Carrickedmond came back from the dead to claim a place in the Longford SFC quarter-finals on a night of drama.
Mullinalaghta flew from the traps and led by 10 points with 17 minutes remaining. However Carrickedmond fought back to claim a draw as both sides made the quarter-final stage.
Mullinalaghta flew out of the traps and managed to land two goals before Eugene McCormack’s side had the scoreboard moving.
Jayson Matthews taking less than 30 seconds to open the scoring. Five minutes were on the clock when Mullinalaghta had their first goal.
Aidan McElligot slipped the ball into the net as the Carrickedmond team thought they had cleared the initial effort off the line. McElligot slipping the ball under keeper Garrett Higgins, even as Higgins fouled McElligot for what would have been a definite penalty.
Two minutes later the Carrickemond defence fell open allowing Cian Mackey to find the net.
Eight minutes where on the clock by the time Eoghan McCormack registered Carrickedmond’s first score. McCormack fired over a free two minutes later.
However, the 2018 Leinster champions were in fine form. The excellent Conor Leonard, Matthews (0-2, 1f) and a Leonard mark moving Mullinalaghta 2-5 to 0-2 ahead, nine minutes before the break.
Another McCormack free, Liam Glennon from play and a Brian Mulvey free had Carrick up to five points four minutes before half-time. Indeed, Cian Mackey sent over the final score of the half.
This reporter and the scoreboard, noting the half-time score as 2-6 to five points in favour of Mullinalaghta. However it was later revealed referee David Tiernan had the score as 2-6 to 0-6 as the half-time score.
Indeed, Ollie Fay’s men were electric after the restart. Leonard with two from play and two Aidan McElligott frees plus a Mathews free seemed to have Mullinalaghta home and hosed.
Aidan McGuire’s free, Carrickedmond’s first score of the second-half after some 11 minutes as Mullinalaghta led 2-10 to 0-7. Another Matthews free restored the 10 point lead.
Carrickedmond fight back
The game seemed lost for Carrickedmond, defeat would mean a group stage exit even as McGuire converted his second free of the game.
However, suddenly life arrived back in Carrickedmond men. Ross Doherty seemed to shoot for a point. Patrick Rodgers misjudged the high ball as the ball fell into the net with 14 minutes remaining.
Six minutes later it was game-on! Sean Egan finding space in the Mullinalaghta defence to rattle the ball to the net. 2-8 to 2-11 and Carrick were alive.
Cian Mackey’s brilliant last ditch clearance from the line from the next play saved the Mullinalaghta blushes, denying Liam Glennon a goal.
With two minutes remaining Jayson Matthews made it a four point game, but Stephen Speilberg would be unlikely to write such a dramatic film ending.
McGuire landed a point from play with 60 seconds to play. As the clock went red, Sean Kelly made it a two point game. Both teams tried to play for time, it was Carrickedmond who won out.
McGuire’s second converted free of the day made it a one point game four minutes into injury time. With seven additional minutes played Eoghan McCormack kicked the equaliser.
Drama after the final whistle
Tensions simmered as the side’s awaited results and the confirmation of who if either made the knock-out stage.
Elsewhere, Clonguish had hammered already qualified Abbeylara 2-14 to 12 points. Whereas, Dromard crushed Longford Slashers 2-16 to eight points.
Confirmation that Abbeylara won the group with six points and Slashers bow out with four!
However, Carrickedmond, Mullinalaghta, Clonguish and Dromard finish with five points for the three spots. Some phone calls and calculations began pitchside.
The Longford county board confirming to Shannonside Sport the final line-up of 1.Abbeylara, 2. Clonguish, 3. Mullinalaghta, 4. Carrickedmond as the final standings; subject to referee’s reports.
Drama to the end and maybe some more!
