Mullinalaghta crowned Leader Cup champions in dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Killoe

Mullinalaghta St Columba’s . . . 0-14   Killoe Emmet Og . . . 0-14

After Extra-Time

Mullinalaghta won 5-4 on penalties

Emmet Og, with the advantage of the extra man for the entire second half of normal time following the dismissal of James McGivney (yellow, black & red cards) just before the break, failed to capitalise but were most unfortunate not to score a goal when a shot from Mark Hughes hit the post immediately on the changeover with the sides deadlocked at 0-6 apiece. 

Killoe were also reduced to 14 players when Michael Quinn received a black card in the 53rd minute and held a slender lead (0-11 to 0-10) in the difficult wet conditions before the impressive David McGivney came to St Columba's rescue when he fired the ball over the bar in the 60th minute. 

Mullinalaghta were restored to 15 players when Cian McElligott was brought back on in extra-time as six more points were scored in extra-time and when Daniel Mimnagh landed a well struck ‘45 it looked like Emmet Og were going to emerge victorious.

But this Mullinalaghta team are made of stern stuff and snatched a last gasp draw in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Connor Leonard kept his composure to convert a pressure ‘45 with virtually the last kick of the game to leave the sides all square yet again in a frantic finish.   

Excitement was mounting as the penalty shoot-out unfolded and when Daniel Mimnagh had his kick well saved by Patrick Rogers, the Mullinalaghta side ended up scoring all of their five penalties to achieve yet another Leader Cup triumph. 

It was a tremendous double senior football league success for St Columba’s as the clubs also agreed to play for the Johnny Skelly Cup after reaching the Division 1 league final.  

MULLINALAGHTA ST COLUMBA’S: Patrick Rogers; James Rogers, Donal McElligott, Simon Cadam; Francis Mulligan, Connor Leonard (0-1, ‘45), Patrick Fox; Aidan McElligott (0-1), David McGivney (0-4, 2 frees); Cian McElligott, Shane Mulligan (0-1), Gary Rogers (0-2, 1 mark); Emmet Brady (0-2, 1 free), James McGivney (0-2), Michael Cunningham.

Subs:- Cian Mackey (0-1) for C McElligott (41 mins); Conan Brady for M Cunnigham (48 mins); Tom Meehan for J Rogers (58 mins).

Extra-time:- M Cunningham for S Cadam (14 mins); Mark McNerney for G Rogers (19 mins).

KILLOE EMMET OG: Micheal Hughes; Shane Clarke, Niall Farrelly, Evan Farrelly; Liam Hughes, Ronan Keogh, Gavin Farrelly; Paddy Kiernan, Ryan Moffett; Denis McGoldrick (0-1, free), Daniel Mimnagh (0-2, 1 ‘45), Michael Quinn (0-1); Paddy Moran (0-4), Ronan McGoldrick (0-1), Mark Hughes (0-4, 3 frees, 1 mark).

Subs:- Gavin Hughes for R Keogh (injured, 14 mins); Ciaran Donohoe (0-1) for P Kiernan (48 mins); Cian Farrelly for S Clarke (53 mins); Colm Coyle for E Farrelly (injured, stoppage time). 

Extra-time:- Eugene Clarke for D McGoldrick (start of additional period).  

Referee: Patrick Maguire (St Mary’s Granard). 

Penalty shoot-out 5-4

David McGivney, Cian Mackey, Connor Leonard, Donal McElligott and Aidan McElligott scored for Mullinalaghta

Mark Hughes, Michael Quinn, Paddy Moran and Ronan McGoldrick scored for Killoe