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SFC Quarter Final – Report

September 15, 2026
SFC Quarter Final – Report

Killoe Young Emmets 1-08
St. Mary’s Granard 0-09

Article Source: Longford Leader

A cracking goal from the impressive Gavin Farrelly midway through the second half gave Killoe the edge over Granard in a very scrappy Senior Football Championship quarter-final played in extremely difficult wet conditions at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday.

Deadlocked at 0-3 apiece at the break following a very poor affair, substitute Ben Blessington shot over the bar in the 38th minute to leave St Mary’s in a slender lead but Emmet Og then stepped up another gear.

With the tall young midfielder Enda Quinn and the vastly experienced Daniel Mimnagh also most prominent for the title holders the pressure was mounting on Pat Flanagan’s youthful side who were five points behind in stoppage time.

Influential substitute Davin Donnelly shot over the bar for his third score to apparently make the victory secure for the title holders but the gap was closed with the prominent Cian O’Donnell landing a terrific two-pointer from play in the third additional minute.

Defender Patrick McGivney then shot over the bar to leave just two points separating the sides and there was one last chance for St Mary’s to snatch a draw but a two-pointer attempt from substitute James Kiernan hit the upright.

Things did not go according to plan for Granard who failed to produce the good form they had shown in the group stage with the tightly marked Darren Gallagher failing to register a solitary score.

Ryan Moffett never really let Gallagher out of his sight and while few can argue with the fact that Killoe were the better team they are now facing a sterner test in the semi-final showdown against the 2024 champions Abbeylara in a couple of weeks time.

The wide count was high (Killoe 13 to Granard 12) in a most disappointing match that was littered with mistakes, mainly due to the adverse wet weather.

St Mary’s had a lucky escape in the early stages of the second half when the clean through James Moran had his point-blank shot very well saved by Reece Small but there was nothing the Granard keeper could do to stop Gavin Farrelly scoring the decisive goal in the 45th minute.

Gavin also kicked a couple of points in the first half, along with a ‘45 converted by Micheal Hughes to open the Killoe account with 12 minutes gone on the clock.

Granard had got off to a great start to lead by 0-3 to 0-0, starting with a point from Jamie Brady Hynes’ direct from the throw-in with Cian O’Donnell (free and play) accounting for the other scores in the first half.

But once Killoe got their act together on the changeover there was no stopping Paul O’Hara’s charges from reaching the last four in the Connolly Cup.

KILLOE EMMET OG: Micheal Hughes (0-1, ‘45); Ryan Keogh, Darren Moffett, Evan Farrelly, James Moran, Liam Hughes, Niall Farrelly (0-1); Enda Quinn, Ryan Moffett; Cian Farrelly, Gavin Farrelly (1-2), Eamon Keogh; Daniel Mimnagh (0-1), Ronan McGoldrick, Paddy Moran.

Subs:- Davin Donnelly (0-3, 1 free) for P Moran (injured, first half stoppage time); Conor Mulligan for R McGoldrick (injured, 35 mins); Paddy Kiernan for Cian Farrelly (injured, 43 mins); Conor Doherty for E Keogh (injured, 50 mins); Mickey Quinn for E Quinn (injured, 60 mins).

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