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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Donal McElligott on the ball for Mullinalaghta in breaking away from Rathcline opponent Seadhna Ryan. Action from the SFC Round 1 game at McGee Park on Saturday evening Photo: Syl Healy
It might have been a struggle for Mullinalaghta in the first half in the face of stern resistance from resilient Rathcline but the double league champions gradually asserted their superiority on the changeover to run out comfortable winners in the finish at McGee Park on Saturday evening.
Mullinalaghta St Columba’s . . . 3-11 Rathcline . . . 1-10
The highly charged Lanesboro outfit only trailed by a couple of points at the break, 1-7 to 1-5, after playing against the stiff wind but were unable to maintain that high intensity in the second half as Mullinalaghta called on all their vast experience to come out on top in Round 1 of the Senior Football Championship.
After centre-half-back Shane Donohue was forced to retire injured at half-time, Rathcline suffered another bad blow when Jakub Kajan was sent-off after receiving a second yellow card in the 43rd minute.
St Columba’s were also reduced to 14 players soon after when substitute Conan Brady was branded with a black card before James McGivney made a vital interception to race through the opposing defence on his way to setting up impressive corner-forward Emmet Brady for a killer goal in the 50th minute.
A third goal materialised in the 53rd minute when Gary Rogers flicked the ball to the net after linking up with Michael Cunningham and Mullinalaghta had seven points to spare at the final whistle which was rather rough justice for the gallant losers.
MULLINALAGHTA ST COLUMBA’S: Patrick Rogers; James Rogers, Simon Cadam, Michael Cunningham; Francis Mulligan, Connor Leonard (1-0, penalty), Patrick Fox; Cian McElligott, Aidan McElligott (0-1); Gary Rogers (1-0), Shane Mulligan (0-1), Donal McElligott; Emmet Brady (1-4), James McGivney (0-1), David McGivney (0-3, 2 frees).
Subs:- Cian Mackey (0-1) for C McElligott (half-time); Conan Brady for F Mulligan (43 mins); Mark McNerney for S Mulligan (55 mins); Tom Meehan for J Rogers (58 mins).
RATHCLINE: David Mulvihill; Jakub Kajan, Harvey Myhill (0-1), Niall Keane; Ultan O’Sullivan, Shane Donohue, Oisin Kenny (0-1); Shane Casserly, Gareth Reilly (0-1); Seadhna Ryan, Bryn Peters, Cronan Flood (1-1); David Rooney, Oran Kenny (0-6, 3 frees), Kevin Tansey.
Subs:- Kian Gilmore for S Donohue (injured, half-time); Cormac Casey for K Tansey (48 mins); Daire Cox for C Casey (58 mins); Sean Casey for S Ryan (59 mins).
Referee: David Tiernan (Ardagh Moydow).
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