Rathcline opened their Longford championship with a surprise but deserved five point win over St. Mary’s Granard.
The two sides offered up a feast in their opening half of this years Peter Hanley Motors Longford senior football championship.
19 scores where registered in the first-half as Ratchline led 2-7 to 1-9 at half-time. Ratchline going onto win 3-17 to 2-15.
Shane Kenny the star of the opening half registering 1-3 including a free and a 45. Kenny’s goal came midway through the half.
The Granard defence doing well to block down the original Kenny shot. However, Kenny collected the rebound and rifled to the roof of the net.
Granard responded immediately with a Michael Hynes mark. Hynes played a part in Granard’s goal handing passing to Jackub Pawlowski whose had a clean run on goal to slide the ball under David Mulvihill.
The drama didn't end there in the first-half. Ratchline possibly edging it on points as Oran Kenny rattled the net seven minutes before the break for Ratchline’s second goal.
Oran Kenny with a brilliant finishing having found the net from a tight angle. Points from Oran and Shane Kenny left Ratchline lead 2-7 to 1-9 at half-time.
The sides didn’t let up after the restart and Oran Kenny was on hand for his second goal of the game on 36 minutes.
Excellent Kenny's fire Ratchline on
It was becoming the Kenny story. Indeed, Shane’s 45’ came back off the post. Oran showed good hands before finding the net through the mass in-front of goal.
Ratchline pushed it out further with a Shane Kenny free, an Iarla O’Sullivan point and a Oran Kenny free.
However, Granard kept fighting. Harry Kiernan, Pawlowski, Brendan Creegan and two Jamie Brady Hynes free’s making it 3-12 to 1-15 with nine minutes remaining.
Shane Kenny had the chance to add a fourth Rathcline goal, but Thomas Gallagher stood up well to block.
David Callaghan grabbed a goal in the second minute of injury time but it was too little to late.
Scorers: Rathcline: Iarla O’Sullivan 0-3, Oran Kenny 2-8 (4f, 1’45), Shane Kenny 1-3 2f, Oisin Kenny 0-2
St. Mary’s Granard: Michael Hynes 0-3 (1m), David Callaghan 0-2, Harry Kiernan 0-2, Jakub Pawlowski 1-4 (3f), Jamie Brady Hynes 0-2 (1m), Brendan Creegan, Vincent Nally 0-1 each
