14-man Colmcille master Mostrim to make it through to the quarter-finals
Colmcille overcame the handicap of playing most of the match with 14 players as they withstood a determined late comeback from a spirited Mostrim side to make it through to the Senior Football Championship quarter-finals.
Key attacker Jack Macken was sent-off for a foul on Jack Belton in the 11th minute of the first half at the Higginstown grounds in Granard on Saturday evening but Ger Carberry’s charges refused to panic despite their failure to convert a penalty when Barry McKeon had his kick well saved by the Edgeworthstown keeper Caolan Hussey.
Fergal Sheridan scored the crucial goals for Colmcille, the first of which materialised on the stroke of half-time, and this was a big blow for understrength Mostrim who trailed by 1-6 to 0-5 at the break.
Gerry Lynn’s side tried hard to close the gap in the second half but the concession of a second goal in the 47th minute gave Colmcille a commanding advantage with the towering figure of impressive midfielder Sheridan flicking the ball to the net after connecting with a pass from Barry McKeon.
When Cathal Reilly raced through to fist the ball over the bar soon after, Mostrim were eight points adrift (2-10 to 0-8) but they battled it out to the bitter end with a cracking goal from defender Shane Campbell in the 55th minute giving them a glimmer of hope.
A fisted point from Paul McKeon in the 59th minute eased the pressure on Colmcille to clinch the victory and there is little at stake in their remaining fixture against the also qualified Rathcline next weekend.
Mostrim will be hoping to field their strongest possible side for the massive match against Granard in the quest to get the result they required to reach the last eight and a very tense contest is in prospect.
COLMCILLE: Darren Walsh; Conor Grant, Martin Mulligan, Gerard Mulligan; Dylan McCabe (0-1), Declan Reilly, Ruairi Harkin; Vinny Hourican (0-1), Fergal Sheridan (2-1); Shea Farley (0-1), Jack Macken, Cathal McCabe (0-1); Barry McKeon (0-2, frees), Paul McKeon (0-3), Cathal Reilly (0-1).
Subs:- Enda Macken for M Mulligan (half-time); Philip McKeon for D McCabe (50 mins); Rory Hawkins for S Farley.
MOSTRIM: Caolan Hussey; Alex Nugent, Shane Campbell, James Connell; Ronan Courtney (0-1), Shane Kiernan (0-1), Jack Belton; Dylan Hutchinson, Fintan Coyle; Niall Quinn, Maitiu O’Donohoe, Pearse McNally; Padraig Joyce, Tiarnan Hussey (0-4, 2 frees), Darragh Doherty (0-5, 4 frees).
Subs:- Seamus Hannon for J Belton (injured, 14 mins); Adam Connaughton for F Coyle (43 mins).
Referee: Michael Farrell (Ballymahon).
Credit: Longford Leader
