Slow to settle Colmcille gradually gain control against Kenagh
After a shaky start, Colmcille eventually got the better of a determined Kenagh side in the Senior Football Championship Round 2 clash at Michael Moran Park last Friday evening.
Kenagh once again got off to a blistering start as they did in the opening round to lead the 2022 champions by 5 points. Josh Kelly, a member of the county U-20 panel this year and only out of minor football, accounting for his side’s total of 1-3.
Kelly and county senior forward Cathal McCabe traded marks in the early stages. Kelly then hit two wonderful scores that were almost identical, shooting across the goal off his right foot.
Kenagh manager Trevor Smullen started former county players Shane Farrell and Shane Doyle in the full forward line but they retreated back to the industrious Kenagh middle third leaving a host of space for the electric Kelly to utilise.
Colmcille gained control in the second half, clocking up 1-5 without reply beginning with a cracking point from Fergal Sheridan with Rory Hawkins getting the goal. Kenagh lost the directness which garnered success for them early on and found themselves caught in possession on numerous occasions on the changeover as Ger Carberry’s side turned the screw.
COLMCILLE: Darren Walsh; Gerard Mulligan, Martin Mulligan, Conor Grant; Ruairi Harkin, Declan Reilly, Philip McKeon (0-1); Vinny Hourican (0-1), Fergal Sheridan (0-2); Eoghan Williams (0-1), Jack Macken (0-2, 1f), Cathal McCabe (0-1, 1m); Cathal Reilly, Paul McKeon (0-2, 2f), Rory Hawkins (1-1).
Subs:- Barry McKeon (0-5, 4f) for C Reilly (22 mins); Dylan McCabe (0-1) for P McKeon (40 mins); Eoin Hawkins for R Hawkins (43 mins); Sean Smith for Philip McKeon (53 mins); Shea Farley for J Macken (62 mins).
KENAGH: Damien Higgins; Graham Forbes, James Higgins, John Gill; Oliver Manser, Alan Jones, Cathal Higgins; Daniel Galvin, Keelin McGann; Cormac McGann (0-1), Darren Carberry, Thomas McGann (0-1); Shane Farrell, Josh Kelly (1-4, 1m), Shane Doyle.
Subs:- Shea Carberry for G Forbes (half-time); Aidan Carberry for J Higgins (33 mins); Andrew Dalton for A Jones (43 mins); Lee Ross Gill (1-0) for T McGann (47 mins, injured); Ronan Hughes for J Gill (58 mins).
Referee: David Tiernan (Ardagh Moydow).
Credit: Longford Leader
