Longford SFC: Superior Killoe cruise through to the quarter-finals

Killoe Emmet Og . . . 4-17 Ardagh Moydow . . .1-14

The return of Paddy Moran for his first game in the current Senior Football Championship campaign was a big boost for the title holders Killoe who cruised through to the quarter-finals with a most emphatic win over Ardagh Moydow in the Round 4 clash at Allen Park in Newtownforbes on Friday night.

Utilising his electric pace to fine effect to register a total of 1-6 (all from play), there was no stopping the impressive Moran and it must be said that Emmet Og were superior in most positions on the pitch.

Last year’s Intermediate champions (surprise winners against Mullinalaghta the previous weekend) found the going extremely tough and badly needed a goal in the first half with a flick from Dylan Fay creating a glorious opportunity in the 12th minute but there was no Ardagh Moydow player on hand to finish the ball to the net.

That was a lucky escape for Killoe but from the moment Ronan McGoldrick scored the opening goal in the 20th minute to leave Paul O’Hara’s slick side in a comfortable 1-5 to 0-1 lead, there was no way back for the underdogs.

The alert McGoldrick collected the breaking ball after a shot from influential centre-half-back Mickey Quinn rebounded off the post and whatever slim hope that Ardagh Moydow had of getting back into contention were shattered when Paddy Moran raced through to plant the ball into the back of the net in the opening minute of the second half.

That left Emmet Og in a commanding 2-8 to 0-3 lead and they were then denied an immediate third goal when a well struck effort from Danny Mimnagh hit the crossbar.

Ardagh Moydow were under almost constant pressure as Killoe continued to clock up the scores and a brace of goals from prominent substitute Conor Mulligan in the closing stages of the game (the second in stoppage time) capped a fine overall display from the reigning champions.

The gallant losers, to their credit, battled it out to the bitter end with the promising youngster Jamie Connor ending up with 0-7 his credit and Liam Keenan’s charges could still qualify for the last 8 with a win over Rathcline in their remaining fixture in the Group A minefield in a couple of weeks time.

Their perseverance in this impossible task was rewarded with a late goal from the highly talented Max Gallagher and while Killoe got no two-pointers in their impressive haul of 21 scores they still won by a wide margin in their quest to retain the Connolly Cup.

KILLOE EMMET OG: Micheal Hughes; Ryan Keogh, Ryan Moffett, Evan Farrelly; Eamon Keogh, Mickey Quinn, James Moran (0-2); Enda Quinn, Niall Farrelly; Gavin Farrelly, Paddy Moran (1-6), Cian Farrelly (0-2); Davin Donnelly, Ronan McGoldrick (1-4, 3 frees), Danny Mimnagh (0-1).

Subs:- Conor Mulligan (2-1) for D Donnelly (41 mins); Liam Hughes for E Keogh (45 mins); Darren Moffett for E Farrelly (53 mins); Larry Moran (0-1) for G Farrelly (58 mins); Paddy Kiernan for E Quinn (58 mins).

ARDAGH MOYDOW: Cian O’Beirne; Mark McCord, Fergal Keenan, Jack Gallagher; Diarmuid Farrell, James McGoey, Conor Carroll; Max Gallagher (1-0), Dylan Fay; Jamie Connor (0-7, two-pointer free, 2 frees), Dylan Coady (0-2, two-pointer from play), Connor Hogan (0-1); Emmet Donlon (0-2, two-pointer from play), Eugene Murray, Daryl Carrigy (0-2, 1 free).

Subs:- Gerard Farrell for J McGoey (41 mins); Derek Belton for E Murray (41 mins); Paddy Hanley for E Donlon (54 mins).

Referee: David Donohoe (Mullinalaghta St Columba’s).