Longford SFC: McKeon heroics steer Colmcille to dramatic win over Carrickedmond
Peter Hanley Motors Longford Senior Football Championship Group B - Round 2: Colmcille 1-16 Carrickedmond 2-12
Carrickedmond’s long wait for a championship victory over Colmcille goes on after Barry McKeon’s late heroics inspired last year’s county finalists to a dramatic one-point victory in an absorbing Peter Hanley Motors Longford Senior Football Championship clash.
Both sides arrived in Emmet Park, Killoe knowing defeat would leave their championship hopes hanging by a thread after opening-round losses, and the tension was evident throughout a ferocious, hard-hitting contest that was expertly managed by referee David Tiernan, who allowed the game to flow while maintaining control.
For long spells it looked as though Eugene McCormack’s Carrickedmond side were finally set to end a barren run stretching back to 1963 against their north Longford rivals.
Having lost seven championship meetings this century, Carrick once again found themselves in familiar territory as Colmcille finished with the greater composure when it mattered most.
There was a touch of history to the occasion too. Back in 2003, Carrick manager Eugene McCormack lined out in defeat against a Colmcille side featuring Noel Farrell and Declan Reilly. Twenty-three years later, both veterans were still central to Colmcille’s success, with Reilly driving his side from midfield and Farrell producing several crucial saves.
It also followed a familiar script, with Carrick surrendering another promising late lead against the same opponents, something that has happened on several occasions in recent championship meetings.
Carrick made the perfect start when Liam Glennon blasted to the net, but Colmcille responded through a Barry McKeon point before Aaron Smyth cleverly punched over a dropping Eoin Hawkins effort. McKeon added another point and, although Brian Mulvey replied, Colmcille edged in front through another McKeon free, Declan Reilly and a superb two-pointer from Hawkins – the only two-point score of the afternoon.
Further scores from McKeon and Hawkins stretched the Colmcille advantage before Carrick suddenly exploded into life.
Aidan McGuire sparked the revival before Cormac Mulvey and Glennon followed up with excellent points. Brian Mulvey converted a ‘45 after Sean Kelly’s goalbound effort was brilliantly diverted over by Noel Farrell, whose save proved every bit as important as it looked.
The momentum was now completely with Carrick. Kyle Kenny crashed home their second goal after another marauding run from one of Carrick’s best performers before Sean Egan saw a goal effort brilliantly parried over by Farrell, forcing him to settle for a point instead. Enda Farrell then burst through only to fist over when another goal looked possible.
Carrick had opened Colmcille up repeatedly during a devastating spell, creating four genuine goal opportunities before the break. They converted enough of them to finish the half with an unanswered 1-6 and deservedly led 2-7 to 0-9 at the interval, although they could easily have been even further clear.
Colmcille emerged with renewed purpose. McKeon opened the second half with a free before Fergal Sheridan added another, but Glennon and Eoghan McCormack steadied Carrick with excellent scores.
Cathal McCabe and another McKeon free kept Colmcille within touching distance before one of the game’s defining moments arrived. Cathal floated a delightful delivery towards Dylan McCabe at the back post, but Dermot Brady produced a magnificent goal-line block on his first championship start of the year. Remarkably, it came 26 years after Brady made his senior championship debut for Longford Slashers while still a minor.
Another McKeon free narrowed the gap again, but Eoghan McCormack and Glennon restored Carrick’s cushion to 2-11 to 0-14 entering the closing stages.
The tide, however, had turned. Declan Reilly was now ruling the middle third as Colmcille dominated possession, starving Carrick of the ball when they needed it most.
The decisive blow came on 55 minutes when Cathal McCabe’s lightning-quick hands released Keelan Hudson, who rifled to the net to level the contest.
Aidan McGuire briefly edged Carrick back in front, but Hudson was involved again moments later with a superb cross-field pass that picked out Barry McKeon for the equaliser. Deep into additional time, the outstanding McKeon calmly landed the winning score after Colmcille had completed their comeback.
Carrick still had one final opportunity. Eoin Hawkins’ late black card allowed Carrick one last attack which was rewarded with a Brian Mulvey two-point free attempt. It was the last kick of a thrilling contest, but the effort drifted agonisingly wide, leaving Colmcille celebrating another dramatic championship victory over the South Longford side.
COLMCILLE: Noel Farrell; Colin Farley, Eoghan Williams, Conor Grant; Dylan McCabe, Vinny Hourican, Sean Smith; Aaron Smyth (0-1), Cathal Reilly; Luke Donnelly, Declan Reilly (0-1), Fergal Sheridan (0-1); Eoin Hawkins (0-3, 1 two pointer), Cathal McCabe (0-1), Barry McKeon (0-9, 5f).
Subs; Gerard Mulligan for V Hourican (half-time), Keelan Hudson (1-0) for F Sheridan (49 mins), Matthew Farrell for D McCabe (55 mins).
CARRICKEDMOND: Garret Higgins; Conor Mulvey, Rioch Farrell, Fionn Morgan; Dermot Brady, Barry O’Farrell, Sean Egan (0-1); Liam Glennon (1-3), Enda Farrell (0-1); Kyle Kenny (1-0), Eoghán McCormack (0-2), Sean Kelly; Cormac Mulvey (0-1), Aidan McGuire (0-2), Brian Mulvey (0-2).
Subs: Pauric Dempsey for F Morgan (35 mins), Diarmuid Kelly for S Egan (50 mins), Marty Mulvey for K Kenny (60 mins).
Referee: David Tiernan.