Longford SFC: Granard let victory slip as fortunate Dromard snatch a draw
Peter Hanley Motors Senior Football Championship Group 1 - Round 2
Dromard . . . 0-12 St Mary's Granard . . . 0-12
While Dromard were the firm favourites in the Senior Football Championship Round 2 clash, the absence of the ill Ronan McEntire was a big loss while they also had to deal with the setback of a black card for their other midfielder Matt Duffy just before the break.
Resilient St Mary’s produced a fine second half display in coming from three points down to lead by 0-11 to 0-8 going into the final quarter of this tight contest and looked like springing a surprise win.
While Dromard showed a lot of character to get back on level terms with a brace of points from Joseph Hagan (free and play) with Aaron Farrell also shooting over the bar, Granard went back in front from a free converted by Jamie Brady Hynes in the first minute of additional time.
In this same attack, St Mary’s substitute Declan Hynes was sent-off after receiving a straight red card but there was still time for Dromard to rescue the situation with Francis McGee keeping his composure to land the pressure equaliser.
DROMARD: Sean McNerney; Fionn Hourican, Oisin O'Toole, Dylan McCormack; Peter Reynolds, Joseph Hagan (0-4, 2 frees), Diarmuid Masterson; Matt Duffy, Conor McGauran; Daniel Conboy, Aaron Farrell (0-3), Ronan Bleakley; Rory O'Toole, Francis McGee (0-5, 1 '45), Bernard Sheridan.
Subs:- Paul McGee for R Bleakley (half-time); Peadar Kiernan for C McGauran (half-time); R Bleakley for D Conboy (51 mins); C McGauran for R O'Toole (51 mins).
ST MARY'S GRANARD: Thomas Gallagher; Aaron Smyth (0-1), Eddie Smyth, Tom Kearney; Mark O'Neill, Mark Tully (0-1), Sean Corcoran; James Kiernan, Charlie Martin; David Callaghan, Harry Kiernan, Eoin Sheridan; Jordan Martin (0-2, frees), Mícheal Hynes (0-1), Jamie Brady Hynes (0-5, 4 frees).
Subs:- Paul Smyth (0-2) for D Callaghan (28 mins); Darren Gallagher for J Martin (34 mins); Declan Hynes for M Hynes (52 mins); Oisin O'Hara for E Sheridan (54 mins).
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Ballymahon).