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Peter Hanley Motors Senior Football Championship Round 1 2008
Fr. Manning Gaels 0-7 Sean Connolly's 1-3 Fr. Manning Gaels, who are enduring a poor league campaign this year with only one victory to their credit, caused some what of an upset against Ballinalee boys Sean Connolly's on Saturday last in Pearse Park. Conditions were far from ideal and it was always going to be a scrap with pretty football left at home. Impressive for the winners were last years county minor captain Kieran Gill while Aaron Quinn also stood out in the full back line. It was the Gaels who got off to the better start, Kieran Gill kicking the games first score after two minutes with a well placed free kick. Connolly's had the chance to draw level after nine minutes but Adrian Dalton got things all wrong and kicked a poor effort from thirty yards. Five minutes later Kieran Gill had his and Drumlish’s second score of the contest, the towering youngster showing his prowess with the placed ball once more. Connollys finally got off the mark midway through the half, wing forward Paddy O’Neill raising the white flag with a well taken effort under pressure. Three minutes later and Connollys had their second score of the game, this time a goal. County Senior Paddy McDonnell was on hand to slot home into an empty net after a terrible mix up in the Drumlish defence. The Gaels hit back three minutes later. Padraig Davis showing he still hasn't’t lost his touch with a fine effort. Two minutes later Adrian Dalton was again the culprit for Connollys, the energetic midfielder badly screwing a twenty one yard free onto P.J. Ginty’s post. Drumlish then rattled off two scores before the half time whistle, the highly impressive Kieran Gill recording his third point of the half with a peach of a forty five while John Fitzgerald ended the proceedings with a brilliant effort to send the Gaels into the half time interval a point to the good, five points to 1-1. Drumlish started the second half where they left off the first and had a two point cushion after thirty six minutes of action, David Cassidy landing a well struck effort with ease. Two minutes later Connollys reduced the gap to a single point again, sub Trevor Murtagh making an immediate impact when kicking a fine effort. With twenty minutes to go Kieran Gill was again to the fore, this time popping a long range point from play, in doing so collecting his fourth point of the evening. Connollys again reduced the gap to a point when Martin Brady pointed a long range free with seven minutes remaining to set up a tense finish. Right at the death Connollys had the chance to level matters and force a replay, but Martin Brady missed a poor free from thirty yards out to blow the Ballinalee's last chances of any such replay as the Gaels held on for a confidence boosting victory. Connollys will now have to go back to the drawing board if there are to transform league form into championship form while Drumlish will certainly have to improve if they have any aspirations for this years competition.
Ballymahon in full control as they hammer poor Ballymore Ballymahon 1-19 Ballymore 0-6 Ballymahon got their Senior Football Championship of to a solid start, when they easily disposed of north Longford club Ballymore at local headquarters last Sunday evening. Ballymahon took the early advantage in the first half, when they with the aid of the strong gale blowing into the town goals kicked over 12 points with Kenny Duffy landing Ballymore’s single effort from the dead ball. The huge gale force winds swirling around Pearse Park had a huge factor to the outcome of this encounter and Ballymahon made the most of the elements in the first period extending their advantage to 11 points. Ballymore to their credit did try to mount a fight back in the second half, but they lacked any leadership up front and failed to maximise on the elements unlike their south Longford counter-parts. Ballymahon set out their stall early in the opening minutes of this game. Their corner forward James Farrell broke their duck inside the first minute, when he tapped over the black spot to get his side off the mark. Ballymore without the service of their midfield giant Bernard McElvaney registered their only point of the first half from a free. Their corner forward Kenny Duffy was handed the responsibility and he duly converted from the placed ball. Ballymahon’s Chief marksman Mark Connor also landed his primary point in the 5th minute from the dead ball 25 metres frm Seamus McNerney’s goal. The 2002 County Champions should have bagged the games first goal in the 13th minute. A cross field ball by Trevor Smullen Picked out James Farrell. Farrell side-stepped his marker with a quick jink, but his final shot was swallowed by the busy Ballymore Keeper McNerney. After the break, neutrals were hoping for a better second half performance, this however never materialised as Ballymahon continued to keep the north Longford side on the ropes. They made a number of chnges in personell at the interval in an attempt to shake things up a little with Seamus Boyle and Cathal Monaghan coming into the fray at half-time. Boyle did add a limited impact, and stretched his side’s total to two points early in the second half. Justin Nally netted Ballymahon’s only goal of the contest and put the match beyond any doubt with nine minutes remaining. A move involving five Ballymahon players found Robert Forbes on the right wing and he played in Nally, who never looked like missing, blasting the ball low into the bottom corner. The winds firmly in Ballymahon sails now, breezed through the remainder of the game. Ballymore did manage to convert two consecutive points on the trot when Pete McNerney and Kenny Duffy found range from the placed ball to reduce the deficit back to 12 points. But Ballymahon hit back in the closing minutes landing an additional four points and in doing so extended their grand advantage to 16 points. Ballymahon: Fergal Kelly, James Kenny, Gareth Murtagh, Cathal Nally, Emmet Finn, Ken Cooney, Justin Nally, Alan Hudson, Kevin Diffley (0-1), Thomas Lennon (0-2), Mark Lennon, Trevor Smullen, James Farrell (0-1), Mark Connor (0-8, 7f), Tommy Forbes. Subs: Diarmuid Fallon for Hudson 51mins. Ballymore: Seamus McNerney, Philip Dawson, Michael Flynn, Martin Gallagher, Padraig Donohue, Francis Murphy, John Murphy, Dessie Flynn, Padraig Kavanagh, Noel Boyle, Pete McNerney (0-1), Gregory Walker, Kenny Duffy (0-2f), Mark Keogh (0-1), John Brennan. Subs: Vinny Walker for Murphy 23 mins, Seamus Boyle (0-1) for Donohue, Cathal Monaghan for Brennan, both half time., John McElvaney for Dawson 48 mins, Eoin Donohue (0-1) for Kavanagh 26 mins.
