutes gone on the clock.

Killoe keeper Micheal Hughes got Killoe’s first score from a two point free off the ground with 7 minutes gone as the reigning champions started to make use of their wind advantage.

Another two pointer came Killoe’s way as Davin Donnelly raised an orange flag but the score was cancelled out as Dylan Ledwith added 2 frees.

A late addition to the Abbey starting team Ciaran Scanlon then split the posts with a two pointer (free) to keep his side in front.

Micheal Hughes added another two point free for the Killoe men and just on the stroke of half-time Ronan McGoldrick finished a nice move into the bottom left corner of the net to reduce the gap to a solitary point at the break, 1-8 to 1-7 in favour of Abbeylara.

Robbie Smyth and Scanlon (‘45) added early second half scores for Abbeylara before Paul O’Hara’s side finally got on level terms as Niall Farrelly collected a shot that dropped short from Ronan McGoldrick and he made no mistake with the finish.

Another Ciaran Scanlon two point free put Abbey back in front before Killoe grabbed a third goal as a 2 point effort from substitute Paddy Kiernan slipped through the hands of Abbeylara keeper Crawford to level the game once again as an exciting finish awaited.

A 57th minute Robbie Smyth 2 pointer from play put Abbey in front again and looked to be the winning score but Daniel Mimnagh and Cian Farrelly both raised white flags in stoppage time to level matters.

Caolan Lynch then claimed a huge kick-out at midfield and got his side on the attack, the ball eventually found it’s way to Sean Fagan who produced a monster two point effort with the last kick of the game to snatch the win.

Killoe now face Ardagh Moydow next Friday in Allen Park in which the holders will need a win to confirm their spot in the last 8 whereas unbeaten Abbeylara take on Dromard at Emmet Park on Saturday August 15.

Abbeylara: Barney Crawford; Mel Mulligan, Bryan Masterson, Colin Gilna; Michael McHugh, Fergal Battrim, Karl O’Hara; Caolan Lynch (0-2), Ciaran Scanlon (0-6, 2 two pointer frees, 1 ‘45); Matthew Quinn, Sean Fagan (0-2, two pointer from play), Dylan Ledwith (0-2, 2 frees); Robbie Smyth (0-6, 2 frees, 1 two pointer from play), Cathal Gilligan (0-1), Jason Kelly (1-0).

Sub used: Padraig Berry for J Kelly (39 mins).

Killoe Emmet Óg: Micheal Hughes (0-4, 2 two pointer frees); Gavin Hughes, Ryan Moffett, Evan Farrelly; James Moran, Niall Farrelly (1-0), Eamon Keogh; Ronan Keogh, Shane Donohoe; Gavin Farrelly, Ronan McGoldrick (1-1, 1 free), Cian Farrelly (0-1); Davin Donnelly (0-3, 1 two pointer from play), Daniel Mimnagh (0-1, free), Conor Mulligan.

Subs used: Paddy Kiernan (1-0) for R Keogh (injured) and Mickey Quinn (0-1) for S Donohoe (half-time); Larry Moran for C Mulligan and Ryan Keogh for R McGoldrick (43 mins); Darren Moffett for G Hughes (55 mins).

Referee: Mark Glancy (Rathcline).