Emmet Óg march on with easy win Emmet Óg 2-9 St. Patrick's 0-7 In the eighth minute and in their first attack of the game Killoe got their first score when Denis McGoldrick pointed over. Every time Denis Connerton’s men went on the attack they looked very dangerous and showed their prowess in the first 30minutes raking up 2-4 in the first half, hitting just one wide. The first of their goals came in the 15th minute and it was a move that warranted a goal. Ger Carberry picked the ball up and soloed his was through the Ardagh defence before laying the ball off to Sean McCormack who blasted his shot passed Michael Lenehan. They created four attacks which lead to four scores and Killoe were in control 1-2 to no score. Just one minute after the goal Paul O’Hara extended his side’s lead to six points with a fantastic point from long range. Ardagh had to wait until the 16th minute to register their first score with Enda Ward pointing over. McCormack replied with a point to leave six between the sides again. A point apiece from Danny Keenan and Shane Henry cut the deficit to four points before Thomas Nolan raised the green flag again for Killoe. The Ardagh defence switched off and Nolan made no mistake claiming his side’s second goal of the half. Trailing by six points at the break 2-4 to 0-4 and playing against the wind it was going to be tough for the Ardagh men to try and get back into this game. Killoe extended their lead six minutes after the restart with a fine score from the effective Carberry. Ardagh’s first score of the second half didn't’t come until midway through the half when Shane Henry pointed over a free. But Killoe were quick to reply with two points from McCormack and McGoldrick. Killoe weren't’t finishing with the scoring and added a further two points to their tally. A fine effort from midfielder Ian Browne nine minutes from time put them nine points ahead and two minutes from time a free from Sean McCormack left 10 between the sides. The last scores of the game came from Ardagh; Patrick Ganley with a free and then a well taken score from Paddy Keenan in injury time. Ardagh now have two weeks to put this defeat behind them and prepare for the challenge of 2006 County Champions Abbeylara in the first round of the qualifiers. Killoe can look forward to a second round clash with Longford Slashers, in what should be an intriguing tie.
St. Mary’s narrowly defeat Rathcline St. Mary’s, Granard 0-10 Rathcline 0-8 Willie Murray had an early score for Granard pointing from the throw in. They were to have the better of the early exchanges, but after eight minutes Rathcline put a good move together with James Carroll feeding Derek Casserly who struck over from 40 yards. At the end of the first quarter Rathcline net minder Lee Cullen made a brilliant double stop. First saving an effort by Enda O’Hara and the first time volley then on the follow up from Willie Murray. Indeed both goalkeepers gave impressive accounts of themselves during this game. Straight after the passage of play John Hestor and Conor Casey combined along the right hand side of the Rathcline attack. When Casey swerved inside to his left, he drew the foul from the Granard defence and Willie Murray capitalised. Direct running was definitely suiting Rathcline better as they seemed very immobile or static when the ball was slowed, their forwards not making runs or providing options for ball carriers coming in from the middle third of the pitch. Liam O’Rourke of Granard was dragged down rugby style by Michael Hanley after an excellent solo run through the Rathcline defence in the 20th minute. David Hynes put Granard in front from the placed ball. Despite being marginally the better side St. Mary’s were unable to capitalise on periods of dominance to drive away from Rathcline. But Granard persisted in putting pressure on Rathcline and forcing them to foul. This was illustrated in the 24th minute when David Blessington and Dessie Kiernan connected and played in Willie Murray who was fouled. Thomas Gallagher converted. Again they were unable to put breathing space between themselves and their opponents and Rathcline hit back just before the break when wing back Brian Fallon to point and leave his side just a point down. Granard got off the mark first just after the interval with a Thomas Gallagher free and shortly after that they were three points clear. Blessington found Glen Kelly who put through Liam O’Rourke. Again Rathcline conceded the free, this time through an ankle tap tackle, more commonly associated with Peter Stringer of Rugby fame. Cliffey Sheridan got his name on the score sheet with the converted free. Player-manager Gareth Johnson entered the fray at this critical juncture for Rathcline and after Granard went four up through Kelly, the balding veteran made his presence felt. Doing well to win possession his pass found Stephen Farrell who pointed without breaking stride. Another point two minutes later meant Rathcline were only two points behind. Both sides worked hard at this stage to wrest the game from the other and four minutes elapsed before Dessie Kiernan found himself in nose bleed territory for a corner back – right in front of the opposition goal. His attempt to score looked to be going wide but deflected off a Rathcline man and over the bar. Kevin Chapman replaced Conor Casey as Rathcline sought a way back and in the 19th minute they nearly managed it. A deceptive lob from out on the wing brought a great save from back pedalling Ger Neilon in the Granard goal. The men in blue and white compounded the situation for Rathcline by coming back down the field and pointing, this time through David Hynes. Rathcline continued to press but because of the inertia of their forwards they found it difficult to score. Derek Casserly, seeing no one freeing themselves for a pass, took it on himself and pointed to put two between the sides again. His midfield partner Hestor’s effort off his right foot from a difficult angle brought it back to one, with three minutes injury time announced on the public address. A rash foul by Sean Farrell however gave Granard the chance to clinch it and Cliffey Sheridan gave his side a two- point cushion. There was time for one last attack from Rathcline, however Farrell opted for a point and missed, when only a goal would have rescued the game at that stage. The better- balanced team won through on the day.
Reports In Association With The Longford News & Longford Leader |
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